a wilderness of words

ElShaddai Edwards is salivating over this phrase in 1 Timothy 1:6 of the NEB/REB:

a wilderness of words

Every once in awhile wonderful wordings like this alliterative one appear in an English Bible version. They jump off the page. They catch our imagination as good turns of phrases should. I have some favorite wordings from different Bible versions which continue to impress me. Here are two of them:

Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our/the faith (Heb. 12:2 RSV, NRSV, NET, ISV)

When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! (James 1:2 Phillips)

What are some Bible version wordings which get your literary senses aroused?

This entry was written by Wayne Leman, posted on June 30, 2009 at 3:28 pm, filed under Bible Translation. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.

3 Comments

  1. ElShaddai Edwards
    Posted June 30, 2009 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for the link, Wayne — it’s always interesting to discover when specific translated phrases come from a non-Biblical source.

  2. A.Admin
    Posted July 1, 2009 at 5:26 am | Permalink

    2 Cor. 5:17 from the TNIV has been on my mind lately.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

  3. jwhook
    Posted July 4, 2009 at 6:18 am | Permalink

    Jeremiah 17:1, NLTse:

    The sin of Judah
    is inscribed with an iron chisel—
    engraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts
    and on the corners of their altars.