Translators have to make choices in deciding what words to use the carry the Scriptures from one language to another. In Exodus 27: 9-13, an example of this is shown in regard to naming the four directions. What seems to be a very easy matter turns into something rather complex. These verses, as they appear in the King James (Authorized) Version are quoted below in full. Underlined, bold type is used for the naming of the directions.
The way that forty-three versions, including the KJV, is then stated. The versions are divided into four groups, based on how east is rendered in verse 13.
Versions Compared
- AAT – An American Translation (Beck)
- AB – Amplified Bible
- ASV – American Standard Version
- DHB – Darby Holy Bible
- EBR – The Emphasized Bible
- EVD – English Version for the Deaf
- GW – God’s Word
- HBME – The Holy Bible in Modern English
- HBRV – Holy Bible, Revised Version
- HSH – Holy Scriptures (Harkavy)
- IB – Interlinear Bible
- IV – Inspired Version
- JBK – Jerusalem Bible (Koren)
- KJV – King James Version
- KTC – Knox Translation
- LB – Living Bible
- LBP – Lamsa Bible
- LXX – The Septuagint
- MNT – Moffatt New Translation
- MRB – Modern Readers Bible
- NAB – New American Bible
- NAS – New American Standard Version
- NBV – New Berkeley Version
- NCV – New Century Version
- NEB – New English Bible
- NIV – New International Version
- NJB – New Jerusalem Bible
- NJPS – New JPS Version
- NKJ – New King James Version
- NLT – New Living Translation
- NLV – New Life Version
- NRS – New Revised Standard Version
- NTJ – A New Translation (Jewish)
- NWT – New World Translation
- REB – Revised English Bible
- RSV – Revised Standard Version
- SGAT – An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
- SISR – The Scriptures (ISR)
- SNB – Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible
- SSBE – The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition
- TEV – Today’s English Version
- TJB – The Jerusalem Bible
- YLR – Young’s Literal Translation, Revised Edition
Exodus 27: 9-13
KJV – And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twilled linen of an hundred cubits long for one side.
And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
Group One
There is a literal translation of what may be a Hebraism.
- south side southward – north side – west side – east side eastward:
- ASV, EBR, HBRV, HSH, IB, IV, JBK, KJV, MRB, NTJ, SNB, SSBE, YLR
Group Two
The Hebraism is eliminated to avoid repetition for a better English structure.
- southern side toward the Negeb – north side – west side – east side:
- SGAT
- south side – north side – west side – east side:
- AB, EVD, LB, LBP, NAB, NAS, NBV, NJPS, NKJ, NLV, SISR, TEV
Footnote: NJPS: Heb. uses two terms for “south.” - south side – north side – west side – to the east:
- NRS, RSV
- southern side – north side – western side – eastern side:
- MNT
- south side – north side – west end – east end:
- NCV, NLT
Group Three
There is a translation of the Hebraism in an English phrase, thus creating a problem.
- south side – north side – west side – east end, toward the rising sun:
- AAT
- to face towards the south – north side – to face the west – to face the east, towards the sun-rise:
- HBME
- facing the south country, on the southern side – northern side – western side – eastern side facing the sunrise:
- TJB
- south side facing southwards – north side – west side – on the east, towards the sunrise:
- NEB
- south side – north side – west end – east end, toward the sunrise:
- NIV
- south side – north side – west side – east side, facing the sunrise:
- NJB
- the side toward the Negeb, to the south – north side – west side – on the side toward the sunrising:
- NWT
- south side facing southwards – north side – west side – east side, towards the sunrise:
- REB
- south side – north side – west end – east end, facing the rising sun:
- GW
Group Four
There seems to be a variation of pattern.
- south side southward – north side – west side – east side eastward:
- DHB
Footnote: DBH: [eastward], Lit. “toward sunrise:” so chapter 38:13. - at the south side of this towards the mid-day sun – north side – on the short side westwards – side which looks eastward:
- KTC
- south side – side toward the north – toward the west – toward the south:
- LXX
