do you lick up everything around you?
16th March 2006
You may see quite a few of these types of entries as I read through the ESV completely this year. I will post things as I run across them in my normal reading. Since I read the Better Bibles Blog frequently, I have become more conscious to exactly how things are translated and if they could be improved upon without losing the meaning of the original.
So the question for today is…what does it mean to lick up everything? Are we talking about dogs or men here? If you have ever seen a person walking around licking up everything let me know. 
I am very surprised that even some of the “modern” translations kept the phrase (the NET Bible didn’t even have a note on it after keeping the phrase). Below are several different versions for comparison.
Since I will be replacing my regular (carry around) Bible (1977 NASB) this year with either the ESV or the HCSB, I have to say the HCSB beats the ESV on this verse.
(CEV) They said to the Midianite leaders, “That bunch of Israelites will wipe out everything in sight, like a bull eating grass in a field.” So King Balak
(ESV) And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
(GNB) The Moabites said to the leaders of the Midianites, “This horde will soon destroy everything around us, like a bull eating the grass in a pasture.” So King Balak
(HCSB) So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time,
(NASB) Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
(NET.) So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “Now this mass of people will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time.
(YLT) and Moab saith unto the elders of Midian, `Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field.’ And Balak son of Zippor is king of Moab at that time,
AMDG
March 17th, 2006 at 22:56
I began using the NASB in 1980 when I was 13 and until this year the only change I had made was to begin using the 1995 update in 2002.
However, I became convicted that while the NASB meant a lot to me personally, it probably wasn’t the best translation to use in front of groups. Part of this realization may have come regular reading from the Better Bibles Blog, by the way.
Anyway, I switched to the HCSB about a month ago. This was a huge deal for me because I had used the NASB and memorized from it for so long. I thought about the ESV, but it wasn’t different enough from the NASB to be a significant change. If I were to have stayed within the Tyndale tradition, I think I would have just stuck with the NASB rather than making a change.
I really like the HCSB. I like it because it is literal like the NASB in most places, but they were very unliteral in some places where literalness didn’t make good sense. Most translations are either formal or dynamic. The HCSB is formal most of the time, but dynamic where it needs to be. The translators also gave themselves the freedom to not tie themselves to teh Tyndale tradition so the HCSB reads quite fresh to me.
I’ll still use my NASB for personal study. There’s nothing more literal, but only the HCSB leaves the house with me these days.
March 17th, 2006 at 23:14
I really appreciate the comment. I have several ESV Bibles and I plan on picking up a paperback copy of the HCSB as well. I am a bit of a Bible collector.
I am not totally decided yet but I am starting to lean towards the HCSB in regards to the quest I mentioned in my post (replacing my NASB77 genuine leather “carry around” Bible with a new version, ESV or HCSB).
AMDG
March 19th, 2006 at 04:43
Hey Brian, its been a while–I like the new look of your blog–I thought I would stop by and say hi. I’ve been sporadically blogging–I quit for awhile–I have tendonitis in my arms, but its getting better. Talk later!
BTW, I like using many translations, I’m currently reading the NKJV–they all provide different nuances, given the translational philosophy driving the particular translation teams per version of the Bible.
In Christ,
Bobby Grow
March 19th, 2006 at 13:47
Ah cool, I can re-link to your blog again.
When the last one went down I didn’t know where it moved.
At times I get Cubital Tunnel Syndrome or Guyon’s Canal (not sure which…the symptoms are nearly identical).
It makes it extremely painful to type anything so I know the feeling.
I look forward to being able to read your blog again.
AMDG