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alexisrt's review
5.0
Reviewing the Bible itself is somewhat superfluous, so this is really a review of the translation.
I've always been interested in Bible translation and the differences between translations. I can read the Bible in Hebrew, but I'm not fluent, so if I want detail and nuance, I need the English. That's aside from the historical and literary importance of various translations. My go-to for years has been the JPS translation. (The KJV has literary value for its influence on the English language, but not as a working translation for understanding source text.) I prefer it to the Artscroll, which is prone to ideological bias.
Alter's translation makes use of the Septuagint as well as the Masoretic text and he uses historical evidence outside of traditional Jewish sources to determine meaning, which will be controversial for some Jews. However, his commentary is extremely informative regarding his choices and his reasoning, and was enlightening. He does consider himself to be *the* expert--there's a touch of arrogance--but his opinions are interesting.
His style strikes a good balance. It has an appropriate feel of formality, unlike some contemporary Christian translations, but is not archaic, and he seeks to preserve a sense of the Hebrew--for example, by preserving the conjunctions and long sequences of verbs that are used for narrative flow.
I've read the Bible before, though I don't think I've ever managed to read it all in order rather than one book at a time, but I enjoyed the re-read. I would have liked to have seen it paired with the Hebrew source for easy comparison, but given the length of the text as is, that would be quite the set.
I've always been interested in Bible translation and the differences between translations. I can read the Bible in Hebrew, but I'm not fluent, so if I want detail and nuance, I need the English. That's aside from the historical and literary importance of various translations. My go-to for years has been the JPS translation. (The KJV has literary value for its influence on the English language, but not as a working translation for understanding source text.) I prefer it to the Artscroll, which is prone to ideological bias.
Alter's translation makes use of the Septuagint as well as the Masoretic text and he uses historical evidence outside of traditional Jewish sources to determine meaning, which will be controversial for some Jews. However, his commentary is extremely informative regarding his choices and his reasoning, and was enlightening. He does consider himself to be *the* expert--there's a touch of arrogance--but his opinions are interesting.
His style strikes a good balance. It has an appropriate feel of formality, unlike some contemporary Christian translations, but is not archaic, and he seeks to preserve a sense of the Hebrew--for example, by preserving the conjunctions and long sequences of verbs that are used for narrative flow.
I've read the Bible before, though I don't think I've ever managed to read it all in order rather than one book at a time, but I enjoyed the re-read. I would have liked to have seen it paired with the Hebrew source for easy comparison, but given the length of the text as is, that would be quite the set.
gijs's review
5.0
The Bible as a literary work of art; Alter’s tour de force is very accessible yet tantalizingly incisive; an absolute masterpiece.
dmeehan's review
5.0
The best translation of the Hebrew Bible for a focus on Hebrew Poetry. Worth the price of admission for Job alone, but the Psalms and Genesis are great too.
The commentary is also excellent. Will be my go-to reference outside of the NRSV.
The commentary is also excellent. Will be my go-to reference outside of the NRSV.
ewoodrow23's review
1.5
i had to read it all for search and tbh i think it’s just funny to include it in here
aawahrman's review
5.0
Saying I read this is a lie. I got 1% through it and absorbed as much as I could. Very well written and encouraging in a lot of respects, but also worth noting that it is a very big book.
stevesaroff's review
5.0
The bible is perhaps the most influential and important book ever printed, and yet the historical translators made many, many subjective and varying choices in meaning. This translation is both easy to read, with fantastic commentary, and beautifully printed. A true-life work achievement by a great writer and scholar.