Customer Reviews

REB Lectern Black Goatskin Leather over boards REB205

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Revised English Bible is a 1989 revision of the big selling New English Bible. Whereas the New English Bible kept some archaic language, the REB revision is entirely in modern language. The REB is generally reliable too, the only whiff of religious bias coming in the translators' decision to drop the name "Jehovah" from the handful of places the NEB uses it in Exodus. It is also a shame that the fine illustrations some editions of the NEB used have not been carried over to the REB. The quality of the printed product is excellent though.

I love the REB translation as an alternate to the very popular NRSV. Faithful with a rendering of English that makes one see things differently, this translation is not as appreciated and widly known as it deserves to be!

I agree with most of the reviews below: This is a majestic, beautifully worded translation of the Bible. I have been using it extensively for devotional reading or as a secondary bible. It does tend to paraphrase a bit from time to time. This translation is new and different, yet does not change the meaning of the scriptures, just words them differently from those in the KJV/RSV tradition. It is more elegant and dignified in language than the NIV but roughly the same as far as literalness as a translation goes. (Neither excessively literal or overly dynamic)

One reviewer below commented about how the "woman taken in adultry" part in the book of John is regulated to the end of the book. This was done for "textual criticism" reasons, which I don't agree with, but the missing segment is eventually included and not completely deleted. I would rather it be left as it has originally been. Other than that, I really like this translation.

This is truly a work in the tradition of the Great Bible of 1549 and the King James Version. It's unfortunate that the British monarch no longer gives royal authorization to Bible translations, because the REB is much more suitable for church use than the NRSV and whatever translation was chosen for the 1979 Book of Common Prayer Psalter. The Psalms match the dignity and poetry of the Coverdale Psalms that were abandoned in the BCP after 400 years. Truly a translation for the ages.