Explanation of selections from the
Literal Translation of the Bible (LITV)

Gen. 39:1

A literal translation informs the reader that Joseph's master was a eunuch, and also was chief of the executioners. These facts much affect the understanding of how merciful the Lord was in delivering Joseph, as well as shed light on Potiphar's wife's actions.

2 Kings 5:7b

The Hebrew language is highly pictorial, using vivid imagery to depict virtually everything. The Bible student can appreciate the transmission of this imagery into English which only a literal translation can accomplish. This verse paints a picture of the King of Syria coiling himself toward King Ahab such as a snake would do, a vivid picture of antagonism.

Isaiah 9:5

It is a shame to lose the force and character of some of the Spirit's expressions through the prophets. A literal rendition of certain words brings forth a graphic understanding of precisely what is being said. "Commotion" is far more depictive than "battle" as the NIV has, and more dynamic than the KJV expression, "confused noise." "boot of the trampler" far exceeds in expressiveness and color the NIV's "warrior's boot"; the KJV leaves out "boot" altogether.

Isaiah 24:19

The literal rendering of the Hebrew words here is far more depictive than the translation found in most versions, as the reader can pick up the force of the language by virtue of the doubled verbs. Follow this link and ask yourself which translation you think better reflects the Hebrew.

Hosea 1:4-9

The translation of the infants' names, a mere transliteration not being made to suffice, gives the reader a much richer understanding of what God is communicating through the life of Hosea. Jezreel is the Hebrew term meaning "God will sow" and speaks of sowing of the seeds of vengeance against Jehu. Lo-Ruhamah in Hebrew means "No mercy" and speaks of the cessation of mercy concerning Israel's spiritual idolatry. Lo-Ammi means "Not my people," which shows God's view of Israel in her harlotries. This information would otherwise only be available to someone who could read Hebrew. Now it is in the hands of every saint.

Matthew 16:19

For centuries this verse has been misunderstood as giving power to the clergy over the laity with eternal consequences. The misunderstanding is fostered by the disregard for translating the exact tense of the verbs dedemenon and lelumenon. These are perfect passive participles and should be translated "having been bound" and "having been loosed", respectively. Both the NIV and the KJV translate these words as if they were in the future tense. The consequences of this common mistranslation have been disastrous throughout Church history.

John 1:3

The word "made" fails to fully express the creativity and power of our Lord Jesus, whereas "came into being" provides the proper light and emphasis of His omnipotent work, as well as properly translates the Greek word, egeneto, as it us used here.

John 3:8

This much quoted verse is a terrible mistranslation noted by Jamison-Fausset-Brown and Adam Clark's commentaries, but ignored by nearly everyone since. The Greek word pneuma is never used for "wind" in the New Testament, which ignores the context as well as the pronouns used. The proper rendering, "Spirit," is a powerful witness to the sovereign work of God the Spirit in regeneration.

2 Peter 3:9

This is a much misunderstood and abused verse, for in the many versions God is presented as a weak, schizophrenic person who yearns to reverse what He has eternally ordained to happen. Ignoring the context completely, and failing to show that the pronoun "us" is, according to grammatical principle, distributive throughout the immediate context and therefore the antecedent to all cases of the adjective "all." Fall where you may on the issue of predestination, this verse sets forth that God purposed that not any "of us" should perish, whoever that may be. It does not say that He does not desire that "anyone" should perish, as the NIV states.

1 John 5:1

The transmission of the tense of the Greek verb gegennetai is very important here, for it being in the perfect tense, "has been born," plainly shows that faith is the proof and result of the rebirth, not the other way around.