Comparing and Reviewing Hebrew Roots/Messianic Bible Translations (UPDATED)

Reviews by Christopher Fredrickson 
First of all, I have been asked to do this for some time now, and I am always asked about translations.  I have purchased many translations since beginning my walk in Torah 16 years ago, so I decided to review all the Bibles I had purchased or have been given by people (in their hopes I would endorse them on my radio program).  Now I need to make note, there is not a perfect translation out there.  It does not and will never exist, so if that is what you are looking for then you simply need to stop looking.  Now, let me say in terms of my beliefs, I am a jewish convert who lives a hasidic lifestyle, I also see Yeshua as my Melech, and my Mashyach, I don't ascribe to the belief of "he's not my Melech until he returns".  I also am very much of the Artscroll persuasion when it comes to my bookshelf, so I hold a very high standard when it comes to scriptural resources because of my observance and because of my rabbinical training.  So I tend to look at "Messianic" resources through those eyes and to those standards, if they do not come close to that level of scholarship or effort that is put behind the materials to the level of an Artscroll or Fieldheim or Breslov then I can be a little harsh, very fair at the same time, but a little harsh at the same time for the reason of encouraging the Hebrew Roots to put out better materials.

Aramaic English New Testament

The Positive: The translation is stellar.  When I almost denied Yeshua several years ago because of issues I found in the New Testament text of various other Bibles in the Hebrew Roots and Christianity, it was this translation I could not prove any inaccuracy in the base text (The Khabouris Codex).  Though others have tried to discount the Khabouris Codex their attacks on the text have fallen short.  
The binding of this book is done very well and you can expect to get a good life out of it through heavy usage.
It contains 2,000 plus footnotes and almost 500 pages of appendixes that are helpful to both new and seasoned believers. 

The Negative:  I have amazing respect for Andrew Gabriel Roth, and his translation.  With that being said, the AENT does also have some things I personally see as a negative.  For one, I am not a fan of sacred name translations.  Those who know my doctrine know why.  This emphasis puts great emphasis on the 4 letter name of G-d which doesn't allow me to take it into orthodox circles, this is a problem.  
Also, though the footnotes are really helpful as are the appendixes, the problem is Roth inserts a great deal of his own doctrine and bias in the footnotes and appendixes.  Now 80% of his biases I do indeed agree with from the theological and applicable standpoint but at the same time, I do not find that the footnotes of a translation should force the reader to agree with your theological position.  However, Roth's translation of the text, which he describes himself as being a slave to, I can say does not have any bias.  

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 
 

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The Complete Jewish Bible

The Positive: The Complete Jewish Bible is a good beginners Bible for those who are young in their walk.  It has adequate footnotes and is not loaded down with doctrinal discussions.  I think David H. Stern has hit a unique chord with both Christians and Messianics and Notzari alike.  It is easy to read and brings out the jewishness of the Bible without confusing the reader. 

The Negative: Though a beautiful Bible, it falls apart rather quickly with heavy usage.  I am also not a fan of the base text for the New Testament.  I wish Stern would have addressed the issues with the greek like Roth had in his translation, because this Bible could possibly be a stumbling block for young believers with issues like the 41 as opposed to 42 generations in Matthew 1, as well as "My G-d my G-d why have you forsaken me?" and dinner parties with lepers.  I respect this translation but I am not a fan of greek primacy for these very reasons.  However, it is not a bad translation of the source texts that Stern used.  I think he tried to be familiar with both Jew and Gentile. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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The Orthodox Jewish Bible 

The Positive: This is my second favorite translation.  Despite the KJV influence and my primacy objections.  I have to say I forget about all of that when I pick up my OJB.  This Bible is wonderful for those who are actively learning Hebrew and they want a bit of a harder read and they want to be challenged to study their Bible.  The thing I love about this Bible is that it causes you to really see the Bible through Jewish eyes and to see your New Testament in the same way.  It contains several Talmudic references but doesn't go overboard, and as you read it, it helps you with the Hebrew nouns and verbs and concepts with an english definition of the words and sometimes even entire Hebrew phrases.  Mr Goble uses an Ashkinazi dialect in his translation which I also thoroughly enjoy because I am a huge fan of Artscroll.  


The Negative: Despite enjoying the text, I have to come down to reality as well and say, primacy is a huge thing for me.  I want the oldest and I want accuracy.  Mr Goble relies heavily on the KJV renderings a great deal in the old testament, so I tend to not quote from the old testament portions of the OJB.  I also don't like the rare times he pushes greek primacy by putting the word "agape" instead of "ahavah" when the rest of the words are in Hebrew that he shows in the text.  Also, this doesn't come in hardback version and the Bible is flimsy.  I also don't like that the text is as small as it is and that it gets hard to read when the footnotes are inserted into the Bible text itself when it references other verses.  These last few things mentioned are the main reason this Bible (though my second favorite) doesn't receive as high of a score as I would like to give it.  
 
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   

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The Hebraic Roots Version Scriptures

The Positive: I used to use this translation many years ago, and knowing it as well as I do I am trying to find something positive to say.  And all I can say is this.  It is SLIGHTLY BETTER than an NIV, and it is a really big size, easy to read and it makes a great door stop.  It does however have good reference notes to other passages in the New and Old Testament. 

The Negative: The translation is actually public domain from The Way International.  James Trimm basically took this translation when The Way International went under and inserted sacred names and Hebrew names for the individuals mentioned in the Bible to be able to change 10% of the text so he could put his name on this translation.  Given that the Way International went under, we have no clue what it was actually translated from.  In the introduction Trimm says it was translated from several documents he does not and has never had access to.  If this translation was translated from the texts he claims such as the Old Syriac, DuTillet, and the Shem Tob Matthew, then you would know it is unreliable even more so, because these are 16th century manuscripts.   

Rating: 2 out of 5 

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The Besorah of Yahusha


The Positive: Ummm, it looks nice. Has cute fonts and Canaanite script on the inside.

The Negative: This is the product that is regurgitated when a person as a fascination for Paleo-Hebrew and confuses it with Canaanite and Assyrian script, not only that but when an individual who doesn't speak or read Hebrew decides to write a translation of the Bible.  This Bible is riddled with sacred name theology, and it doesn't even do it well.  Telling the reader that if you take the word Judah and pull out the dalet you get the name of G-d.  I said to myself when I read that, that this has to be some kind of joke.  Not only that the cover itself is a good indication of the thousands of errors you will see in this translation.  The cover claims that there is a hei between the yod and the shin of the Messiah's name.  Not a single text on earth has this, except for the name of the Joshua son of Nun.  Also the word "Natsarim" is the Hebrew word for Christian.  The author of this translation has Notzari confused with Natsarim thinking they are the same thing yet they are not.  

Rating 0.5 out of 5

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The Gutnick Edition Chumash

The Positive: This is the main text I use now when studying the Torah.  The commentary from Rashi, The Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman and other Chasidic masters are so extensive I was so happy to have run across this.  This Chumash even asks question, that many readers ask about the text and then provides the answers from the Chasidic masters.  The 5 Books of the Torah and the HafTarah are extensive (1,600 pages).  Most of the pages are commentary on just a few verses.  The translation is solid and extensive.  This hardcover Chumash is amazing is the hard cover has a thick layer of like a mesh leather protecting this Chumash.  The print is a very very decent size and the binding is phenomenal.

The Negative: I want the rest of the Tanach! 

4.5 out of 5 stars


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​The Complete Jewish Study Bible

​The Positive: This Bible was put together amazingly in terms of quality.  The imitation leather and the golden edged pages are absolutely beautiful.  The commentary in this Bible in the footnotes section is the best for beginners who are new to the Messianic Jewish faith.  It pays homage to the oral Torah so that they have a healthy respect for it but it also doesn't overwhelm them.  It also makes the commentary very basic as to help the reader avoid bad, and goofy theology which is something more need in the Messianic Jewish faith. 

The Negative: My only qualm is being inherently an Aramaic Primist.  This Bible is also paraphrased which has it's good and bad.
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4.25 stars out of 5

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Trinitarian Bible Society's Delitzsch HaBrit HaChadashah

The Positive: This is a compact Hebrew version only of Franz Delitzsch's Hebrew translation of the greek texts of the New Testament.  This volume is very compact and you could almost fit it in your pocket.  The print is nice and bold as well.  

The Negative: The negative is really the price.  Usually this volume costs around $50.  It is super small and super thin.  It obviously didn't cost more than $7 to assemble each copy.  So lets hope that the sales of this volume goes to help a ministry or something in the form of tzedakah. I wish this volume was bigger honestly. 

2.7 out of 5 stars

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Tree of Life Version

The Positive: This volume is probably the most scholarly of all of the Hebrew Roots and Messianic translations as far as translation is concerned.  A panel of incredible language scholars were assembled to put together this volume and no bias was behind it's translation to try and push pet theologies.  This is a very honest translation.  When ordering this Bible you have the choice of many different formats hard cover, soft cover, imitation leather etc.  

The Negative: For me personally I love footnotes and I am an Aramaic Primist for the New Testament.  But I will not let that cloud my review on this.  For those are my personal preferences.  This is a good straight up translation and one of the most scholarly translations in existence at this point. 

4 stars ouf ot 5

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Aramaic New Testament Transliteration

The Positive: This is a great new testament for Aramaic students.  It includes a vocalization of the entire New Testament from the UBS texts.  This is a great resource to help people with their eastern vocalization of the Aramaic texts.

The Negative: The negative comes from a personal preference, and that personal preference is I am not a fan of the UBS text.  Because it includes hundreds of texts some extremely old and most rather modern all the way up until the 18th century.  The UBS treats them as equal.  This is problematic.  If you have a copy of the Khabouris Codex or the Yonan Codex you will find that the UBS reads differently than the UBS texts because it is a totally different text.  So I wouldn't;t suggest using this if you have an AENT and are trying to check your transliterations.  I also worry that some will use this text to "fake the funk" as I call it in terms of their Aramaic scholarship and not really learn Aramaic. 

3 stars out of 5

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The Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels

The Positive: First of all the binding and the quality of the pages and the fact that it comes in a case, makes you not want to even touch it because is is so amazingly packaged.  Not to mention the golden ends of the pages.  No wonder this Bible comes with a case to put it in.  It is so well put together that if there is a nuclear holocaust there will be two things that survive, cockroaches and the Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels.  When you hold it in your hand you know you have something special.  Now what about the inside?  
When I look within this Bible, I love the vantage angle First Fruits of Zion is coming from in terms of readability while also trying to educate the reader.  On the margins of the page it tells you exactly where you are at in the story through side headers, which are extremely helpful.   It also helps the reader learn Hebrew like the OJB does, but FFOZ packaged it in a way to where it is easier to learn in the way it is presented on the side of the pages in the margins with the Hebrew and the transliteration of key words.  Then there is a full Hebrew interlinear second on every even page.  So if you are learning Hebrew and want to challenge yourself in your reading of Hebrew this is perfect for you.  It also has an amazing glossary that isn't too big and not too small.  

The Negative: The only qualms I have are in terms of primacy yet again, and I wish this translation included talmudic references.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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​The Jewish Annotated New Testament

The Positive: As you all know by now, I am a footnote and commentary junkie when it comes to the parallels to the Rabbis and Sages as well as the historical parallels.  Now the Jewish Annotated New Testament has the most extensive, non-biased commentary I have found on the New Testament.  Not only does it have thousands of footnotes making ties to the Tanach and the Talmud but also Josephus and other 1st-2nd century historians and great footnotes explaining essentially what is going on in the text and why this was the custom etc.

The Negative: Well, I only have two things I don't like and they are not major things.  I love that it comes in hardback, but the binding is only about mid-grade, and it is not the prettiest Bible in the world, which hurts it's market appeal.  I think the cover needs to badly be redone.  Also it is basically, Jewish commentary to the RSV (Revised Standard Version), now the Revised Standard Version is good, not the best but it is sufficient.  I think just the translation alone may cause some issues to Jews who pick up Bible because it reads in a way that is very Christian and very greek.  

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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The Scriptures (from The Institute for Scripture Research)

The Positive: At least they don't try and claim it was translated from ancient resources or texts.  It is a decent starter Bible.  It is the same size as the HRV.  If you want a big Bible on your living room table then here you go. 

The Negative: Just not a very good translation.  This is more for those who think they get favor because they see sacred names in the pages and the word Shabbat is in it.  It's basically an ESV with sacred names.  

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
















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The Complete Messianic Aleph Tav Scriptures

The Positive: The graphics on the cover are really nice. 

The Negative: This translation is one of the major issues with the Messianic/Hebrew Roots movement today.  It is obvious the individuals who put this thing together do not even know basic Hebrew, and see Chuck Misler as some sort of hebrew scholar because the theology of the ones who put this "translation" together have adopted Misler's theology (Misler being the individual he is says the Tov is pronounced Toaw btw).  When the fact is someone who has been studying Hebrew for a week would throw this translation out the window.  Because they know the "et" the aleph and tav, point to the noun that gives the action.  If we saw the sentence "Talked Moses Aharon to" we would have to ask.....who talked to whom?  The et (aleph tav) directs us to the one who is giving the action.  So the individuals who put this thing together have built an entire theology around one verse they have taken out of context.  

.05 out of 5 stars 

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The Et Cepher

The Positive: Another beautiful door stop.   Makes good firewood

The Negative: Your first indication of the lack of scholarship in terms of this Bible should be in the name of the Bible.  The collaborators of this Bible do not even know how to spell Sefer, yet put their ignorance on full display by spelling it Cepher.  How the letter Shin makes a C sound I don't know.  This Bible also goes beyond crazy sacred name theology.  Not only referring to G-d as "Yahuah" (Huah being the Hebrew word for deception and trickery) but also screws up the Hebrew names of every single figure in the Bible.  This Bible also panders to some of the worst fringe elements of the Hebrew Roots.  

.5 stars out of 5

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​Hallelujah Scriptures

The Positive: The binding is good and it is visually stunning on the outside 

The Negative: It is a translation that has been in litigation for a very long time with another reviewed translation, The Scriptures.  The individuals who put together the Halleluyah Scriptures admit they stole The Scriptures but they also claim it was translated from different source texts.  In newer editions they say it was translated from Paleo-Hebrew source texts.  And the fact is there is not a single Paleo Hebrew biblical text in existence.  But they use this angle to push sacred name theology. 

1 star out of 5


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Hebrew English New Covenant: Prophecy Edition

The Positive: The volume is beautifully put together.  The cover is very eye catching.  If you are looking for an inexpensive version of the Delitzsch Hebrew in an interlinear form then this is a good volume for you.  The translation is the KJV which many enjoy.  It is a very durable edition for $20 or under usually.  So the price is also right.  This edition is sold also to help fund ministries and they encourage it to be given out for reasons of Jewish evangelism. 

The Negative: There are not really that many negatives other than the KJV translation may be a bit of stumbling block for jewish individuals it is marketed to.  

4 stars out of 5

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Coming Soon: Review of "The Chumash With the Teachings of the Talmud" and The  "Zichron Meir Edition of the Targum of Onkelos"