
	Bible Reviews Bible Reviews

Amplified Bible

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Analysis

Summary:

This version may be enlightening to some, but the added biased interpretation, unneccessary repetition, and outright mistranslation make the Amplified Bible too loud.

First, some explanation is required to understand what follows. This version is not only a translation; nuances, inferences, interpretations and full-blown explanations of the text are included in the text itself. The following is from the Lockman Web Site:

Parentheses ( ) signify additional phases of meaning included in the original word, phrase, or clause of the original language.

Brackets [ ] contained[sic] justified clarifying words o[sic] comments not actually expressed in the immediate original text, as well as definitions of Greek names.

Italics point out:

certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts. This is the primary use of italics in the New Testament, so that, upon encountering italics, the reader is alerted to a matter of textual readings. Often these will be accompanied by a footnote.

conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and the like, not in the original text, but used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word. In this use, the reader, upon encountering a conjunction in italics, is alerted to the addition of an amplified word or phrase.

words which are not found in the original Greek but implied by it. 1

For example, compare this passage of the Amplified Bible to the (very) literal NASB, James 3:18 —

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
— NASB 3

And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
— AMP 2

When you’re done laughing (I did), we can dissect this paragraph, er, verse to see why it appears to have a hyperactive thyroid. The contents of the first parentheses describe righteousness, in a way I sincerely doubt is “additional phases of meaning included in the original word”4, and indeed I doubt its morality. The contents of the first brackets seem to be included just to make certain that you haven’t forgotten the topic while reading the parenthetical insertion. At first I thought that the and was merely a single word added to improve the translation, and correctly signified by italics. I will address its much greater significance in the next paragraph. Finally, we reach the contents of the second set of brackets. I think it quite clear that when the author wrote “peace” (Strong’s #1515), he did not mean to convey this list of weighty concepts! Am I the only one disturbed by “undisturbedness?”

The “work for and make” clause is something I label a mistranslation. There is one Greek word (Strong’s #4160) which can mean either make or work for, but not both as separate verbs at the same time. I can find no other version which translates this word in this “double” fashion. It is certain that more here is added than merely the and. Distressingly, it is not obvious. The and should not be added at all, since two activities are neither stated nor implied by the verse. This intentional duplication in translation, with only “conjunctions such as ‘and,’ ‘or,’ and the like”5 indicating the duplication, is a common occurence in this version. I am very displeased that, with all the apparent effort made in this version to show implied words,5 (additional phases of meaning)4 and [clarifying words or comments]6, these “additional English words”5 are added directly into the text without specific indication.

If all this seems confusing, allow me to simplify: the phrase should be printed “work for (make)” or “make (work for)” to signify “additional phases of meaning”4 rather than convey a two-fold activity. The translator has avoided using his or her own typographical mechanism and actually changed the meaning of the verse.

This version has only one saving grace: there are individuals who find this “amplification” enlightening. This, despite all of the things which make this version unappealing and, well, wrong. I have known one such person, and I have seen glowing reviews from others on the Internet. This is a very important consideration. For these special individuals whose beliefs are aligned with this version’s bias, and who are not put off by the wordiness or inaccuracy, I would give a Reading Rating of 2 (its clumsy reading no matter what), and a Study Rating of 3.

What about the rest of us? Because of this versions bias, unmarked additions, inaccuracy and unnecessary wordiness [verbosity, prolixity, repetitiousness, are you sick of this yet], I give it my lowest rating in both categories. Don’t buy this unless you already know you like it. — JEP

Footnotes

Used with permission from The Lockman Foundation.
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Online

Articles

Editions

Recommendation:

The Large Print editions, at the end of the first table, have no concordances. I do not consider this a significant lack in such a wordy version. The HC (Hard Cover) large print version seems to be the best bargain. The leather version (L, not BL) comes at a suspiciously good price but is consistently described as genuine leather, not bonded.

The Parallel editions in the second table have no cross-references and, at best, abridged concordances. These editions do have the advantage of being a very easy way to carry multiple versions. Get the edition that contains the versions you like.

Regular and Large Print Editions


Shop	PB	Burgundy	8	no	no	yes	$14.99
Shop	HC	Multi	8	no	no	yes	$27.99
Shop	BL	Navy	8	no	no	yes	$37.79
Shop	BL	Black	8	no	no	yes	$59.99
Shop	BL	Burgundy	8	no	gold	yes	$59.99
Shop	L	Burgundy	8	no	gold	yes	$44.09
Shop	HC	Multi	8	yes	no	yes	$25.07
Shop	BL	Black	8	yes	gold	yes	$44.09
Shop	BL	Burgundy	8	yes	gold	yes	$44.09
Shop	HC	Multi	12	no	no	no	$32.99
Shop	BL	Burgundy	12	no	gold	no	$69.99

* Prices valid on 31 January 2006

Parallel Editions


Shop	HC	Multi	8	no	no	NASB, NIV, KJV, AMP	no	$36.94
Shop	BL	Burgundy	8	no	no	NASB, NIV, KJV, AMP	no	$62.99
Shop	HC	Multi	8	no	no	KJV, AMP	yes	$23.09
Shop	BL	Black	8	no	no	KJV, AMP	yes	$40.94
Shop	HC	Multi	9.4	no	no	KJV, AMP	yes	$26.39
Shop	BL	Black	9.4	no	gold	KJV, AMP	yes	$40.94

* Prices valid on 31 January 2006