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Scripture memory – different translations
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Well, this question isn’t about the specific translation, per se, but rather do you memorize using the translation that you prefer to read from.
An example, my daughter and I were reciting Psalm 23 this morning. I learned it as a little girl and she learned it at school and both of us learned it in KJV. However, we read from the NIV now, which obviously reads differently. I’m just wondering what you would do in this situation. Would you relearn it in the different translation? Do you know scriptures in more than one translation?
Please do not comment on whether you think one translation is correct over any other – let’s keep harmony!
We do use The Complete Jewish Bible for our memory verses, that’s what we use in our worship and study; EXCEPT for those verses like Psalm 23 that just flows better in the KJV. Another example for me is Psalm 121, I like the NIV version. So I determine that as I come across the verse.
Many of our verse memorizations come from music we listen to. We listen to Messianic music, which uses alot of Scripture and in the past, my children have listened to the Steve Green cd’s.
So, yeah, they have a combination of translations in their heads!
Rachel
We also have learned Scripture in different translations. My daughters have been a part of an AWANA program (involves Scripture memory) that uses the KJV. However, we usually do not read out of the KJV for our family Bible reading time and it is not primarily the version used at our new church home. I don’t plan to intentionally re-learn the Scripture that they know already. Although my older daughter will not be in AWANA anymore and I am considering using the Scripture memory technique from SCM. I haven’t decided which Bible version we will use for this. We have many on our bookshelves. My husband is in seminary and has a Greek version, but I’m not going to tackle that at the moment 🙂
I do happen to love Psalm 23 from the KJV. I’ll be interested to hear other comments on this question.
Toni
Well, KJV is much, much easier to memorize! It flows so much more like poetry. There is an inherent “rhythm” to it. (Caveat–my family does both memorize and study primarily from KJV so I may very well be biased)
I can see no reason to “relearn” a passage once learned in KJV, especially an iconic passage like Psalm 23. In fact, even if one studies primarily from another translation, it may just be that certain sections of KJV perhaps ought to be studied, simply for the literary value and the tremendous influence it has had on English, and I would place Psalm 23 in that category.
As for which translation to memorize in the future–what about reading one or more translations and choosing each time? God’s Word is still God’s Word. Perhaps some passages will be better memorized using a translation that helps you see the greater spiritual meanings clearly, and others perhaps the poetic language will seem more meaningful.
And if you really want a CHALLENGE for your child’s memory, choose Amplified. . . <vbg>
For me, the main reason we memorize Scripture relates to Psalm 119:11-“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” So, I say memorize the version you feel led to. As ‘bookworm’ said, feel free to make a different choice for different verses. “For the word of God is living and active.”-Hebrews 4:12, whatever version you choose to memorize. 🙂
We have a couple of different bibles…the New American Bible and an old one belonging to my dad, the Douay-Rheims. For my everyday reading, I use the NAB but for memorizing, we use whichever one flows the easiest for us.
I’m laughing, bookworm, because I love the Amplified version but thought to myself, there’s no way I’d try to do scripture memory from it because it gets too stilted.
I like the suggestion of looking at each verse on an individual basis. Thanks for all your wonderful comments ladies!
We memorize from either the KJV or Geneva Bible. Primarily KJV because as Bookworm stated it does flow like poetry and it is the main text we use for all our readings and study.
I take a selfish approach and use the version that I already know the psalm in – KJV. 🙂
We do use a variety of translations for other verses and passages, depending on which one is clearer and easier to understand and/or used in a group setting that we are involved in, etc. Many of those passages I have had to re-learn in NIV or NAS or ESV. But when it comes to psalms, I stick to KJV because that rhythm and cadence is so ingrained in my head.
I learned all my scripture in grade school in the KJV as well. But as a teenager, I switched to NKJV. I do not study exclusively in any one particular version, but I keep all my scripture memory to NKJV. It is extremely similar to the KJV, but a bit easier as far as the modern English language goes. Because I am familiar with it, it is what I have my kids learn.
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