NIrV Study Bible for Kids

The NIRV Study Bible for Kids is and interesting concept, but not as well executed as I think that it could have been.  First, there were unnecessary pictures.  I don’t understand why almost everyone has to depict Adam and Eve before the fall, without clothing? Yeah it was okay before the fall, but we live after the fall so to depict them in that way now is shameful. It wasn't as bad a it could be (there were the usual bushes) but was worse than some I've come across…they showed enough to make me more uncomfortable with them than I normally would be.  Wouldn't it be wrong to depict the nakedness of the father and mother of all human beings?  Displaying what is now their shame as art?  Should Christians actually promote this?   Also, they had depictions of Christ, and I still think that that type of thing may break (or at least be on the edge of breaking) the commandment to "not make any graven image" to worship.

The NIrV translation itself seems rather good, but it may be a little too clear in some areas for kids….if that's possible in translating a Bible?  For instance, in Ezekiel, the part where God compares Israel and Judah as prostitutes is a bit graphic, but it may not be more graphic than other translations, just more modern in expression (they appear to be sticking to the text quite well and not unnecessarily expanding on it in those areas).  Just wanted to note that for parents' sake.  But I do think that translation is good overall (though I think that the translator(s) of Romans 7 may have thought that the man with conflicting desires is an unsaved person rather than a saved one).  Here are some examples of verses I liked the wording of:   

 "Don't live the way this world lives.  Let your way of thinking be completely changed.  The you will be able to test what God wants for you.  And you will agree that what he wants is right.  His plan is good and pleasing and perfect." - Rom. 12:2 

"Then Jesus spoke to his disciples, he said, "Whoever wants to be my disciples must say no to themselves." - Matt. 16:24 

"All who take part in the games train hard.  They do it to get a crown that will not last.  But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  So I do not run like someone who doesn't run toward the finish line.  I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.." - 1 Cor. 9:26

As I alluded to above, the translation isn't perfect (no translation is), one mistranslation I feel I need to bring up is in Romans 9:  "It is written, "I chose Jacob instead of Esau" - vs. 13  That's a far cry from, "Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate."(YLT).  But they seem to be okay in other parts of the passage: vs 18, "So God does what he wants to do.  He shows mercy to one person and makes another stubborn…" Other places are not translated very accurately as well, but again, no translation is absolutely perfect across the board.   

Again, on the positive side, there are questions in little boxes throughout the Bible that kids can ponder, and a little dictionary at the back than can be pretty helpful, as well as maps.  Anyway, the translation was okay, but maybe a bit too specific in passages speaking sexual related things for kids..maybe… again, that's debatable. Again, can a Bible translation translate a word too clearly? As long as the word is actually translating, and is not expanding on a word or making it refer to more than it does in the actual Greek and Hebrew, is it too clear?  Again, parents should decide this for themselves, as to what there kids should or should not read/know at their ages.  My biggest problem was the pictures, so because of that I can't rate this edition as high as I would have without them.  Otherwise it was pretty good. 

 

I received a free copy of this book from the Booklook Blogger Program(My review did not have to be favorable)