ESV Bible word changes raise questions; Crossway reverses ‘permanent’ decision

The reportedly fastest-growing Bible translation — the English Standard Version (ESV) — made headlines recently when 52 words were changed.

Debate erupted specifically with a tweak made to the wording in Genesis 3:16. It was changed from: “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” to “Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you,” according to Christianity Today.

The same words were changed in Genesis 4:7 in reference to sin.Other word changes were more slight in nature and the editing affected 29 verses in all.

When the update was released by the ESV oversight committee in August, Crossway — the Bible’s publisher — also announced that the 2016 edition of the ESV Bible would be the “permanent text.”

“Beginning in the summer of 2016, the text of the ESV Bible will remain unchanged in all future editions printed and published by Crossway — in much the same way that the King James Version (KJV) has remained unchanged ever since the final KJV text was established almost 250 years ago (in 1769),” Crossway announced, according to Baptist News Global.

‘A mistake’

While not commenting on the questions about the Genesis word change, Crossway has since reversed its “no changes” decision.

Lane T. Dennis, president and CEO of Crossway, said, “We desired for there to be a stable and standard text that would serve the reading, memorizing, preaching and liturgical needs of Christians worldwide from one generation to another.

“We have become convinced that this decision was a mistake,” he said. “We apologize … and we want to explain what we now believe to be the way forward. Our desire above all is to do what is right before the Lord.”

Most reports indicate the ESV is the third most popular Bible translation in the United States. The KJV continues to hold the top spot and the New International Version ranks second.

The ESV was first printed in 2001. Two professors at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham are part of the oversight committee. (TAB)