# Recommend a good English translation of the Tanakh

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-english-translation-of-the-tanakh/356763>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 14, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-english-translation-of-the-tanakh/356763 "2006-05-14T23:17:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-english-translation-of-the-tanakh/356763/1 "2006-05-14T23:17:08Z")

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I am looking for a good translation of the Tanakh into English.

I really want a translation from Jewish perspective.

Does anyone have any experience with this version:  
[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0827603665/ref=sib\_rdr\_dp/104-0653600-4738301?\_encoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&no=283155&st=books&n=283155](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0827603665/ref=sib_rdr_dp/104-0653600-4738301?%5Fencoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&no=283155&st=books&n=283155)

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-english-translation-of-the-tanakh/356763/2 "2006-05-15T13:59:18Z")

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> [@Jebus H. Christ](#):
>
> I am looking for a good translation of the Tanakh into English.
> 
> I really want a translation from Jewish perspective.
> 
> Does anyone have any experience with this version:  
> [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0827603665/ref=sib\_rdr\_dp/104-0653600-4738301?\_encoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&no=283155&st=books&n=283155](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0827603665/ref=sib_rdr_dp/104-0653600-4738301?%5Fencoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&no=283155&st=books&n=283155)

Yeah, that is the standard modern translation for the English-speaking Jewish community. I recommend shelling out the few extra dollars for this, though- same translation but with study notes from a variety of Jewish perspectives…

[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195297512/ref=pd\_sim\_b\_5/102-2238331-2401769?\_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195297512/ref=pd_sim_b_5/102-2238331-2401769?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155)

As mentioned in other SDMB Bible discussions, I’m a big fan of Everett Fox’s THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES, and I’m eagerly awaiting his PROPHETS and WRITINGS.