« | Exodus 27 | » |
1 "You shall make an altar of acacia wood, on a square, five cubits long and five cubits wide; it shall be three cubits high.
2 At the four corners there are to be horns, so made that they spring directly from the altar. You shall then plate it with bronze.
3 Make pots for removing the ashes, as well as shovels, basins, forks and fire pans, all of which shall be of bronze.
4 Make a grating of bronze network for it; this to have four bronze rings, one at each of its four corners.
5 Put it down around the altar, on the ground. This network is to be half as high as the altar.
6 You shall also make poles of acacia wood for the altar, and plate them with bronze.
7 These poles are to be put through the rings, so that they are on either side of the altar when it is carried.
8 Make the altar itself in the form of a hollow box, just as it was shown you on the mountain.
9 "You shall also make a court for the Dwelling. On the south side the court shall have hangings a hundred cubits long, woven of fine linen twined,
10 with twenty columns and twenty pedestals of bronze; the hooks and bands on the columns shall be of silver.
11 On the north side there shall be similar hangings, a hundred cubits long, with twenty columns and twenty pedestals of bronze; the hooks and bands on the columns shall be of silver.
12 On the west side, across the width of the court, there shall be hangings, fifty cubits long, with ten columns and ten pedestals.
13 The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.
14 On one side there shall be hangings to the extent of fifteen cubits, with three columns and three pedestals;
15 on the other side there shall be hangings to the extent of fifteen cubits, with three columns and three pedestals.
16 "At the entrance of the court there shall be a variegated curtain, twenty cubits long, woven of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and of fine linen twined. It shall have four columns and four pedestals.
17 "All the columns around the court shall have bands and hooks of silver, and pedestals of bronze.
18 The enclosure of the court is to be one hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and five cubits high. Fine linen twined must be used, and the pedestals must be of bronze.
19 All the fittings of the Dwelling, whatever be their use, as well as all its tent pegs and all the tent pegs of the court, must be of bronze.
20 "You shall order the Israelites to bring you clear oil of crushed olives, to be used for the light, so that you may keep lamps burning regularly.
21 From evening to morning Aaron and his sons shall maintain them before the LORD in the meeting tent, outside the veil which hangs in front of the commandments. This shall be a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites throughout their generations.
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.