« | Leviticus 2 | » |
1 "When you give a grain offering to the Lord, your offering must be made from fine flour. You must pour oil on this flour and put frankincense on it.
2 Then you must bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests. The priest will take a handful of the fine flour with oil and frankincense in it. Then he will bring this as a memorial offering to the altar to be burned up as a sweetsmelling gift to the Lord.
3 The rest of that grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. This gift to the Lord is very holy.
4 "If you give a grain offering that was baked in the oven, it must be unleavened bread made from fine flour mixed with oil, or it must be wafers with oil poured over them.
5 If you bring a grain offering cooked in a baking pan, it must be made from fine flour without yeast and mixed with oil.
6 You must break it into pieces and pour oil over it. It is a grain offering.
7 If you bring a grain offering cooked in a frying pan, it must be made from fine flour mixed with oil.
8 "When you bring grain offerings made from these things to the Lord, you must give them to the priest, and he will take them to the altar.
9 Then the priest will take part of the grain offering and lift it up as a memorial offering. He will bring it to the altar to be burned up as a sweetsmelling gift to the Lord.
10 The rest of that grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. This gift to the Lord is very holy.
11 "You must not give any grain offering to the Lord that has yeast in it. You must not burn yeast or honey as a gift to the Lord.
12 You may bring yeast and honey to the Lord as an offering from the first harvest, but they must not be put on the altar to be burned as a sweet smell.
13 Also, you must put salt on every grain offering you bring. You must not let the salt of God's agreement be missing from your grain offering. You must bring salt with all your offerings.
14 "If you bring a grain offering from the first harvest to the Lord, you must bring roasted heads of grain. They must be crushed heads of fresh grain. This will be your grain offering from the first harvest.
15 You must put oil and frankincense on it. It is a grain offering.
16 The priest must burn part of the crushed grain, the oil, and all the frankincense on it as a memorial offering. It is a gift to the Lord.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.