« | Leviticus 3 | » |
1 "If you offer one of your cattle as a fellowship offering, whether it is a bull or a cow, it must have nothing wrong with it.
2 You must put your hand on the animal's head and kill the animal at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. Then Aaron's sons, the priests, will splash the blood on all four sides of the altar.
3 The priest will take a part of that fellowship offering as a gift to the Lord. He will take the fat that is over and around the inner parts.
4 He will take the two kidneys and the fat covering them near the lower back muscle. He will also remove the fat part of the liver that is near the kidneys.
5 Then Aaron's sons will bring the fat to the altar and put it on the burnt offering that is on the wood on the fire. It is a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord.
6 "If you offer a sheep or a goat as a fellowship offering to the Lord, whether it is a male or a female, it must have nothing wrong with it.
7 If you bring a lamb as an offering to the Lord,
8 you must put your hand on the animal's head and kill it in front of the Meeting Tent. Then Aaron's sons will splash the animal's blood on all four sides of the altar.
9 The priest will take part of the fellowship offering to the altar as a gift to the Lord. The priest must cut off the tail close to the backbone. Then he will offer the whole fat tail and the fat that is over and around the animal's inner parts.
10 He will also offer the two kidneys and the fat covering them near the lower back muscles. He will also offer the fat part of the liver. He must remove it with the kidneys.
11 Then the priest will take that part to the altar to be burned up as food, a gift to the Lord.
12 "If the offering is a goat, you must bring it before the Lord.
13 You must put your hand on the goat's head and kill it in front of the Meeting Tent. Then Aaron's sons, the priests, must splash the goat's blood on all four sides of the altar.
14 The priest will give part of the fellowship offering as a gift to the Lord. He will offer the fat that is over and around the animal's inner parts.
15 He will offer the two kidneys and the fat covering them near the lower back muscle. He will also offer the fat part of the liver. He will remove it with the kidneys.
16 Then the priest will bring that food as a sweetsmelling gift to the Lord. The fat belongs to the Lord.
17 This rule will continue forever through all your generations. Wherever you live, you must never eat fat or blood."
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.