Translating the Bible INTO Hebrew?!

It is a common thing to hear about Wyliffe Bible Translators and others looking to publish an edition of the Bible in a new language, starting with the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. But how often do you hear about a plan to translate the Hebrew Bible into Hebrew? The idea is that modern Hebrew and ancient Hebrew are significantly different, and that modern students need a version which is closer to what they speak in Israel these days. I guess it is like trying to "translate" Shakespeare into modern English.

"The language of the Bible is a 'foreign language' for Israeli students, and there is a need to interpose easier language, so that teachers can have free time to delve deeper [into the material]," said Rafi Mozes (who decided to etch his name on the project for posterity and thus titled the book the Ram Bible, where "Ram" represents his initials in Hebrew). Avraham Ahuvia, who translated the work, added: "I was convinced [to put out the book] because we teachers translate the Bible orally in lessons for the students, who have a difficult time understanding the grand language."

The real problem here is that the "translators" chose to change the meaning of key verses of scripture while making it more readable to moderns. It is often hard to do a translation without accidentally or purposely slanting the new version with your own ideas and preconceptions.