"I love my HRV." "If the Hebraic Roots Version Scriptures, translated, edited and compiled by Dr. James S. Trimm of the Society of Nazarene Judaism is an eye-pleasing experience, then opening the cover of this beautifully bound edition with gold-edged pages and metal protectors on each corner of the cover will prove to be a mind-pleasing experience. "When one first sees the HRV it is impressive in size and beautiful to behold. An 11x8 page size is covered in bonded leather with gilded lettering and corner protectors. The pages of heavy "bible paper" are also edged with gilding and well sewn into the binding. You are provided with a place marker in vibrant red so as to continue were you left of in your reading or mark a special place for remembering. The text is in a nice size with copious footnotes from many sources. The notes in the front are most informative as to the translators reasons and sources for this new translation.
- Rabbi Rob Miller
Agudat Bris Congregation
"The HRV (Hebraic-Roots Version) is tov! and I am enjoying it as it fully
compliments the Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition!"
- Rabbi Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky,
Editor of The Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition
( http://www.restorationscriptures.org )
Personally, I appreciate the large size of the Bible and the flowing, easy to read print style. Dr. Trimm's translation is faithful to the most ancient texts available today. Although it was translated primarily (but not exclusively) from the Masoretic text, Dr. Trimm was careful to avoid some of the errors of the Masoretic Text, especially when it comes to translating the Sacred Name of YHWH. This version translates the Sacred Name as "YHWH," with no vowels, to allow the reader to render the exact pronunciation of the Name as they best understand it.
Throughout the TaNaKh Dr. Trimm was careful to be faithful to the original autographs so as to uphold the inerrancy and Divine inspiration of the Scriptures.
The HRV Scriptures features a table of Torah and Haftorah Readings for use throughout the year. This table offers alternate Haftorah readings based on the Sephardic tradition.
Another feature, one unique to the HRV Scriptures, is a "forward" section in which Dr. Trimm sets forth a very strong case for the Semitic (i.e. Hebrew/Aramaic) origins of the Brit Chadasha (New Testament). In doing so, Dr. Trimm is able to correct some of the translational and grammatical errors of the Greek New Testament and clarify Semitic idiomatic expression used in the Brit Chadasha, enabling the reader to put them into proper perspective and correct understanding.
In my opinion, the HRV Scriptures is a delight to read and a must for every serious student of the Bible."
-Nazarene Rabbi Tom (Mordecai) Mitchell
Yahshua Ohr HaOlam Congregation
Board Member, UONYC
"Dr. James Trimm has done an excellent job of giving Nazarene Yisrael a translation based upon the Aramaic / Semitic TaNaK and Brit Chadasha. No longer does the talmid have to read the Scriptures through the Greek eyes of the "Church" translators. Many verses have been restored from the Aramaic text to render the true Hebraic meaning to give you a better understanding of its true meaning in the context of the culture and times. When used with the Restoration Scriptures, the student will have two powerful tools in their hands and heads.Thank you Dr. Trimm for all the hard work in giving this gift to the Nazarenes."
- Rabbi Edward Levi Nydle
B'nai Avraham Congregation
Board of Rabbis, UONYC
I myself appreciate Dr Trimm's use of Hebrew and Aramaic sources for this translation. many passages are much clearer in there meaning thru the use of sources closer to the original than is usual. one very useful document Dr Trimm referred to was the Massorah, Marginal notes of the Masorite Scribes, which explains why the scribes copied the text as they did and if any "clarifications were made. One such note says that Genesis 18:22 originally said "...YHWH stood yet before Avraham." instead of "...but Avraham stood yet before YHVH." What a long and deep midrash could we get from that alone. The Massorah also list 17 other such places all footnoted in the HRV. Also note by the Scribes are several places were YHVH was replaced ,for reverence or clarification, with either Adonai or Elohim and all these are also noted in the text of the HRV.
I continue for a long time, with the multitude of sources at Dr Trimm's disposal, and indeed at the disposal of any modern scholar who can read them, he has replaced into the text many misplaced or lost pieces such as Psalm 145:13b and a name in the list of YÎshua's fore bearers to the throne of David. Many passages in the Ketuvim Netzarim are made instantly clear and no longer in conflict with the torah by the use of the Semitic sources by Dr Trimm. All in all an excellent work which I highly recommend."
- Talmadge C Carr, Batlan
Tiqkun Baith David, Beaverton OR
Acting General Secretary, Union of Nazarene Jewish Synagogues
James S Trimm has done a masterful job with his translation of the New Testament. He is very generous with footnotes, giving full credit to scholars who went before him in producing New Testament translations based on Semitic texts such as the Hebrew and Aramaic. He has done a tremendous amount of original research, as well as making abundant use of the scholarship of others. His translation is important in that it is the first modern "Jewish" New Testament which is based almost entirely upon ancient Aramaic texts of the New Testament, except for Matthew which he translates from the Hebrew, and some small epistles such as 2John and 2Peter in which there are no ancient Aramaic texts which have survived.
The churches of the East generally swear to the validity of the Aramaic being the original NT, whereas the churches of the West swear to the Greek as being the original NT. Trimm presents considerable evidence that the original NT was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, which were the primary languages of the authors of the NT, who all happened to be Jews, including Dr. Luke.
It is extremely difficult to translate from ancient Semitic languages into modern English. When translating scripture, there is much more pressure to do it as accurately as possible. Also, although Hebrew and Aramaic are both Semitic languages, they are still different languages. Trimm, although borrowing from the scholarship of others, has done a masterful job with his translation. He has been kind to readers in using a word order which is something of a blend of modern English with the familiar KJV. I recently purchased another NT translated from the Aramaic called The Aramaic New Covenant © 1996, published by Exegesis Bibles. This is a very literal translation, but very difficult to read and understand. Trimm’s translation is much easier to read and understand.
Trimm makes significant suse of the Peshitta, which is roughly equivalent to a “textus receptus” for the Eastern Church. It is entirely Aramaic, the lingua franca (or international language) of the world at that time, along with Greek, which was the ‘lingua franca’ in much of Europe, along with Latin. The Peshitta was the text that George Lamsa used for his translation of the Bible in 1933, currently published by Harper and Row. Although Hebrew was the language primarily in use on the streets of Jerusalem, Aramaic was the common language in much of northern Israel, where Yeshua and his Talmidim (Disciples) lived.
Trimm's Introduction is almost worth the cost of purchasing his NT…. It contains a wealth of useful information…
Trimm's footnotes give insights on passages which are difficult or almost nonsensical when translated from Greek, but make sense when translated from Hebrew or Aramaic, or when read from a Hebraic perspective. There are some Hebrew-Aramaic idioms which were, apparently, literally translated into the Greek, which can be used to ‘prove’ an Aramaic/Hebrew original, or else that the writer wrote in Greek, but with a Hebrew mindset.
Although I am not ready to throw away my New American Standard or my King James Version, I do find Trimm’s translation a very useful addition to my library….
This translation also resembles a sacred name translation in that the proper names of diety are used, although the proper name for God is written as YHWH, leaving it to the reader as to how (or if) to pronounce it. Titles such as Eloah are also used. Trimm uses the familiar ‘Yeshua’ as the name of our Messiah.
… Considering all the work that went into this volume, and that it is geared to a more limited readership, it is very reasonably priced. We heartily recommend it to our readers.