« | Numbers 30 | » |
1 Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, "This [is] the thing which the LORD has commanded:
2 "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
3 " Or if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds [herself] by some agreement while in her father's house in her youth,
4 "and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand.
5 "But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will release her, because her father overruled her.
6 " If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself,
7 "and her husband hears [it,] and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand.
8 "But if her husband overrules her on the day that he hears [it,] he shall make void her vow which she took and what she uttered with her lips, by which she bound herself, and the LORD will release her.
9 " Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.
10 " If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath,
11 "and her husband heard [it,] and made no response to her [and] did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand.
12 "But if her husband truly made them void on the day he heard [them,] then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows or concerning the agreement binding her, it shall not stand; her husband has made them void, and the LORD will release her.
13 "Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may confirm it, or her husband may make it void.
14 "Now if her husband makes no response whatever to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all the agreements that bind her; he confirms them, because he made no response to her on the day that he heard [them.]
15 "But if he does make them void after he has heard [them,] then he shall bear her guilt."
16 These [are] the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father's house.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.