What is dynamic equivalence in Bible translation?

TL;DR:

Dynamic equivalence is a thought-for-thought translation approach that prioritizes natural readability and understanding in the target language rather than literal accuracy to the original text.

The Bible teaches how essential it is to honor God’s word, which would logically include being careful about the translations we accept. Paul advised Timothy of the importance of “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The apostle Peter warned that some try to “twist” the words of scripture when a passage is difficult (2 Peter 3:15-16). Both Deuteronomy and Revelation contain warnings about not adding to or taking away from Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). All of these warnings apply to the translation process.

In short, the translation matters. Dynamic equivalence, also known as functional or thought-for-thought translation, is a Bible translation approach that prioritizes conveying the original message in a way that feels natural and understandable in the target language. This method focuses on the reader's response, aiming for the same impact on modern audiences as the original text had on its first readers. It is the opposite of formal equivalence, a literal translation approach which emphasizes word-for-word accuracy and adhering the original grammatical structure.

The New Living Translation (NLT) and Contemporary English Version (CEV) are examples of dynamic equivalence translations. Formal (literal) equivalence translations include the English Standard Version (ESV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New King James Version (NKJV), King James Version (KJV), and New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Some translations combine the two approaches to balance accuracy and readability, including the New International Version (NIV), New English Translation (NET) and Christian Standard Bible (CSB). To illustrate, Psalm 23:1 and 2 Timothy 2:15 are compared below in the ESV and NLT.

from the old testament

The ESV is a formal equivalence. Psalm 23:1 in the ESV translation reads, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Compare that same passage to the dynamic equivalence method used by the NLT: "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need" (Psalm 23:1, NLT).

from the new testament

Paul advised Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV). God’s word must be handled with the utmost care.
Contrast the ESV translation above to this NLT translation of the same passage: "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT).
The choice of translation is a personal preference. What’s most important is regularly reading the Bible as it is our guide to living God-honoring lives (2 Timothy 3:16).

implications for today

Biblical Hebrew and Greek contain concepts and words for which there exist no direct equivalents in English. So even formal equivalence must use a dynamic approach in some cases. The English word love is a good example. In Hebrew there are two different words for "love" and in Greek there are four. Those six words have different nuances and meanings without a direct equivalent in English. Therefore, translators have added modifiers to try to communicate the differing concepts like "steadfast love" for the Hebrew chesed or "brotherly love" for the Greek philadelphia.

A wise approach to studying the Bible would be to use a few different translations. For example, you might use a dynamic equivalence translation to understand the basic message of the text and then a literal translation to conduct word studies and discover what the passage meant for its original audience. Comparing the two may change your understanding of the passage and how it applies for you today.

understand

Dynamic equivalency is a thought-for-thought rather than word-for-word translation.
A dynamic equivalency translation prioritizes readability in the target language over literal accuracy from the original languages.
Dynamic equivalency translations, such as the NLT and the CEV, can help with understanding the overall message while a more literal translation, such as the ESV, can encourage deeper word studies.

reflect

What translation do you most often use and why?
When you’ve compared verses in more than one translation, how has that helped you to gain a deeper understanding of the passage?
Has your translation choice changed from when you first started reading the Bible until now? Why or why not?

engage

How can dynamic equivalency translations, such as the NLT, be a good starting point for those who are new to the Bible?
Why are not all Bible translations, such as the Passion Bible and the New World Translation (used by Jehovah’s Witnesses), accepted by evangelical Christians? How can we determine what makes a worthy translation?
What are some problems with movements like “KJV only”?