Expert: Dean Gade - 11/21/2006

Question
What i would like to know is how accurate is the direct translation from the original bible to todays version of the bible? Because i know that not all words in the original can be directly translated.

Answer
It's not that some words can't be directly translated.  It's that there are too many choices in the definition for the translator.  Picking only one of the definitions causes the translators to use their own bias in that choice.

FOR EXAMPLE:
A simple preposition, the word used in the New Tesatament Greek (kata), has these definitions in the Greek

kata (kat-ah'); a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined):


Translated in the King James Version - about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, [charita-] bly, concerning, + covered, [daily-], down, every, (+far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in (-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-) on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+your) X own, + particularly, so, through (-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-) to (-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where (-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity

With such a simple word, the context of the Bible verse usually would guide the translator to pick the English word which would reflect the meaning which was meant in the original.
 But with other words like "judge", which could mean "discern, condemn, pass sentence, damn..." it is not that easy to determine the orignal meaning in the Bible.

For anyone intent on seeing the possible meanings, there are ways even if you are not a Greek scholar.  

The simplest would be to get an "Amplified Bible".  Many of the words in the amplified versions are followed by a parenthesis which then include many of the meanings of the word other than the one chosen by the translators.

More accurate, but a bit more difficult would be to get either Srong's  or Young's "Exhaustive Concordance".  These list where you can find each and every word in the Bible put in alphabetical order.  With each word there is a number directing you to the back of the concordance where all the Hebrew and Greek words are found with their rather full definitions.  

To find the complete definitions, you could add another book knows as a Bible Lexicon. These books define not only how the word was used in all places of the Bible but also how the word was used historicaly in secular society by the Hebrews or Greeks.

To go further than that in ascertaining the meaning, you might as well begin classes at a Bible based seminary where you would learn the orginal languages, including syntax which changes(determines)the meaning of a word by its case or tense, the variations among the extant manuscripts, and various rules of interpretation.

The easiest is to get a reputable Version (my choice as one who does compare the versions of the New Testament to the original Greek) is the New International Bible(NIV) ......and if you want more to get an amplified Bible at a Bible Book store.