Serious Translation Mistakes in the Chinese Version—A Call for Immediate Action
Hi, Logos administrators
I reported several typographical errors in the Chinese Forum five years ago, yet they remain uncorrected. Despite repeated assurances from the Chinese staff that these errors would be addressed, no changes have been made. Frankly, I find this lack of efficiency and commitment frustrating.
To escalate the issue, I am bringing it to the English forum in hopes of gaining the attention of the Logos Management Team, who oversee product quality and can intervene where necessary.
The errors come from the pre-installed Chinese Union Version Shen Edition, Simplified Chinese (Resource ID: HLYBBLSMPSHNDTN). To provide context for English-speaking readers, I will compare them with equivalent verses from the ESV:
- Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV):"GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments."
However, the phrase "he makes my feet like the deer’s" is missing in the Chinese version. I reported this issue on May 16, 2020, yet it remains unresolved. Since Logos itself is the publisher of this book, shouldn't corrections be handled more swiftly?
- 1 Kings 8:60 (ESV):"That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no God."
The word "other" is missing, altering the meaning entirely. The correct translation should be "There is no OTHER God." This mistake, first reported on November 30, 2019, is still uncorrected.
Additionally, all instances of "物件" in HLYBBLSMPSHNDTN were incorrectly translated as "对象", affecting multiple verses, including:
- Exodus 22:8, 25:40, 38:21
- Leviticus 11:35, 13:48, 13:49, 13:50, 13:52, 13:53, 13:54, 13:55, 13:57, 13:58, 13:59, 15:20, 15:22, 15:23, 15:27
- Numbers 4:15, 16:26,
- Joshua 7:21
- Samuel 17:22
- 1 Chronicles 16:14
- 2 Chronicles 21:19
- Jeremiah 34:5, 46:19
- Ezekiel 12:3, 12:4, 12:5, 12:7, 12:12, 18:7, 18:16, 27:27
- Mark 11:11
- Hebrews 8:5, 9:6, 9:23,
- Revelation 18:14
There may be additional errors that have yet to be identified.
I understand the Simplified Chinese version is not as widely used as the Traditional Chinese edition within the Logos community. However, neglecting these issues raises serious concerns about quality control. How can readers trust other Chinese books when even the Bible—the most foundational text—is riddled with avoidable mistakes?
The Chinese Logos Bible Dictionary also contains translation errors. One glaring example involves David and Mephibosheth:
- The English version correctly states that David gave Mephibosheth all the property and servants that had belonged to Saul (2 Samuel 9:1-13).
- However, the Chinese translation mistakenly claims that David gave all of Mephibosheth’s property and servants TO Saul—a clear mistranslation. Such a fundamental mistake demonstrates a lack of care and competence.
Another issue is the translation of Jonathan (son of Saul) as "乔纳森", a secular and modern name, instead of the Biblically appropriate "约拿单", showing unfamiliarity with biblical conventions.
It seems that instead of prioritizing accuracy, the team is more focused on promoting new products—without ensuring existing ones meet basic quality standards.
Call to Action
I urge Logos to:
- Strengthen its review and proofreading process—books failing to meet quality standards should not be published.
- Ensure reader feedback is taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
- Maintain strict quality control, as ongoing negligence will not only damage Logos' reputation but undermine reader confidence.
Let’s work together to ensure the Word of God is accurately preserved and presented.
May God bless this effort and ensure that this post reaches those who can bring meaningful change.
Comments
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I came across a few of translations issues of CUV simp years before which cost almost a decade of time of wasted years. it’s like a veil to those who preach using Chinese translations as well.
so I share your urgency on that.
我已经放弃使用中文版圣经研经，盼望神兴起懂得希伯来语和希腊文的弟兄姐妹起来重新从原文翻译到中文。
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Do you have access to a hardcopy of the Bible? Usually, Logos is very responsive to errors in Bible text but if they appear in the original text provided by the publisher, their hands are tied.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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The publisher of this resource is Faithlife, as mentioned above:
So the corrections are supposedly controlled by Logos/Faithlife.
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Thank you very much for reporting back, we are in the process of restoring this bible and we will re-update this bible again.
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