"Breaks fresh ground...Mitchell's translation tells the stories in a voice much like the ancient Hebrew, without adornment." -- Seattle Times
From the author of The Gospel According to Jesus comes a new adaptation of the book of Genesis.
In this highly acclaimed translation, Stephen Mitchell conveys in English the simplicity, dignity and powerful earthiness of the original Hebrew. More than just interpreting it, he also separates stories that were combined by scribes centuries after they were written, explaining their sources and omitting all verses that are recognized as scribal additions. Like removing coat after coat of lacquer from a once-vibrant masterpiece, this allows readers to appreciate the clarity of the original tales.
Genesis is an extraordinarily beautiful book that is accessible in a way that no other translation has ever been. It will shed new light on readers' understanding of this seminal work of sacred scripture.
This groundbreaking work of textual scholarship reveals:
- Source Separation: For the first time, the distinct voices of the Genesis authors--the Yahwist (J), the Elohist (E), and the Priestly Writer (P)--are presented independently, allowing you to read their original, self-contained narratives.
- Unparalleled Clarity: Mitchell meticulously removes centuries of scribal additions and interpolations, stripping away layers of theological lacquer to reveal the powerful, unadorned masterpieces beneath.
- A Living Translation: Experience the sacred scripture not as an archaic text, but through a vital, modern English that captures the powerful earthiness and simple dignity of the original Hebrew.
- The Foundational Stories: Re-encounter the epic tales of Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph with newfound understanding and emotional resonance.
About the Author :
Stephen Mitchell's many books include the bestselling Tao Te Ching, Gilgamesh, and The Second Book of the Tao, as well as The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, The Gospel According to Jesus, Bhagavad Gita, The Book of Job, and Meetings with the Archangel.
Review :
"Breaks fresh ground...Mitchell's translation tells the stories in a voice much like the ancient Hebrew, without adornment." - Seattle Times
"Mitchell's admirable and enjoyable translation conveys, with remarkable clarity, these compelling, strange, and powerful stories." - Elaine Pagels
"A powerful reminder of how much Genesis has to teach us." - Boston Globe
"A powerful reminder of how much Genesis has to teach us." - Boston Globe
"Breaks fresh ground...[Mitchell's] translation tells the stories in a voice much like the ancient Hebrew, without adornment." - Seattle Times
"Mitchell's adimirable and enjoyable translation conveys, with remarkable clarity, these compelling, strange, and powerful stories." - Elaine Pagels, author of The Gnostic Gospels
