A HISTORY AND COMPARISON OF ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATIONS
Most Popular Bibles by Reading Level
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Other Modern English Translations
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Early Copies of New Testament
*Bibles in the
Catholic tradition
**First complete printed English Bible.
KJV
Reading Level: 12
NASB
Reading Level: 11
ESV
Reading Level: 10
NIV
Reading Level: 8
NLT
Reading Level: 6
NCV
Reading Level: 5
NIrV
Reading Level: 3
Young’s
Reading Level: 12
AMP
Reading Level: 11
NKJV
Reading Level: 8
Living
Reading Level: 8
CEB
Reading Level: 7
Holman
Reading Level: 7
Message
Reading Level: 6
NEB
1970
NAB*
1970
New Jerusalem*
1985
REB
1989
NRSV
1989-90
CEV
1995
RSV
1952
Phillips NT
1957
Berkeley MLB
1959
Jerusalem*
1966
GNB/TEV
1966-1976
Barclay NT
1969
Weymouth NT
1903
Moffatt
1913-1924
Centenary NT
1924
Goodspeed-Smith
1923-27
Williams NT
1937
Knox*
1950
Confraternity*
1941-69
American Standard
1901
English Revised
1885
Webster’s
1833
Challoner’s Revision*
1750-1777
King James
Version
1611
Douay-Rheims*
1582-1610
Stephanus
1550
Bishop’s Bible
1568
Geneva Bible
1560
Great Bible
1539
Matthew’s Bible
1537
Coverdale’s Bible**
1535
Tyndale’s New Testament
1525
Erasmus Printed Greek New Testament
1516
Complutensian
Polyglot
1514-1522
Printed Hebrew Old Testament
1488
Wycliffe Bible
1380
First complete English Bible
in manuscript
Hebrew Masoretic Text
500 - 900
Codex Alexandrinus
c. 450
Codex Sinaiticus
c. 400
Codex Vaticanus
c. 340
Latin Vulgate
405
Old Latin
c. 3rd cent.
Armenian
5th cent.
Coptic
4th cent.
Syriac
2nd-5th cent.
Early Bible Versions
Ethiopic
4th-5th cent.
Original Greek New Testament
48 - 90
Dead Sea Scrolls
400 BC - AD 200
Septuagint Greek
Old Testament
300 BC - 200 BC
Early Copies of Hebrew Old Testament
Original Hebrew Old Testament
1500 BC - 430 BC
Did you know...?
Robert Estienne (aka Stephanus) was a
French scholar and printer, best-known for
producing the first Bible with numbered
verses in the New Testament. His son wrote
that Stephanus divided the New Testament
into verses while traveling on horseback from
Paris to Lyon. Some have argued that his son
simply meant that the work was done while
traveling, and not literally while riding on a
horse.
Whether Stephanus actually penned his verse
divisions while riding, we may never know.
But his verse numbers often break up the text
in an almost random way, making parts of the
Bible harder to understand to this very day.
The Geneva Bible was the first English Bible to
employ Stephanus’ verse divisions.
Did you know...?
Noah Webster (1758-1843) is best known
for his American Dictionary of the English
Language. A staunch advocate of
intellectual property rights, Webster also
became known as
“the father of American
copyright law.”
Webster wanted a version of the Bible that
was easier to read than the King James
Version.
So, using the King James as the
basis for his translation, he modernized
some archaic expressions and he changed
words that he felt were so offensive that
you could not read them aloud to young
women without blushing. For example, in
1 Samuel 25:22, he changed “him that
pisseth against the wall” to simply “any
male person.”
Did you know...?
One of the contributors to the English
translation of the Jerusalem Bible was
J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien was asked to
participate because of his skill as an
English stylist, although at the time he
did not know Hebrew or Greek, so he
translated the book of Jonah from the
French Jerusalem Bible.
His original manuscript, now in the
Bodleian library at Oxford, has Hebrew
words written in the margin, so he likely
consulted a Hebrew lexicon to make his
translation.
A paperback edition was planned of his
original translation work, but that
project never came to fruition. The
proposed book cover may still be found
on the Internet.
Did you know...?
Gerrit Verkuyl was 86 years old
when his Berkeley Version Bible
was published!
Did you know...?
The Amplified Bible
was produced by
Mrs. Frances Siewert
when she was 83 years old!
Did you know...?
Young became proficient
in ancient languages
through self-study.
He had a peculiar theory
about the translation of
Hebrew verbs which put
him out of harmony with
all mainstream Bible
translators and
grammarians. (Young
believed that the so-called
“waw-conversive” was a
fictional construct existing
only in the minds of
grammarians.)
Did you know..?
Kenneth N. Taylor’s
paraphrase began as a
series of lessons to help his
children understand the
Bible in their nightly
devotionals.
New American Standard Bible
Published 1971
Based upon the best available
Hebrew and Greek texts,
purportedly aims for literal,
word-for-word accuracy.
The present version has evolved
from the American Standard
Version of 1901, which in turn
traces its pedigree to the Revised
Version of 1885.
Job 19:25-27
25
As for me, I know that my
Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand
on the earth.
26
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
27
Whom I myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not
another.
My heart faints within me!
Philippians 4:17
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek
for the profit which increases to your
account.
Jude 1:22
And have mercy on some, who are
doubting;
English Standard Version
Published 2001
Aims for literal, word-for-word
accuracy. Purports to build upon
the legacy of the Tyndale Bible,
King James Version, and the
Revised Standard Version.
Job 19:25-27
25
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the
earth.
26
And after my skin has been thus
destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not
another.
My heart faints within me!
Philippians 4:17
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the
fruit that increases to your credit.
Jude 1:22
And have mercy on those who doubt;
New Living Translation
Published 1996
Non-literal “thought-for-thought”
translation, rather than a
word-for-word translation.
Originally conceived as a revision to
the Living Bible paraphrase
published in 1971.
Job 19:25-27
25
“But as for me, I know that my
Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26
And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
27
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!...”
Philippians 4:17
I don’t say this because I want a gift from
you. Rather, I want you to receive a
reward for your kindness.
Jude 1:22
And you must show mercy to those
whose faith is wavering
New Century Version
Published 1987
A revision of the International
Children’s Bible, which was
originally written for 3rd graders,
and now is said to be at a 5th grade
level.
Current revision is also said to
be “gender neutral.”
Job 19:25-27
25
I know that my Defender lives,
and in the end he will stand upon
the earth.
26
Even after my skin has been destroyed,
in my flesh I will see God.
27
I will see him myself;
I will see him with my very own eyes.
How my heart wants that to happen!
Philippians 4:17
Really, it is not that I want to receive gifts
from you, but I want you to have the
good that comes from giving.
Jude 1:22
Show mercy to some people who have
doubts.
New International Reader’s
Version
Published 1992
A simplification of the NIV, intended
for children and non-native English
language speakers.
Job 19:25-27
25
I know that my redeemer lives.
In the end he will stand on the earth.
26
Though my skin will be destroyed,
in my body I’ll see God.
27
I myself will see him with my own eyes.
I’ll see him, and he won’t be a stranger
to me.
How my heart longs for that day!
Jude 1:22
Show mercy to those who doubt.
Philippians 4:17
It is not that I want your gifts. What I
really want is what is best for you.
King James Version
Published 1611
An anchor of Protestantism, and
arguably still the most important
book in the history of Western
Civilization.
Poetic grandeur occasionally
sacrifices precision for style.
Antiquated vocabulary causes
difficulty for many readers. While
the KJV perpetuates a number of
traditional errors, in many instances
it is more literal than many modern
Bible translations.
Job 19:25-27
25
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth:
26
And though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine
eyes shall behold, and not another;
though my reins be consumed within me
Jude 1:22
And of some have compassion, making a
difference:
Philippians 4:17
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit
that may abound to your account.
Job 19:25-27
25
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on
the earth.
26
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Philippians 4:17
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire
is that more be credited to your account
Jude 1:22
Be merciful to those who doubt;
New International Version
Published/Revisions 1978, 1984, 2011
Currently the most popular translation
in modern English. Its translation
philosophy is said to be a balance
between “thought-for-thought” and
“word-for-word”; however, its literal
accuracy suffers in some places.
Also, NIV “Study Bible” versions should
be approached with the caution that
contributors’ theological positions
range from conservative to liberal.
Amplified Bible
Published 1965
Uses the American Standard
Version as its base text, with added
explanatory text and altenative
renderings in brackets, using
sources including Vincent’s
Word
Studies in the New Testament.
Genesis 15:6
Then Abram believed in (affirmed,
trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast
to) the L
ORD
; and He counted (credited) it
to him as righteousness (doing right in
regard to God and man).
Luke 11:3
Give us each day our daily bread.
Romans 8:27-28
27
And He who seaches the hearts
knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because the Spirit intercedes [before
God] on behalf of God’s people in
accordance with God’s will.
28
And we know [with great confidence]
that God [who is deeply concerned
about us] causes all things to work
together [as a plan] for good for those
who love God, to those who are called
according to His plan
and
purpose.
New King James Version
Published 1982
A conservative revision of the 1611
King James Version. Includes
marginal notes based on later
scholarship. Considered to be a
literal translation. It appears to be
marketed toward those who
particularly enjoy the poetic sound
of the original King James Version,
in that its publishers highlight its
“beauty” as one of its most
important attributes.
Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the L
ORD
, and He
accounted it to him for righteousness.
Luke 11:3
Give us day by day our daily bread.
Romans 8:27-28
27 Now He who searches the hearts
knows what the mind of the Spirit
is
,
because He makes intercession for the
saints according to
the will of
God.
28
And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called
according to
His
purpose.
Living Bible
Published 1971
A paraphrase (that is, it has been
reworded to give a general idea) and
not a word-for-word or a
thought-for-thought translation.
Popularized by Billy Graham Crusade.
Advocates say it is easy to read, while
critical reviewers say its theology is
biased against Calvinism.
Genesis 15:6
And Abram believed God; then God
considered him righteous on account of
his faith.
Luke 11:3
Give us our food day by day.
Romans 8:27-28
27
And the Father who knows all hearts
knows, of course, what the Spirit is
saying as he pleads for us in harmony
with God’s own will.
28
And we know that all that happens to
us is working for our good if we love
God and are fitting into his plans.
Common English Bible
Published 2011
A completely new translation. Said
to be a balance of “word-for-word”
and “thought-for-thought” to
achieve both accuracy and
readability. However, it incorporates
paraphrases and novel
reinterpretations that venture far
from the literal text.
Genesis 15:6
Abram trusted the L
ORD
, and the L
ORD
recognized Abram’s high moral
character.
Luke 11:3
Give us the bread we need for today.
Romans 8:27-28
27
The one who searches hearts knows
how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads
for the saints, consistent with God’s will.
28
We know that God works all things
together for good for the ones who love
God, for those who are called according
to his purpose.
Holman Bible
Published 2004
The Holman Bible has been revised
and is now the Christian Standard
Bible (CSB). Originally promoted as
rendering the divine name of the
Lord as Yahweh, however, the
revised CSB subsequently
abandoned that feature and now
uses the traditional “Lord,” and also
includes gender-inclusive language.
Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the L
ORD
, and He
credited it to him as righteousness.
Luke 11:3
Give us each day our daily bread.
Romans 8:27-28
27 And He who searches the hearts
knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He
intercedes for the saints according to
the will of God.
28
We know that all things work
together for the good of those who love
God: those who are called according to
His purpose.
The Message Bible
Published 2002
The only translation that Pastor
Scott unequivocally doesn’t
recommend. A free and colorful
paraphrase, often degrading into
folly for the sake of keeping a
reader’s attention, and tossing the
word of God aside to the four
winds. It tends to make use of the
author’s own idiosyncratic
expressions over universally
understood idioms.
Genesis 15:6
And he believed! Believed G
OD
! God
declared him “Set-Right-with-God.”
Romans 8:27-28
27 He knows us far better than we know
ourselves, knows our pregnant
condition, and keeps us present before
God.
28
That’s why we can be so sure that
every detail in our lives of love for God is
worked into something good.
Luke 11:3
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Young’s Literal Translation
Published 1862
Based on Textus Receptus (Stephanus)
and Masoretic Hebrew texts.
Interesting for study, though not
recommended as a primary Bible
translation. It can be difficult to read
because it attempts to follow the
original word order in the Greek.
Young also uses traditional King
James English words such as thy,
Genesis 15:6
And he hath believed in Jehovah, and He
reckoneth it to him -- righteousness.
Romans 8:27-28
27 and He who is searching the hearts hath
known what [is] the mind of the Spirit,
because according to God he doth
intercede for saints.
28
And we have known that to those
loving God all things do work together for
good, to those who are called according to
purpose;
Luke 11:3
our appointed bread be giving us daily;
thou, thine, mayest, etc.