Bible Translations

What are the Various Bible Translation

Here is a quick rough breakdown of the various translations. They all have different uses for people at different levels and parts of their education. The four lines (from left to right, translation style, difficulty, dead sea secrolls included, scholar level you can hover over each to get a reminder) have colors that range from a light/easy to a detailed/hard of light green to yellow, orange, red and dark red. As you know the words written in the bible you will find more depth exploring the translation choices that were made, why and where else those words are used.

New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Translated 2020; an update of the NASB95, the NASB20 maintains a commitment to a formal equivalence (word-for-word) translation philosophy while improving readability.

  • Modernizes language and includes gender-neutral language where appropriate for clarity.
  • Included Dead Sea Scroll insights and even more updates from biblical scholarship and textual criticism.
  • Intended For: advanced readership with a scholarly focus that want the cutting edge research

Newest All Scholars Bible, 20/20 vision

New English Translation (NET)

Translated 2005; Balance between formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought).

    • Extensive study notes: The NET Bible is known for its over 60,000 translator’s notes, providing insight into translation decisions, textual variants, and the original languages.
    • Modern language: Uses contemporary English to make the text accessible while aiming to be accurate and faithful to the original texts.
    • Transparency: Emphasizes the translator’s process and choices, making it a valuable resource for both study and teaching.
    • Intended for: students, teachers, and those interested in understanding the nuances of biblical translation. Its extensive notes make it a unique tool for deeper study.

Notes-Extra-Thoughtful

English Standard Version (ESV)

Translated 2001; formal equivalence (word-for-word) with a literary quality.

    • Literal, yet aiming to be readable and elegant.
    • Conservative in terms of translation philosophy, maintains traditional theological terms.
    • Based on the Revised Standard Version (RSV) with updates for modern readability.
    • Intended for: Reformed and evangelical circles; valued for its balance between accuracy and readability.

Elegant Scripture Version

i 3 Table Of Content

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    • New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB95)

    Translated 1995; a revision of the original NASB which was an update to the ASV, emphasizing a word-for-word translation. It is known for its accuracy and literal approach

    • Trades readability for exact literal sentence structures.
    • Verbs with a broad range of meanings have been retranslated in certain passages to more accurately reflect their contextual use.
    • Included Dead Sea Scroll insights.
    • Primarily uses masculine pronouns and does not adopt gender-neutral language, adhering closely to the original grammatical structure of the Hebrew and Greek texts.
    • Intended For: advanced readership with a scholarly focus

    Nearly All Scholars Book, 95% literal.

    New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

    Translated 1989; known for its formal equivalence (word-for-word) accuracy and inclusivity, widely used in academic and liturgical settings.

      • Inclusivity: The translation uses gender-neutral language where the original texts are not specifically gendered, to make the text more inclusive without altering the meaning. For example, it uses “brothers and sisters” instead of “brothers” when the context clearly refers to a mixed-gender group.
      • Scholarly Rigor: It incorporates the most up-to-date findings in biblical scholarship and textual criticism, including discoveries from ancient manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls, to ensure the translation is based on the best available sources.
      • Ecumenical Approach: The NRSV was created by a diverse team of scholars from various Christian denominations and Jewish traditions, aiming for a translation that could be used across different religious communities.
      • Intended for: students, teachers, and those interested in understanding the nuances of biblical translation and delving deeper into the exact word choices made.

    Neutral Rendering with Scholarly Value

    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

    Translated 1971; Formal equivalence, with a focus on literal accuracy.

    • One of the most literal translations, aiming to be as close as possible to the original Greek and Hebrew.
    • Less focus on smooth readability, more on preserving original word order and meaning.
    • Intended For: those who prioritize in-depth Bible study and accuracy over readability.

    Nearly Always Strictly Biblical

    New International Version (NIV)

    Translated 1978 with updates in 1984 & 2011; Balance between formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought). The 2011 update included gender-inclusive language where appropriate for clarity.

      • Extensive study notes: The NET Bible is known for its over 60,000 translator’s notes, providing insight into translation decisions, textual variants, and the original languages.
      • Modern language: Uses contemporary English to make the text accessible while aiming to be accurate and faithful to the original texts.
      • Transparency: Emphasizes the translator’s process and choices, making it a valuable resource for both study and teaching.
      • Intended for: students, teachers, and those interested in understanding the nuances of biblical translation but not as a bridge to understanding key word translation meanings.

    Neutral Interpretive Version

    New King James Version (NKJV)

    Translated 1982; formal equivalence (word-for-word) with early English majestic and poetic literary style but updating archaic words and grammar for a modern audience. Based on the Textus Receptus, a Greek text of the New Testament. 

      • Influential in shaping English literature and language; favored in many Protestant denominations for its traditional tone.

    Novel King’s Jewels Verbiage

    King James Version (KJV)

    Translated 1611; formal equivalence (word-for-word) with early English majestic and poetic literary style. Based on the Textus Receptus, a Greek text of the New Testament. 

      • Influential in shaping English literature and language; favored in many Protestant denominations for its traditional tone.

    King’s Jewels Verbiage

    Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

    Translated 2017; Balance between formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought). It uses a translation philosophy called “optimal equivalence.”

    • Updated for gender -neutral language only when the original texts are clearly referring to both genders. It retains masculine pronouns where the original text specifically indicates male subjects, striving for a balanced approach in this area.
    • Included Dead Sea Scroll insights.
    • Intended For: middle focus everyday readers

    Clear Straightforward Bible.

    New Living Translation (NLT)

    Translated 1996; Dynamic equivalence with a focus on clarity and readability.

    • Uses clear, contemporary language to convey the original meanings in a way that is easily understood.
    • More interpretative, aiming to make the text accessible to modern readers.
    • Intended For: devotional reading and for those new to the Bible.

    Naturally Lucid Translation

    The Message (MSG)

    Translated 2002; Paraphrase (thought-for-thought, very loose).

    • Highly contemporary and idiomatic language.
    • Aimed at conveying the original text’s meaning in a modern, conversational style.
    • Intended For: engaging new readers in a fresh way who might be resistant to even reading; not used for in-depth study.

    Modern Spoken Gospel