If you’re new to Bible reading — or even if you’re not — you might feel completely bewildered by the array of Bible versions, translations, and editions available today.
Whether you’re browsing the Bible section at your local bookstore or comparing Bible Gateway’s own library (which features dozens of English translations, let alone the huge variety of other languages), you might feel overwhelmed by the alphabet soup of abbreviations in front of you.
You’re not alone — Bible decision fatigue is real. In fact, it’s not uncommon for shoppers to leave stores empty handed rather than risk buying the “wrong” Bible version.
Here’s the good news: with very few exceptions, there is no “wrong” version of the Good News. But depending on what you’re looking for, there are better or worse places for you to start.
This guide will help you sort through the major Bible versions available today and make a choice that suits your personal circ*mstances. You’ll also learn a bit about the different translation types, or philosophies, and a crash course in their histories. When you’re done, you’ll have no trouble telling your NIV from your ESV, your NRSV from your NASB, and your KJV from your NKJV.
Why Are There So Many Bible Versions?
Why are there so many Bible versions, anyway? How different can they really be?
If you’ve ever compared a few translations side by side, you know the answer: they can differ greatly. Sometimes it’s hard to believe both passages come from the same source text!
The books of the Bible were written over hundreds of years in various locations around the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew (with a few passages in Aramaic) centuries before the birth of Jesus, while the latest books in the New Testament were written in Greek decades after his death and resurrection.
Needless to say, a lot has changed in the world since then. Rendering words written thousands of years and thousands of miles away — in very different languages and contexts than our own — intelligible to a modern English reader is an enormous challenge.
There are a lot of good reasons for the variety of different ways an original passage from the Bible can be translated. Here are just a few of them:
No One-to-One Correlation
Words in one language seldom have exact matches in other languages. There are often shades of meaning lost in translation — all the more so when separated by thousands of years.
Common examples include the Hebrew word ruach — which can be translated either “breath” or “wind” — and of course the Greek logos, which can variously mean “word,” “reason,” “thought,” or “speech.”
No Punctuation
Unlike modern English, most ancient languages have little to no punctuation to clarify where one phrase or sentence ends and another begins. To make matters worse, early Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts used all capital letters, and often didn’t include spaces between words. Hebrew didn’t even include vowels!
IMAGINETRYINGTOTRANSLATETHISSENTENCEWITHNOVOWELSIFITWASNTYOURNATIVELANGUAGE. Now imagine trying to do that for hundreds of pages (not to mention backwards: Hebrew is written right-to-left)!
Idioms
One of the greatest challenges trying to translate texts across languages and cultures is figuring out what to do with idioms, or common cultural phrases that mean something very different from what they appear to in the literal sense.
Do you convert them to the target language as closely as possible, so readers know exactly what images the original writers used, even if they don’t understand what was originally meant by them? Or do you try to get the point across by adjusting the words to something more meaningful to us today?
Imagine someone in Thailand — or for that matter, on Mars — two or three thousand years from now trying to make sense of phrases like “break a leg” or “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and you can start to get a sense of the problem.
These sorts of phrases abound in both Hebrew and Greek. Many of them have now entered our own lexicon — so much so that we don’t even realize they’re from the Bible — but others, like the many uses of covering or uncovering one’s feet — remain contested.
Times, Genres, and Styles
The books of the Bible were written by many hands over hundreds of years. Some books were carefully crafted by scholars, while others are the live-spoken testimony of holy men and women. Some of them are histories, some are poetry, some are letters, or collections of sayings, or prophecies. Often a single book will include several of these genres within it.
The fact that God chose so many hands to write his Word is part of what makes reading the Bible such a vibrant, dynamic, and engaging experience. When translating such a wonderful variety of voices, it’s possible to purposely or accidentally smooth them all out into a more consistent one.
There are reasons to do so — such as helping to highlight the thematic and narrative throughlines of the entirety of Scripture. But you also run the risk of losing the freshness and particular feeling of the individuals God selected and inspired to deliver his message.
Types of Bible Translation
Different translators intentionally approach all these problems differently — but all with the same goal of trying to make God’s Word clear and accessible in our own words.
To better understand what separates different Bible versions from one another, you first need to understand the fundamental translation philosophies behind them. Each translation style brings its unique lens to scripture, influencing how passages are interpreted and applied.
Formal Equivalence (Word-for-Word)
Formal equivalence prioritizes achieving word-for-word accuracy, focusing on a meticulous and precise translation of the original text’s exact words as closely as possible into the target language.
Examples: The KJV and NKJV, ESV, NRSV, CSB, and NASB versions are all different approaches to formal equivalence translation.
Functional Equivalence (Thought-for-Thought)
Functional equivalence — also called dynamic equivalence or thought-for-thought translation — focuses on conveying the meaning of thoughts or ideas rather than a direct word-for-word translation, aiming to preserve the original writers’ intent and context.
Examples: The NIV is among the most balanced translations available, but tends slightly more toward functional than formal equivalence. The NLT, CEV, and NIrV are more strongly thought-for-thought approaches.
Paraphrase
As the name suggests, Paraphrases rephrase and restructure sentences from the original text to enhance clarity and accessibility for a modern audience. In other words, paraphrases fall on the end of the thought-for-thought spectrum.
Examples: The Message and the Living Bible are paraphrased versions of the Bible. The Amplified Bible is, too, although it is unique in being a word-for-word paraphrase, where it provides multiple meanings of many words to help illustrate their various meanings.
Top Bible Versions Today
The most popular versions of the Bible today include the New International Version (NIV), King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the English Standard Version (ESV).
NIV (New International Version)
Best for: Everyday study and devotional reading.
The NIV’s deft balance of accuracy and readability has established it as the most popular modern Bible version. More than 100 international scholars labored for over a decade to capture the original meaning of each passage without sacrificing accessibility, beginning in the 1960s and finally publishing the finished version in 1978.
One of the most balanced translations available, the NIV leans just slightly toward a functional equivalence compared to other top translations. It should appeal to a wide variety of readers across ages, reading levels, and denominations.
Readers looking for a closer word-for-word translation, however, might be happier with the NRSV or ESV, while those looking for a more traditional feel should stick with the KJV or NKJV.
Sample passage: I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NIV)
KJV (King James Version)
Best for: Traditional worship settings and historical or literary-minded readers.
One of the most popular books in the world for hundreds of years, the KJV needs little introduction. Commissioned (or “authorized”) by King James I of England in 1604, undertaken by a team of 47 scholars, and released in 1611, the KJV became the definitive Bible version in the English-speaking world until at least the mid-twentieth century. It is directly responsible for hundreds of English terms and phrases that we use every day — often without realizing their Biblical origin.
The KJV initially took a formal equivalence approach, though (because it was intended to be read aloud in services) it paid special attention to the beauty and elegance of the language. That effort still bears fruit today.
On the other hand, our language has changed a lot since 1611, and some of the phrasing and sentence structure can be confusing to modern readers. We no longer use “thee” and “thou” as informal pronouns, for example, which makes them paradoxically sound more formal.
In addition, 400 years of Bible scholarship has enabled us to see areas where the KJV translators had less access to the resources we have today, and had to make some occasionally puzzling guesses. (My personal favorite is from Numbers 23:22, God “hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.” Today most translations use “wild ox.”)
Sample passage: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (KJV)
NKJV (New King James Version)
Best for: Those looking for a classic feel without confusing, archaic language.
The NKJV is an update and modernization of the KJV by 130 Bible scholars. It was commissioned in 1975 and released in 1982, with the goal of retaining the same formal equivalence and literary majesty of the original KJV while eliminating archaic, obsolete, or inaccurate terms and phrases (so, no more unicorns).
The NKJV serves as the perfect bridge between the traditional feel of the KJV and the accessibility of modern translations like the NIV.
Sample passage: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV)
NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)
Best for: Scholars and academics, Catholics (NRSV-CE), and inclusive faith communities.
First published in 1989 and then updated in 2021, the NRSV was developed by a team of about 30 translators from Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and (for the Old Testament) Jewish backgrounds. It was based on the RSV translation of 1952, itself an update of the ASV from 1901, using a predominantly formal equivalence and taking into account the latest scholarship of Biblical times and manuscripts.
Among its distinguishing developments, the NRSV is known for using gender-inclusive translations such as “person” instead of “man” and “brothers and sisters” instead of “brothers” where the context supports or allows it. The translators argue that it better reflects the original meaning in languages where plural masculine pronouns (e.g., ἀδελφοὶ/adelphoi) were used for groups that included both men and women — especially in situations where women were the text makes clear that women were, in fact, present, such as Acts 18:26-27 or 1 Corinthians 1:11.
While it remains a controversial choice among those who feel it is an insufficiently literal translation, other versions such as the NIV, CSB, and NASB have since adopted the practice as better reflecting both modern usage and the original authors’ intentions.
The NRSV is also, in the edited and expanded Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE), one of the few complete Bible translations approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for private use and study.
Sample passage: What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NRSV)
ESV (English Standard Version)
Best for: Intensive study and memorization.
The ESV translation was conducted in the late 1990s by about 100 evangelical scholars and published in 2001, partly in response to the NRSV. Like the NRSV, the ESV is an update of the RSV and aims as closely as possible for word-for-word accuracy while remaining readable.
The translators sought to go beyond the NRSV and what they perceived as some liberties it took with interpretation, particularly its gender neutrality. Instead the ESV endeavored to hold to an “essentially literal” approach that emphasizes word-for-word accuracy and fidelity as well as building on the RSV’s literary excellence and depth.
Sample passage: I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (ESV)
NLT (New Living Translation)
Best for: New and young readers, and daily devotional readers seeking a new perspective.
Developed by some 90 scholars from various denominational backgrounds in the 1980s and released in 1996, the NLT is notable for being the most popular of the firmly functional-equivalence translations.
Rather than striving for word-for-word accuracy, the NLT translators sought to convey the original meaning of the text as clearly as possible for modern readers. This includes updating measurements and dating to modern standards (e.g., feet instead of cubits), as well as making sense of archaic idioms (“get yourself ready” instead of “gird up thy loins”).
These modernizations make the NLT a nice, accessible option both for new Bible readers in search of clarity and for long-time Bible users seeking a new approach and perspective.
Sample passage: What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. — 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NLT)
Other Notable Bible Versions
Here are some other notable Bible versions from recent decades. See the graphic above for sample text of these translations.
NASB (New American Standard Bible)
First published in 1971 and updated in 1994 and 2020, the NASB strives to be as literal and precise as possible without sacrificing readability and modern English usage. This makes it a good choice for scholars and anyone looking for a very close adherence to the original structure and wording of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.
CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Bridging the gap in some ways between the ESV and NRSV, the CSB was first published in 2004 and significantly revised in 2017. It leans toward formal equivalence, but emphasizes clear communication and modern readability, including gender neutrality.
AMP (Amplified Bible)
First published in 1965 and most recently updated in 2015, the AMP is unique among Bible versions. It offers “amplifications,” or multiple alternate renderings, of many words and phrases, helping readers to understand the complex nuances of Hebrew and Greek words that don’t map neatly onto modern English. That attention to detail makes it an indispensable companion for private study, but it can be cumbersome for casual daily reading or public worship.
Moreover, critics have pointed out that it is not always clear or consistent with what it chooses to amplify, interpolating phrases like “personal Savior” that did not exist in the original time and language of the Bible, and that readers could get the same effect by comparing two or three different translations.
MSG (The Message)
The Message is a paraphrase by pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson, first published in 1993. Peterson sought to capture the tone and informal style of contemporary speech to deliver a version of the Bible that reads like a story, vibrant and accessible. It’s a compelling way to hear familiar passages with fresh ears, and works great as an audio Bible — but isn’t recommended as (nor intended to be) anyone’s first or only Bible.
A Brief History of Bible Translation
Although the number of Bible versions has exploded in recent decades, there is a long and active history of translating the Bible to make it more accessible to regional audiences. In fact, the first major translation of the Bible into a regional language was completed more than 200 years before the birth of Jesus.
Here’s a very brief, condensed timeline of the major developments in Bible translation, at least for the English-speaking world.
The Earliest Bible Translations
The oldest complete translation of the Old Testament from its original Hebrew was the Greek Septuagint, created around the 3rd century BC. The earliest complete translation of both testaments was the Latin Vulgate by Jerome in the 400s AD.
- Septuagint (Greek):This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, created during the mid-3rd century BC to accommodate the increased use of Greek among diasporic Jews following the conquest of the eastern Mediterranean by Alexander the Great. It became the standard Old Testament for Christians throughout the Greek-speaking world, and, remarkably, is still in liturgical use today by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- Vulgate (Latin):Saint Jerome meticulously undertook his translation of the Bible in the late 4th to early 5th century AD to accommodate the increasing use of Latin instead of Greek in the western Roman Empire. He established a new precedent by translating the Old Testament from its original Hebrew rather than the more commonly used Septuagint version.
His work paid off: even before the Catholic Church officially sanctioned it at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the Vulgate was by far the most widely used version of the Bible in Europe — and remained the definitive Catholic version all the way until Vatican II permitted the use of vernacular Bibles in 1963.
First English Translations
It took nearly 1,000 years after the adoption of the Vulgate for Bibles to start appearing in English. By that time, most common people didn’t speak or understand Latin, making God’s Word inaccessible to them except indirectly, as explained by priests or passed down verbally in Bible-based stories.
- Wycliffe’s Bible: The first complete translation of the entire Bible into English was by John Wycliffe and his followers in the late 1300s. It was based on the Vulgate (since the original Hebrew and Greek texts remained unavailable in the West). Because it had to be hand-copied and distributed, it didn’t reach a wide audience, but it was still enough to earn Wycliffe a condemnation for heresy 30 years after his death.
- Tyndale’s New Testament: William Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, published in 1526, was the first English version to be distributed using the new printing press. Tyndale’s work was groundbreaking for its use of the original Greek texts and for his commitment to making the Bible understandable for commoners, or those who spoke “the ploughman’s terms.” Unfortunately, it also led to his martyrdom in 1536.
- The Geneva Bible: Published in 1560 by English refugees in Geneva, Switzerland, this was the first English Bible to include both verse numbers and extensive commentary. Its readability and comprehensive annotations made it the Bible of choice for English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries — including the Mayflower pilgrims in America.
- The KJV: Commissioned by King James I of England in 1604, this translation aimed to create a version that could be accessible and acceptable to the broadest English-speaking audience — which included both Anglicans and Puritans, who were then mortal enemies. Its enduring use and admiration are a testament to its success.
Bible Translation in the 20th-21st Centuries
The 20th and 21st centuries have seen a proliferation of English Bible translations, reflecting diverse theological perspectives, advances in historical linguistics, and the ongoing quest for clarity and accessibility. The two most important developments during this era that aren’t listed above were the ASV and RSV.
- ASV (American Standard Version): Released in 1901, the ASV took a strict word-for-word approach that sought to capture the original sense of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, while retaining the KJV’s use of Elizabethan English (such as “thee” and “thou”). Though not much used today, it served as the basis for most formal-equivalence translations since, including the RSV, NRSV, and ESV, the NASB, and the Amplified Bible.
- RSV (Revised Standard Version): A major, comprehensive update of the ASV, the RSV was published in 1952 after 15 years of work by a massive ecumenical body of 38 Christian faith groups in the United States. It was the first translation to do away with archaic pronouns and verb forms (e.g., “you have” instead of “thou hadst”), simplifying the text and opening God’s Word to millions of readers while adhering to rigorous accuracy leveraging the latest Biblical scholarship and manuscripts.
Bible Version FAQs
How many versions of the Bible are there?
A lot! Bible Gateway has more than 200 versions — including more than 60 in English — and there are many more out there, especially when you include partial translations such as OT-only or NT-only translations and individual books from independent scholars.
Is there a most accurate Bible translation?
The short answer is “no.” The longer answer is that it depends how you — and any given translator — define “accuracy.”
Because ancient Hebrew and Greek texts don’t map on perfectly to modern English language and culture, any translation has to strike a careful balance between rigorous adherence to the original languages, or taking some liberties in order to clarify their meaning.
Either way, there are countless choices to make about the best way to present confusing passages and guesswork about the original authors’ intent. And many of these choices are influenced by the translator’s own cultural, doctrinal, and theological assumptions.
That said, a more word-for-word approach such as the NASB, the NRSV/ESV, or an interlinear Bible is likely to adhere closer to the original text. Scholars and academics tend to appreciate the NRSV for looking more holistically at the underlying cultures and contexts of the Bible’s writers. But others say it is insufficiently literal in its interpretation of Greek and Hebrew words.
Which Bible version is best for beginners?
If you’re just setting out on your Bible reading journey — no matter your age or stage of faith — the best place to start is probably a translation that balances accuracy with readability, so you get a feel for the text without getting bogged down in the details.
The NIV is a great place to start, but depending on what you’re looking for, you might be more comfortable with the NKJV, NRSV, ESV, or CSB. Or, if you want something a little more accessible and less traditional, the NLT.
It’s also a good idea, if you’re just starting out, to begin with a Study Bible that can guide your reading and help you contextualize and make sense of complex passages. All of the above versions have Study editions, so just find the one that feels right to you!
What version of the Bible do Catholics use?
Catholics can choose from as many of the different Bible versions as anyone else — though you’ll probably want to ensure it includes the Deuterocanonical books that many Protestant Bibles leave out. (Hint: Look for a “Catholic Edition” or “CE” after the abbreviation.)
For those looking for more direct guidance, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published a list of approved translations, which includes the NRSV-CE, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), and the Good News Translation (Today’s English Version, Second Edition).
How should I choose which Bible version is right for me?
The best way to choose which Bible version is right for you is by comparing some favorite passages in a few translations side by side (or in parallel). If you are new to Bible reading a don’t have a favorite passage, you can always start with Genesis 1, John 1, or Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount). Which one speaks to you the most? Remember: there’s no wrong answer!
It’s also always a good idea to consult your pastor. What does your church use liturgically? Is there a Bible Study group reading a particular version? While reading the Bible privately can be a powerful way to build a relationship to the Lord, studying his Word in community can expand your horizons with unexpected insights, challenge you with different perspectives, and hold you accountable for regular engagement with Scripture. After all, we are called to be one body in Christ (Romans 12:5).
Conclusion
If there’s one thing you should take away from this article, it’s that translating a text as big and complex and multifaceted and meaningful as the Bible is incredibly difficult. For better or worse, there’s no perfect “right way” to do it.
Ultimately, whether you’re drawn to the poetic cadence of the King James Version, the straightforward clarity of the New International Version, or the historical depth of the New Revised Standard Version (or better yet, all three of them!), what matters most is that you’re engaging with Scripture in a meaningful way. So take your time, explore different translations, and find the one that brings you closer to understanding God’s message for you.
Jacob Edson
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Jacob holds a Master of Theological Studies in Early Christian Thought from Harvard Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious History from Memorial University of Newfoundland, though with most of his coursework from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. His work has appeared in Ekstasis and Geez Magazine's "Embracing Darkness" Advent devotional. He is currently Editorial Director of Bible Gateway.
