The Bible was not written in English. Its books came into being over many centuries, in Hebrew, in Aramaic, and in Greek. Every English Bible is therefore a translation — an attempt to carry the meaning of those ancient words across into a living language. Understanding how translations differ makes it far easier to choose one, and to read it well.

A brief history

For much of the Middle Ages, the Bible in the West was read in Latin. The first complete translations into English are associated with John Wycliffe in the fourteenth century. In the sixteenth, William Tyndale translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek, and did so with such skill that his phrasing still echoes through English Bibles today. He paid for the work with his life.

In 1611 came the translation that would shape the English-speaking church for three centuries: the King James Version, or Authorised Version. Its rhythm and dignity made it not only a Bible but a monument of the English language. From the nineteenth century onward, new manuscript discoveries and the natural change of English prompted a long succession of revisions and fresh translations.

Two philosophies of translation

Translations differ chiefly because translators must balance two goals that pull against each other.

Formal equivalence

A formal, or “word-for-word,” translation keeps as close as possible to the structure and wording of the original. It is precise and well suited to close study, though at times the English can feel less than smooth. The King James Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the English Standard Version sit toward this end.

Dynamic equivalence

A dynamic, or “thought-for-thought,” translation aims to render the meaning of each passage in natural, contemporary English, even where that means departing from the original word order. It reads easily and aloud well. The New International Version and the New Living Translation lean this way.

Neither approach is simply “right.” Each makes a trade, and each serves a purpose.

The major English translations

  • King James Version (1611) — the historic standard; majestic, formal, and deeply woven into English culture.
  • New King James Version (1982) — the KJV with its archaic words and grammar gently modernised.
  • English Standard Version (2001) — a formal translation in the Tyndale–KJV line, widely used in study and worship.
  • New American Standard Bible — among the most literal of the modern translations, prized for study.
  • New International Version (1978) — a balanced, highly readable translation, one of the most widely used in the world.
  • New Revised Standard Version — a careful scholarly translation, common in academic settings and many churches.
  • New Living Translation — a clear, flowing dynamic translation, well suited to first-time readers.
  • Douay-Rheims — the historic English Bible of the Roman Catholic Church, translated from the Latin Vulgate.

How to choose

The best translation is, in large part, the one you will actually read. For close study, a more formal translation rewards the effort. For reading at length, or aloud, or for someone new to Scripture, a more dynamic translation removes needless barriers. Many readers keep two: one of each kind, side by side.

It is worth remembering that the differences, though real, are far smaller than they may appear. On every faithful translation’s page the same gospel is told. The wise course is simply to begin reading — and to let the text do its work.