how to choose a bible version — How to Choose a Bible Translation

Explanation of Bible Translations

When starting to study on your own, we recommend using a study Bible in a translation/version* that you can easily read and understand. Below are some insights that will help as you choose a Bible version for yourself.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TRANSLATIONS?

Translations exist because (1) most people are not fluent in the original languages in which the Bible was written, and (2) the English language has evolved and changed over time.

1. The Original Language of the Bible

Translations exist because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, with some Aramaic (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). Because of the multiple languages of the original text, all English versions we read today are a translation.

Until the mid-twentieth century, the oldest copies of the Old Testament were known as the Masoretic text, which were manuscripts translated between 500 and 950 A.D. In 1947, caves were discovered that held 900 ancient scrolls–the Dead Sea Scrolls–which dated back to the 2nd century B.C., well before Jesus was born. The Dead Sea Scrolls helped translators get much closer to the date the text was originally written. Remarkably the scrolls were found to be practically identical with the Masoretic text–most variants being minor spelling differences and none that impacted the meaning. In fact, since then, New Testament transcripts have been found dating as far back as the 2nd century A.D. confirming the reliability of the ancient texts.

Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic languages have different complexities compared to the English language. For example, there are often multiple English words for just one word in Greek. So when a person is translating the Greek biblical text from the original manuscripts into English, there may be many words to choose from to communicate the author’s intended message. Bible translators can focus on either a literal or readable translation and many fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum.

Literal Translations - Attempts to keep the form and meaning of the original language in words, grammar, and structure as close as possible to the author’s original intent. Readability and understandability are not the primary focus (examples: KJV and NASB).
Dynamic Translations - Attempts to strike a balance between being a literal (word-for-word) translation and readable (thought-for-thought) translation (examples: NIV and CSB).
Readable Translations - Attempts to convey the original meaning and to be readable in contemporary English, using language and idioms that would be understood by modern readers (examples: NLT and NiRV).

Note: There are also paraphrased versions of the Bible that focus more on capturing the idea behind the text using modern language. This means there is less emphasis on using the actual words of the Hebrew and Greek languages and focuses more on understanding the overall ideas and concepts being presented in the Biblical text. It is often not considered an official translation of the Bible (example: The Message).

A more literal Bible translation is not necessarily more accurate, especially if it’s difficult to understand, leading modern readers to misinterpret it. For daily reading and Bible study, we recommend using a Bible translation that emphasizes the importance of being both literal and readable, such as the CSB or NIV. Families with children and those looking to supplement their reading with a more thought-for-thought translation may enjoy the NLT or NIrV (New International Reader’s Version).

2. The English language continually evolves

A modern translation takes into consideration words and phrases that are no longer used or have changed over time. For instance, the word “let” meant restrain in 1611 when the KJV was first published, but today it means allow. It’s not uncommon to see modern translations come out with an updated version every 10-15 years to reflect today’s language.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN READING DIFFERENT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS?

There are a few things that may be confusing when reading different translations for the first time, so let us clear a few things up.

1. Scripture remains the same across different translations

Yes, some words will be translated differently or the sentence structure may vary from one translation to another, but it’s communicating the same idea. We’ve provided one below for you as an example using John 3:16, but go ahead and give it a try. Pick any verse and read it in several different translations (try the suggested translations below) and you’ll see what we mean. Slightly different words, same meaning.

2. Scripture remains the same across different editions of the same translation.

Many of the most popular Bible translations have several editions specifically geared toward different audiences such as men, women or students. The Scripture itself hasn’t changed, these different editions just include study notes, articles and devotional materials packaged with additional insights geared toward that audience. You can see the variety of options on our Recommended Resource page.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS?

Bible study can be easier when you read it in a language you understand. Below are the details behind some of the more common Bible versions to help you get started.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE (CSB)

A translation that is a balance between literal and readable.

Focused on clarity for today’s English readers.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in CSB, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.”

ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV)

Trends more literal in translation.
Focused on following the grammar structure of the original language as much as possible.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in ESV, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

When originally published in 1611, was one of the most literal translations available.
Focused on formal language and literal translation concepts.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in KJV, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Note: The New King James Version (NKJV) is an updated version of the KJV published in 1982 that removes some words that aren’t in common use in English today.

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

Currently one of the most popular English translations of the Bible.
Focused on balancing literal translation and readability.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in NIV, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT)

One of the easiest Bible translations to read.
Focused more on the thought behind the text, rather than the exact words used in the transcripts.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in NLT, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE (NASB)

Often considered the most literal translation in use today.
Focused on actual words from the transcripts rather than the thoughts behind them.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in NASB, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

AMPLIFIED BIBLE

Realizes that a word in the original text may not be easily translated into one English word.
When more than one word is possible, the Amplified Bible shows the additional words in parenthesis or brackets.
Example of Colossians 2:8 in the Amplified Bible, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.”

HOW DO I CHOOSE A BIBLE?

1. PICK A BIBLE TRANSLATION

The goal is to find a Bible in a language you can understand and get excited to read every day. To get a sense of the different types, you can read different Bible translations for free using the YouVersion Bible app. Read a passage first in a familiar translation and then in a couple different versions to get a sense for the differences in style.

2. CHECK OUT DIFFERENT STUDY BIBLE FEATURES

Find a study Bible that works best for you. Different study Bibles come with their own book introductions, verse-by-verse charts, maps, timelines, references, and concordance. Commentary in each of these will be slightly different although they should not contradict each other. See here to learn more about Study Bibles. If you get stuck, you can find our favorites on our recommendations page.

See Recommended Bibles & Resources

* For our purposes, the words “translation” and “version” are interchangeable. While the Bible has been translated from the original Greek and Hebrew, we also realize that a lot of the translations call themselves versions - so we have taken the liberty to refer to them as both.