Details of Bible Translations and their Sources
Here’s a listing of many of the better known Bible versions and translations, giving helpful information about each one.
If you’re looking for a specific version or translation that isn’t listed, please let us know. We’d be pleased to research it for you.
Explanation of Abbreviations
In the Abbr column we show the (usually three letter) abbreviation by which this translation is often referred to.
In the OT Source column we show some of the major sources for Old Testament translations :
BHQ = Biblia Hebraica Quinta
BHS = Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
Mas T = Masoretic Text
In the NT Source column we show some of the major sources for New Testament translations
Maj T = Majority Text
NA = Nestle-Aland (NA) Novum Testamentum Graece (Critical Text)
TR = Textus Receptus
UBS = United Bible Societies
WH = Westcott and Hort
| Bible | Abbr | Published | OT Source | NT Source | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Conservative Version | ACV | 2012 | Translated by Dr Walter L Porter | Maj T of Robinson/Pierpont | Their OT is the basis for the MLV. In the public domain. |
| Amplified Bible | AMP | 2015 | Updated AMP-C | Updated AMP-C | Based on the ASV |
| Amplified Bible (Classic) | AMP-C | NT 1958 complete 1965 rev 1987 | Based on ASV and RSV | Based on ASV | Revision of the ASV. Provides synonyms and explanations in brackets in the text |
| American Standard Version | ASV | NT 1900 OT 1901 1929 copyright renewal | Mas T | WH, Tregelles | Derived from the RV Now in public domain |
| Berean Study Bible | BSB | 2016 | Mas T and broadly based | Broadly based | |
| Blue Letter Bible | BLB | 1996 | Evolved from KJV | Evolved from KJV TR & WH | Online and phone apps only https://www.blueletterbible.org/ |
| Christian Standard Bible | CSB | 2017 rev 2020 | BHS | NA 28th ed UBS 5th ed | Used by Southern Baptists |
| Common English Bible | CEB | NT 2010 OT 2011 | BHS 4th ed BHQ (5th ed) | NA 27th ed | One of two approved translations at Fuller Theological Seminary. Used by the Episcopal Church. |
| Confraternity Bible | 1941 (NT) 195201969 (OT) | Vulgate and Challoner-Rheims versions | When complete was the basis for the NAB. Roman Catholic. |
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| Contemporary English Version | CEV | NT 1991 complete 1995 | intended as an easier-to-read version of the GNB Claims to be 10th most popular version in 2017. Published by American Bible Socy. |
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| English Standard Version | ESV | 2001 rev 2007, 2011, 2016 | BHS 5th ed 1997 | UBS 5th ed NA 28th ed | Evolved from the RSV. In 2013 became basis for the Gideons bible. Used by Calvinists and Presbyterians. |
| Good News Bible (Good News Translation, also Good News for Modern Man) | GNB GNT TEV (formerly) | NT 1966 complete 1976 | NA 27th ed | First published 1966 as "Good News for Modern Man". Formerly known as Today's English Version (TEV), renamed in 2001 |
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| Holman Christian Standard Bible | HCSB | NT 1999 complete 2004 rev 2009 | BHS | NA 27th ed | evolved to become the CSB in 2016. |
| International Standard Version | ISV | 1998 (NT) 2011 (online) soon (print version was scheduled for 2019) | BHS | NA 27th ed | Their website is down, possibly this organization is no longer? |
| Jerusalem Bible | JB or TJB | 1966 | Mas T | NA, some Maj T | For Roman Catholics. Based upon the 1956 French translation, La Bible de Jérusalem. A complete new translation in 1985 is called the New Jerusalem Bible. |
| 21st Century King James Version | KJ21 | 1994 | Mas T | TR | Primarily an update to the KJV rather than a new translation, some more modern words |
| King James Version (Authorized Version) | KJV | 1611 1769 | mainly Mas T | TR, some Maj T | Used by Gideons until replaced by NKJV. In broad use by protestant faiths. Public domain in much of the world. |
| Lexham English Bible | LEX | NT 2010 OT 2011 | SBL Greek New Testament (based on WH) | ||
| Green's Literal Translation | LITV (KJ3) (KJV3) | 1985 | Mas T | TR | Uses a literal formal equivalence approach. |
| Literal Standard Version | LSV | 2020 | mainly Mas T | mainly TR | Is a major revision of the YLT. |
| Modern English Version | MEV (MEB?) | 2014 | Mas T | TR | Revision of the KJV |
| Modern Literal Version | MLV | 1987 annual updates from 2013 | Based on Porter's A Conservative Version, based on ASV | Maj T | Interesting crowdsourced approach to translating and correcting. |
| New American Bible | NAB | 1970 rev 1986, 1991 | Roman Catholic. Evolved from the Confraternity Bible |
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| New American Bible Revised Edition | NABRE | 2011 | mainly BHS Vulgate | UBS3/NA26 | Roman Catholic. A new revision is scheduled for 2025. |
| New American Standard | NASB | NT 1963 complete 1971 rev 1977, 1995, 2020 | BHS, BHQ when available | NA 28th ed | A revision of the ASV. Used by evangelical protestants. |
| New English Bible | NEB | NT 1961 OT 1970 | mainly Mas T per Biblia Hebraica (Kittel) 3rd ed | RVG Tasker Greek New Testament (1094) | Evolved to become REB in 1989 |
| New International Version | NIV | NT 1973 OT 1978 rev 1984, 2011 | mainly BHS | UBS/NA (edition not specified) | |
| New Jerusalem Bible | NJB | 1985 | BHS | NA 25th ed | Roman Catholic. A substantially revised/redone Jerusalem Bible. |
| New King James Version | NKJV | NT 1979 complete 1982 rev 1984 | mainly BHS 1967/77 | TR | Used by Gideons until 2013 when ESV replaced it. |
| New Living Translation | NLT | 1996 2004, 2015 | BHS | NA 27th ed UBS 4th ed | Originally intended as a revision of TLB but became an entire new work |
| New Revised Standard Version | NRSV | 1989 new edition projected Nov 2021 | mainly BHS | UBS 3rd ed NA 27th ed | Update of RSV |
| New World Translation | NWT | NT 1950 Complete 1961 | BH | WH | A Jehovah's Witnesses Bible |
| Revised English Bible | REB | 1989 | mainly Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1967/77) | mainly NA 27th ed | Unrelated to the 1877 Revised English Bible An updated version of the NEB. |
| Revised Standard Version | RSV | NT 1946 OT 1952 Latest 1977 | mainly BHS | NA 17th ed | An update of the ASV. Was also released in a Reader's Digest condensed version in 1982! |
| Revised Version (English Revised Version) | RV ERV | NT 1881 OT 1885 | Mas T | Palmer | Out of copyright so widely available but not very popular. |
| The Living Bible | TLB | 1971 | Paraphrase of ASV by Kenneth N Taylor | Paraphrase of ASV by Kenneth N Taylor | Used by evangelical protestants; also a Roman Catholic version. |
| The Message | MSG | 2002 | A paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. | ||
| Today's New International Version | TNIV | NT 2002 complete 2005 | update of NIV | update of NIV | Discontinued in 2011 when a new edition of NIV was released. |
| Young's Literal Translation | YLT | 1862 1887 1888 (posthumous) 1898 | Mas T | TR | A very literal translation. |
