English Bible Translations

Wyclif Giving “The Poor Priests” His Translation of the Bible, William Frederick Yeames

English Bible translations are renderings of the original Scriptures—written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—into the English language. Since the fourteenth century, when John Wycliffe, a forerunner of the Reformation, produced the first complete English Bible, numerous translations have appeared alongside the historical division of the church into Catholic and Protestant traditions. English Bible versions have exerted a profound influence not only on Christian faith but also on the spread of the English language and the development of English literature. Among them are the King James Version (KJV), most widely known; the New International Version (NIV), translated into modern international English; and the Today’s English Version (TEV), written in simplified English.

History of English Bible Translation

In medieval Europe, under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, the Latin Vulgate was the principal Bible in use. Before Wycliffe in the fourteenth century, only partial English translations existed. One example is the seventh-century Christian poet Caedmon, who paraphrased portions of Genesis and Exodus into verse. As a result, ordinary believers had little access to Scripture, and only certain clergy and members of the elite were able to read it.

The Wycliffe’s Bible (1382)

The Wycliffe’s Bible, British Museum

The Wycliffe’s Bible was the first complete translation of the Bible into English. It was produced by the English reformer John Wycliffe (1330–1384), who emphasized faith and practice centered on Scripture and believed that everyone should be able to read and understand the Bible freely. Together with associates such as John Purvey, Wycliffe translated the Latin Vulgate literally, publishing the English New Testament in 1380 and the complete Old and New Testaments in 1382. These translations circulated in manuscript form.

The Tyndale Bible

The Tyndale Bible, image courtesy of The New York Public Library Digital Collections

The Tyndale Bible was an English translation of the Scriptures by the reformer William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536). Drawing directly from the Hebrew and Greek texts, Tyndale published the New Testament in 1525, producing the first printed English Bible. At the time, translating the Bible into a language other than Latin could result in exile or execution by burning. Despite persecution, Tyndale continued translating the Old Testament but was eventually condemned as a heretic and executed by burning. His work later served as the foundation for the King James Version (KJV) and the English Revised Version (ERV), exerting lasting influence on the English Bible.

The Great Bible (1539)

Title page of the Great Bible, published in 1539

After Tyndale, political and religious circumstances changed dramatically when Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church and became head of the Church of England. Bible translation and publication flourished during this period. Miles Coverdale, John Rogers (editor of the Matthew Bible), and Richard Taverner produced new versions, including the Coverdale Bible (1535), translated from the Latin Vulgate and Martin Luther’s German Bible; the Matthew Bible (1537), a revision of Tyndale’s and Coverdale’s work; and the Taverner Bible (1539), a further revision of the Matthew Bible. The Great Bible (1539), also a revision of the Matthew Bible, was published under the direction of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister, and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Its large folio format (25.9 × 37.8 cm) earned it the name “Great Bible.” Copies were placed in churches and monasteries throughout England.

The Geneva Bible (1560)

The Geneva Bible, 1581 edition, photo by Liam Quin

The Geneva Bible was first published in 1560 by English Protestants who had fled to Geneva to escape persecution under Mary I. Scholars proficient in Hebrew and Greek translated the text directly from the original languages. It was about half the size of the Great Bible, making it easy to carry, and was printed in a clear, readable typeface. Most notably, it was the first English Bible to include chapters and verses throughout the text. Later dedicated to Elizabeth I and printed in England in 1575, the Geneva Bible became especially popular among the Puritans and served as the principal Protestant Bible of the sixteenth century.

The Bishops’ Bible (1568)

The Bishops’ Bible was published in 1568 under the direction of Archbishop Matthew Parker of the Church of England. As the Geneva Bible, with its strong Calvinist influence, gained popularity among the general public, the Bishops’ Bible was produced as a countermeasure, drawing primarily on the Great Bible. Because most of its translators were bishops of the Church of England, it came to be known as the Bishops’ Bible. The translation was highly literal and somewhat stiff in style.

The King James Version (KJV, 1611)

Title page and dedication of the King James Bible, 1613 edition

The King James Version was published in 1611 at the command of King James I of England and is also known as the Authorized Version (AV).

At the time, the Church of England primarily used the Bishops’ Bible, while the Puritans favored the Geneva Bible. In an effort to resolve this division and establish a unified English Bible, King James I commissioned a new translation. Beginning in 1607, more than fifty clergy and scholars worked for over four years on the project. They translated anew from the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, using the Bishops’ Bible as the base text, while also consulting earlier English translations such as the Tyndale Bible, the Matthew Bible, the Coverdale Bible, the Great Bible, and the Geneva Bible, as well as Martin Luther’s German Bible. As a result, the new version brought together the strengths of its predecessors in both content and style.

The King James Version, characterized by its concise and elegant language, was warmly received by the public and soon became the standard Bible not only in England but also in America. Its influence on the development and spread of the English language has often been compared to that of Shakespeare’s works.

English Revised Version (ERV, 1885)

Although the King James Version (KJV) achieved remarkable literary distinction, its use of archaic language made revision necessary. In 1885, the English Revised Version (ERV) was published in Britain as a stylistic revision of the KJV.

American Standard Version (ASV, 1901)

The American Standard Version (ASV) was published in 1901 as an American adaptation of the English Revised Version (ERV). It replaced many British expressions with American usage and translated the Hebrew divine name יהוה (YHWH) as “Jehovah,” rather than using the traditional renderings “LORD” or “God” found in the King James Version.

Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1952)

As older biblical manuscripts continued to be discovered, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, efforts to revise and retranslate the Bible into English progressed further. In 1952, the Revised Standard Version (RSV) was published as a revision of the ASV. Intended for use in both worship and study, it was rendered in modern English. Some editions included, in addition to the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, the Apocrypha accepted by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

The Living Bible (LB, 1971)

The Living Bible (LB) is a paraphrase of the Scriptures in modern English, produced by Kenneth N. Taylor of the United States and based on the American Standard Version (ASV). First published in 1971, it achieved significant commercial success and became widely read as an “easy-to-understand” Bible.

New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1971)

The New American Standard Bible (NASB), first published in 1971, was produced by American evangelical scholars. It is a highly literal translation that seeks to remain faithful to the original texts, drawing on the most up-to-date manuscripts and scholarly resources. The NASB has been especially popular among conservative denominations in the United States.

Today’s English Version / Good News Translation (TEV/GNT, 1976)

The Today’s English Version (TEV) was published in 1976 by the American Bible Society and was renamed the Good News Translation (GNT) in 2001. Written in simple, everyday English, it includes illustrations to aid comprehension. The TEV has been regarded as especially suitable for readers for whom English is a second language, as well as for children.

New International Version (NIV, 1978)

The New International Version (NIV) was published in 1978 by Zondervan. Its guiding principle was to produce a translation that is easy to read while avoiding excessive paraphrase, rendering the biblical text with both accuracy and dignity of style. Written in widely accessible modern English, the NIV has been regarded as suitable for personal study, preaching, and memorization.

New King James Version (NKJV, 1979)

The New King James Version (NKJV), published in 1979, is one of several revisions of the King James Version (KJV). Its purpose was to update the vocabulary and grammar of the KJV for contemporary use while preserving the beauty and majesty of the original text.

Revised English Bible (REB, 1989)

The Revised English Bible (REB) is a revision of the New English Bible (NEB), which was published in 1970 in British English under the direction of the Church of Scotland. Published in 1989, the REB has since been widely used in Protestant churches throughout the United Kingdom.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV, 1989)

The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), published in 1989, is the standard English translation used in many English-speaking seminaries. It is widely regarded as one of the most theologically reliable Bible translations. The NRSV is a revision of the Revised Standard Version (RSV), rendered in contemporary English and informed by advances in textual scholarship. It follows a largely literal, word-for-word approach and is generally considered more conservative in style than the RSV.

New Living Translation (NLT, 1996)

The New Living Translation (NLT) was produced as a new translation based on a thorough comparison of the Living Bible (LB) with the original biblical texts. First published in 1996, it was designed to make Scripture easily readable and understandable for lay readers, emphasizing accuracy of meaning while employing familiar modern English.

English Standard Version (ESV, 2001)

The English Standard Version (ESV) is a modern English Bible translated on an essentially literal, word-for-word basis. It aims to render each word and expression clearly without sacrificing literary quality. Since its publication in 2001, it has become one of the most widely used English translations worldwide.

Other English Bible Versions

Several English Bible translations have been produced within the Roman Catholic tradition. These include the Douay-Rheims Version (1610), the Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (1750), the Jerusalem Bible (JB, 1966), and the New American Bible (NAB, 1970).

The New World Translation (NWT) was published in 1961 by Jehovah’s Witnesses as their own version of the Bible. It reflects certain doctrinal distinctives, such as rendering “God” and “Lord” in parts of the New Testament as “Jehovah,” and translating “cross” as “torture stake.”

See also

• Bible
• The Original Languages of the Bible
• The Writers of the Bible
• Composition of the Bible
• Authority and Preservation of the Bible
• The Old Testament
• The New Testament