Formal equivalence
Tries to preserve source-language forms and structure where workable. It can expose grammar more directly but may sound less natural in English.
HOW THE ENGLISH BIBLE GOT HERE
History of English Bible Translation
No English Bible dropped from the sky in its present wording. This timeline records who translated or revised each major edition, when, why, what source texts they used, how they approached translation, and whether we can legally host its full text.
Functional / meaning-based translation
Prioritizes communicating the meaning or effect of a phrase in natural target-language English. It can be clearer but sometimes requires more interpretive decisions.
Every translation interprets
Even a very literal translation must choose among meanings, rearrange grammar and decide how to represent idioms. Comparing translations is useful precisely because those judgments become visible.
c. 1382–13951526; Pentateuch 1530153515371539156015681582 NT; 1609–1610 OT1611179518331846–18491851/18521862; rev. 1887, 18981864NT 1867; complete 189018691872–1902NT 1881; OT 18851898–190419011903; 3rd ed. 19121917NT 1946; complete 19521949/1964NT 1963; complete 1971; updates 1995, 20201965; revised 2015NT 1973; complete 1978; major update 2011NT 1979; complete 198219891996; second edition 20042000s; ongoing maintained edition2001; updates including 20252005; second edition 201920112017complete modern edition; public domain 202320212021–2022
Wycliffe Bible WYC
Middle English • Translation from the Latin Vulgate
History/profile onlyTyndale Bible / New Testament Tyndale
Early Modern English • Direct translation from Greek and Hebrew
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryCoverdale Bible Coverdale
Early Modern English • Eclectic translation using earlier translations and European versions
History/profile onlyMatthew Bible Matthew
Early Modern English • Composite Bible
History/profile onlyGreat Bible Great Bible
Early Modern English • Revision of earlier English translations
History/profile onlyGeneva Bible Geneva
Reformation English • Scholarly Protestant revision from Hebrew and Greek
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryBishops’ Bible Bishops
Church of England • Episcopal revision of the Great Bible
History/profile onlyDouay–Rheims Bible DRB
Catholic English • Formal translation from the Latin Vulgate
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryKing James Version KJV
Church of England / English literary tradition • Committee revision emphasizing formal correspondence and continuity
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterThomas Haweis New Testament Haweis NT
English evangelical • Fresh English New Testament from Greek
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryWebster Bible Webster
American Protestant / KJV revision • Conservative language revision of the KJV
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryEtheridge Syriac New Testament Etheridge
Syriac-to-English • Literal translation from the Peshitta/Peschito Syriac tradition
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryMurdock Syriac New Testament Murdock
Syriac-to-English • Literal translation from Syriac
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryYoung’s Literal Translation YLT
Independent • Very literal / form-conscious
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterH. T. Anderson New Testament Anderson
American Restoration-era • Fresh translation from Greek
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryDarby Translation Darby
Brethren • Literal study translation
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterNoyes Translation Noyes
American Unitarian scholarly • Fresh translation using Tischendorf’s Greek text for the New Testament
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryRotherham Emphasised Bible Rotherham
Independent scholarly • Highly form-conscious “emphasised” translation
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryRevised Version RV
British interdenominational revision • Formal revision of KJV using newer textual scholarship
History/profile onlyTwentieth Century New Testament TCNT
Interdenominational • Fresh contemporary-English translation
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryAmerican Standard Version ASV
American Protestant • Formal equivalence
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterWeymouth New Testament Weymouth
English scholarly / Protestant • Modern-speech New Testament
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryJewish Publication Society Bible JPS 1917
Jewish • Jewish English translation of the Hebrew Bible
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryRevised Standard Version RSV
Mainline Protestant / ecumenical • Formal literary revision
History/profile onlyBible in Basic English BBE
English educational • Restricted-vocabulary / simplified English
✓ Historical full text in the Classic LibraryNew American Standard Bible NASB
Evangelical • Formal equivalence
History/profile onlyAmplified Bible AMP
Evangelical • Expanded translation with explanatory synonyms in text
History/profile onlyNew International Version NIV
Evangelical international • Mediating / functional with attention to form
History/profile onlyNew King James Version NKJV
Evangelical / KJV revision • Formal revision preserving KJV textual tradition and literary continuity
History/profile onlyNew Revised Standard Version NRSV
Ecumenical • Formal/mediating with inclusive-language policy where judged warranted
History/profile onlyNew Living Translation NLT
Evangelical • Meaning-based / dynamic with attention to textual accuracy
History/profile onlyWorld English Bible WEB
Open ecumenical/evangelical project • Mostly formal, modern-English ASV revision
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterEnglish Standard Version ESV
Evangelical • Essentially literal / formal equivalence
History/profile onlyNET Bible NET
Evangelical / academic project • Mediating translation with extensive translator notes
History/profile onlyCommon English Bible CEB
Ecumenical • Mediating / common-language translation
History/profile onlyChristian Standard Bible CSB
Evangelical • “Optimal equivalence” balancing form and meaning
History/profile onlyBerean Standard Bible BSB
Independent evangelical • Mediating/form-conscious with transparent study stages
✓ Full text in the Bible Study CenterLegacy Standard Bible LSB
Conservative evangelical • Formal equivalence
History/profile onlyNew Revised Standard Version Updated Edition NRSVue
Ecumenical / academic • Formal/mediating revision
History/profile only