Bible Versions: A Complete List of 100+ Versions (TABLE)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

It was St. Augustine who centuries ago remarked that “the Bible is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim.” Indeed, the Bible isn’t a single book but a vast library of diverse writings (poetry and prophecy, laws and letters, stories and visions) that have shaped the imagination of cultures for millennia.

Because of this long and complex history, it should come as no surprise that there are many Bible versions in circulation today.

At times, it can even feel as if every society, every language group, or every faith community has produced its own rendering of these sacred texts. Each of these versions of the Bible is more than a simple translation exercise. Rather, it’s the outcome of particular theological convictions, social contexts, and cultural priorities.

The existence of so many Bible versions tells us something important: translating the Scriptures is never a neutral or mechanical process. Every choice of word, every stylistic decision, every guiding philosophy reflects an attempt to balance fidelity to ancient texts with clarity for modern readers.

For some, accuracy is paramount; for others, accessibility and readability take precedence. Still others prioritize liturgical tradition, doctrinal emphasis, or even missionary utility. That is why Bible versions differ not only in vocabulary or style but also in the very way they convey meaning, tone, and nuance.

In what follows, we’ll explore the wide range of English Bible versions, from those striving for literal word-for-word accuracy to those seeking thought-for-thought clarity, to paraphrases designed for devotional reading.

Along the way, we’ll also glance at historical classics, Catholic and Orthodox editions, Jewish translations, and the versions produced by particular religious groups. Finally, after presenting a list of Bible versions for each main category, we will gather them into a comprehensive table of more than 100 translations. Join us in this amazing journey across the history of the most important and influential book in the Western civilization! 

Whatever Bible versions you have in front of you, one fact is beyond dispute: The Bible is filled with fascinating and well-known stories. The Book of Genesis is the prime example, from the creation of the world to the story of Noah and the flood.

Before we head further on our journey through translations, I want to invite you to check out Bart Ehrman’s six-lesson course, In the Beginning: History, Legend, or Myth in Genesis? In it, Bart explores how critical scholars examine these foundational stories, separating history from legend and uncovering the deeper meanings that have shaped Jewish and Christian traditions for centuries.

Bible Versions: A Short Introduction and Contextualization

Perhaps it began simply as a collection of writings that developed gradually over the centuries, but once Christianity emerged (and, even more significantly, became the dominant force within the Roman Empire) the Bible could no longer remain just an ordinary anthology of sacred texts. It came to function as the very foundation of Christian identity, theology, and practice.

As the faith expanded, however, divisions and debates accompanied its growth. With every new movement, reform, or controversy, the potential for distinct interpretations and emphases arose, often giving way to the production of new Bible versions suited to the needs of particular communities.

The English scholar John Barton has described this wide-ranging influence in the following terms:

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This dual presence that Barton describes helps explain why the history of Bible versions is both complex and fascinating. In the broader culture, fragments of the biblical text continue to shape language, art, politics, and everyday expressions, even among those only dimly aware of the Bible’s origins.

Within faith communities, meanwhile, followers cherish the Scriptures as divinely inspired writings whose meaning must be made clear to every new generation. Both spheres (cultural and religious) create a demand for fresh translations, adapted to contemporary idioms, theological convictions, and shifting contexts.

The overview that follows won't only situate individual Bible versions within their broader context but also help us appreciate the depth and breadth of the Bible’s ongoing influence.

Word-for-Word Translations (Formal Equivalence)

The original languages of the Bible are primarily Hebrew (for most of the Old Testament) and Greek (for the New Testament), with some smaller sections in Aramaic, such as parts of Daniel. From early on, Jewish and Christian communities recognized both the divine inspiration of these writings and the active involvement of human authors.

This dual conviction meant that while the texts were sacred, they also required interpretation. Unlike in Islam, where the Qur’an is considered untranslatable in its fullest sense, Judaism and Christianity allowed for their Scriptures to be rendered into other languages.

Jack P. Lewis, in his book The English Bible: From KJV to NIV, notes:

So, already in antiquity, we can see the rise of translations such as the Greek Septuagint, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and Ethiopian versions, a tradition that only grew stronger with each passing century.

Yet every translation inevitably involves interpretation. Languages do not map perfectly onto one another: a single Hebrew or Greek word may have multiple possible meanings in English, while idioms, syntax, and cultural references rarely match one-to-one. 

The moment a translator makes a decision about which English word to use, an interpretive choice has been made. Readers often wonder which is the easiest Bible to understand, but the answer depends on what kind of understanding they seek: linguistic precision, literary beauty, theological resonance, or devotional accessibility.

Among the many approaches to translation, word-for-word renderings (often called “formal equivalence”) attempt to stay as close as possible to the wording and structure of the original texts. The goal is to reproduce the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence patterns of Hebrew and Greek in English, even when this results in somewhat stiff or less idiomatic phrasing.

Advocates of this approach argue that it provides readers with a more direct sense of the biblical languages, while critics note that it can sometimes obscure meaning by clinging too tightly to ancient patterns of thought.

Several major English translations embody this word-for-word philosophy:

#1 – New American Standard Bible (NASB): Often considered one of the most literal English translations available. It prioritizes strict fidelity to the original languages, making it prized for study but sometimes challenging for casual reading. 

In the New Cambridge History of the Bible, Mark Noll notes that NASB is, basically, a “modernisation of ASV (American Standard Version)” and notes that it still remains “among the top ten best sellers” in the USA. 

#2 – English Standard Version (ESV): A revision of the RSV, the ESV combines formal equivalence with an effort at literary readability. It has gained popularity in evangelical circles for both personal study and public worship.

#3 – King James Version (KJV): First published in 1611, the KJV remains one of the most influential Bible versions in the English-speaking world. Its majestic prose shaped the English language for centuries, though its older vocabulary can be difficult for modern readers.

#4 – New King James Version (NKJV): This translation updates the vocabulary and grammar of the King James Version while retaining much of its style and cadence. It aims to make the KJV tradition more accessible to modern readers without losing its familiar resonance.

#5 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB): A recent revision of the NASB, the LSB emphasizes consistency in rendering key terms and employs “Yahweh” for the divine name. It’s especially geared toward readers seeking precision and theological consistency.

Other Word-for-Word Versions

Thought-for-Thought Translations (Dynamic Equivalence)

Unlike the previous category, thought-for-thought translations seek instead to convey the meaning of the text in natural, contemporary English. The goal isn’t to replicate ancient sentence structures but to communicate the sense of what the biblical authors intended. 

This approach often results in smoother, more idiomatic phrasing, making these Bible versions easier to read aloud in worship, study groups, or personal devotion.

#1 – New International Version (NIV): First published in 1978, the NIV was designed as a fresh translation directly from Hebrew and Greek rather than as a revision of earlier English Bibles.

Noll describes the main events that followed this translation project: 

#2 – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV): A 1989 revision of the RSV, the NRSV is valued in academic and mainline Protestant circles for its inclusive language and careful attention to textual scholarship. It’s often the preferred version in universities, seminaries, and ecumenical contexts.

#3 – Christian Standard Bible (CSB): Published in 2017, the CSB is a revision of the Holman Christian Standard Bible. It aims for what its translators call “optimal equivalence,” seeking a middle ground between word-for-word and thought-for-thought, with clarity for public and private reading.

#4 – Common English Bible (CEB): Released in 2011, the CEB was created by a broad team of translators from multiple denominations. It’s known for its simple, approachable style, deliberately written at a reading level accessible to a wide audience, making it especially useful for congregational life.

Other Thought-for-Thought Bible Versions

Paraphrase Bibles

In our exploration of Bible versions, we arrive at the peculiar category known as “paraphrase Bibles.” Unlike word-for-word or thought-for-thought translations, these editions don’t attempt to reproduce the exact wording or sentence structure of the original texts.

Instead, they aim to restate the message of the Bible in fresh, contemporary language that resonates with modern readers. The goal is clarity and accessibility, often with an emphasis on devotional use, rather than strict linguistic precision.

#1 – The Message: Created by Eugene Peterson and published in stages between 1993 and 2002, The Message seeks to capture the tone, rhythm, and everyday flavor of the Bible in modern idiom. Readers widely appreciate it for devotional studies and making familiar passages sound strikingly new.

#2 – The Living Bible: Published in 1971 by Kenneth Taylor, this paraphrase version was originally written to help his children understand the Scriptures. Even though it has been criticized for sacrificing accuracy in favor of readability, this version of the Bible became a bestseller!

As Lewis explains:

#3 – The Voice: Produced by a team of scholars, writers, and artists, The Voice (2012) combines paraphrase with dramatic storytelling. It’s distinctive for presenting biblical texts in dialogue form, enhancing their readability as narrative and conversation.

Other Paraphrase Bibles

Classic and Historical Translations

Strictly speaking, one could argue that Jerome accomplished the first truly “classic” translation of the Bible in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. 

His Vulgate rendered both the Old and New Testaments into Latin, the language of the Western Roman Empire. Jerome’s translation gained its authority not merely through ecclesial approval but also because of its intrinsic excellence

He was a gifted linguist with a deep sense of the original languages, and his Latin prose was both precise and elegant. Over time, the Vulgate became the standard version of the Bible throughout medieval Europe, shaping the liturgy, theology, and spirituality of Western Christendom for more than a millennium.

#1 – The King James Bible 

The real explosion of new Bible versions, however, began much later, in the 16th century, with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. This movement placed renewed emphasis on direct access to the Scriptures in the vernacular languages of Europe.

In this new religious landscape, translations multiplied as reformers sought to make the Bible accessible to laypeople in their own tongue. Out of this ferment emerged what would become one of the most influential translations in history: the King James Bible (KJV) of 1611.

David Norton describes the historical background of this huge project:

Norton’s comments highlight both the collaborative nature of the KJV’s production and its intention to unify the many competing translations then in circulation. The result was a work of enduring literary power and theological authority, one that shaped not only English Christianity but also the English language itself.

#2 – The Revised Version

Subsequent centuries brought further revisions and adaptations. The Revised Version (RV) of 1881-85 was the first major English revision of the KJV, undertaken in Britain with the goal of incorporating advances in textual criticism and manuscript discoveries.

#3 – American Standard Version 

In America, the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901 continued this tradition, offering an even more literal rendering that became a benchmark for scholarly study in the United States.

#4 – Revised Standard Version

Midway through the 20th century, the Revised Standard Version (RSV) sought to combine accuracy with literary readability, providing a translation that would be widely used in both academic and church settings.

Other Classic and Historical Bible Versions

Catholic and Orthodox Bible Versions

Being the most widespread among Christian denominations, the Catholic and Orthodox traditions have developed their own long histories of Bible translation.

Each tradition has approached the Scriptures in ways that reflect its theology, liturgy, and cultural setting. In what follows, we’ll briefly highlight some of the most important versions of the Bible within these communities, shedding light on their background and distinctive features.

#1 – The Douay-Rheims Bible

The Douay-Rheims Bible was produced in the late 16th and early 17th centuries by English Catholic scholars in exile at the English College of Douai and later Rheims.

It was translated from the Latin Vulgate rather than the original Hebrew and Greek, since the Vulgate was then considered the authoritative text of the Catholic Church.

Norton explains some of its main linguistic features: 

In any case, the Douay-Rheims Bible version long remained the standard Catholic Bible in English-speaking countries, known for its Latinate style and doctrinal consistency.

#2 – The New American Bible

First published in 1970, The New American Bible was the first complete Catholic translation of the Scriptures into English from the original languages rather than from the Vulgate.

It was produced under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and has become the standard text for the Catholic liturgy in the United States. The NAB emphasizes both scholarly accuracy and liturgical suitability, balancing academic rigor with readability in worship settings.

Bruce M. Metzger, in his book The Bible in Translations: The Ancient And English Versions, notes one interesting aspect that speaks volume about the liturgical suitability of the NAB:

#3 – The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)

This Bible version was released in 2011 as a thorough update of the NAB. 

It incorporates the latest advances in textual scholarship and archaeology, particularly in the Old Testament. The NABRE remains the standard Catholic translation in the United States today, widely used in both academic study and liturgical life.

#4 – The Orthodox Study Bible

Published in 2008, the Orthodox Study Bible is unique among English translations in that it uses the Septuagint as its base text rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text.

Since the Septuagint has long held special authority within the Eastern Orthodox Church, this translation reflects the Orthodox theological and liturgical tradition. It combines the Septuagint Old Testament with the New King James Version for the New Testament, accompanied by extensive study notes from an Orthodox perspective.

Other Catholic and Orthodox Bible Versions

Jewish Bible Translations

It’s impossible to talk about Bible versions without considering the Jewish tradition. After all, the Scriptures that Christians call the Old Testament (albeit in a somewhat different order and format) constitute the foundational canon of Judaism. 

For centuries, Jewish communities have approached these sacred writings not only as texts to be read but also as sources to be interpreted, debated, and reapplied to ever-changing contexts.

As Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler note in The Jewish Study Bible:

Given this interpretive openness, it’s no surprise that Jewish communities have long embraced translation as part of their scriptural life. The ancient world already witnessed the Greek Septuagint (LXX), the Aramaic Targums, and Saadia Ben Joseph’s tenth-century Arabic rendering.

These translations made the Scriptures accessible to Jews living in multilingual contexts. Moreover, they highlight how translation itself became a form of commentary. 

In this section, however, our focus will be on modern English translations of the Hebrew Bible, which continue that same tradition of adaptation for new linguistic and cultural environments.

#1 – The New Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (NJPS)

One of the most influential modern versions is the New Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (NJPS), published in 1985. This translation was a revision of an earlier JPS edition from 1917, which had relied heavily on the King James Version.

The NJPS, by contrast, was translated directly from the Hebrew by a committee of Jewish scholars, deliberately distancing itself from Christian renderings and theological assumptions. For instance, the famous “Isaiah prophecy” (7:14) reads in the NJPS: “Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel.”

Known for its clarity and accuracy, it has become the standard English version of the Hebrew Bible in American Jewish communities and is widely used in both liturgical and academic contexts.

#2 – Robert Alter’s The Hebrew Bible

Another important translation is Robert Alter’s The Hebrew Bible, published in full in 2018 after decades of work. Alter sought to reproduce not only the meaning of the Hebrew text but also its literary artistry, its rhythms, parallelisms, and wordplay.

His translation has been celebrated for bringing out the narrative style and poetic features of the Hebrew Scriptures in a way few English versions attempt. While not an “official” synagogue translation, it has been highly influential among scholars and lay readers alike who seek a literary experience of the Bible.

#3 – Everett Fox’s Bible Version 

Also noteworthy is Everett Fox’s The Five Books of Moses (1995) and subsequent volumes translating the Former and Latter Prophets. Fox, influenced by the German scholar Martin Buber’s approach, emphasizes the oral and rhythmic qualities of the Hebrew text.

As he says in the introduction:

His translations, therefore, preserve repetitions, wordplays, and Hebrew names in transliterated form, giving English readers a sense of the texture and sound of the original.

Other Jewish Bible Translations

Jehovah’s Witness/Other Religious Group Bible Versions

The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses goes back to the late 19th century, when Charles Taze Russell and a group of Bible students in Pennsylvania began rethinking traditional Christian doctrines and emphasizing the imminent arrival of God’s Kingdom.

Over time, the movement expanded internationally, adopting the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931 to highlight its distinctive focus on proclaiming the divine name “Jehovah.” As the community grew, so did the desire for a Bible translation that would reflect their theological commitments.

This desire culminated in the publication of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT), first released in stages between 1950 and 1960, with the complete Bible appearing in 1961. 

Produced by an anonymous committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the NWT was intended to be a faithful rendering of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts while also avoiding theological terms that the Witnesses believed distorted the true understanding of God and Jesus.

Unfortunately, due to the anonymity policy, the names of the translators involved in this project were never released. This poses an obvious problem that George D. Chryssides, in his book Jehovah's Witnesses: Continuity and Change, also notes

In any case, one of the most notable features of NWT is the consistent use of “Jehovah” to render the divine name (the Tetragrammaton, YHWH) in both the Old and New Testaments.

The NWT has been revised several times, with the most recent major edition published in 2013. Supporters praise it for clarity, modern language, and its emphasis on the divine name, while critics (both scholarly and confessional) have raised concerns about certain translation choices that appear to reflect distinctive Jehovah’s Witness theology.

Other Religious Group Bible Versions

Modern Popular Translations

By “modern popular” translations, we mean those Bible versions that have gained wide acceptance among ordinary readers, congregations, and study groups in recent decades. Unlike strictly academic or narrowly denominational editions, these translations are designed to balance accuracy with accessibility

#1 – The New International Version (NIV)

The New International Version (NIV), first published in 1978, was created by a large team of evangelical scholars who sought to produce a translation both faithful to the original languages and readable in modern English.

However, there are some unclear decisions that the translators made. Bruce Metzger notes the important examples:

Nevertheless, the success of NIV was extraordinary! Within a few decades, it became the best-selling English Bible, widely used in churches across denominational lines. Its balance of accuracy and clarity has made it a favorite for both study and worship.

#2 – The New Living Translation (NLT)

Released in 1996, the New Living Translation (NLT) began as a revision of Kenneth Taylor’s Living Bible paraphrase but developed into a fresh translation from the original languages. 

Its accessible, conversational style has made it especially popular among new Bible readers and in contexts prioritizing simplicity of language While less formal than the NIV, believers admire it for its clarity and devotional warmth.

#3 – The New English Translation (NET)

The New English Translation (NET), first completed in 2001, is distinctive for its extensive translator’s notes (running to over 60,000) that explain the reasoning behind its choices.

For instance, a note below Matthew’s quotation of Isaiah 7:14 (Mt 1:23) states:

These notes make the NET a valuable resource for those interested in both the translation itself and the complexities of rendering the ancient texts into English. Though less widely known than the NIV or NLT, it has carved out a niche among students and pastors.

#4 – The Christian Standard Bible

The Christian Standard Bible (CSB), published in 2017, is a revision of the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Its translators emphasize “optimal equivalence,” an attempt to combine the precision of word-for-word translation with the readability of thought-for-thought. This middle path has made the CSB attractive to churches that want a modern translation that is both accurate and user-friendly.

Other Modern Popular Bible Versions

Table of 100+ Bible Versions

Before we conclude our journey, we thought it would be helpful to gather everything into one place. So here it is: an amazing list of the Bible versions we’ve been exploring, organized neatly in a table. 

Altogether, it includes more than one hundred versions, counting distinct translations as well as their major revisions and updates.

Think of it as your quick-reference guide! A way to see at a glance the rich variety of translations that have shaped religion, scholarship, and culture. (And yes, if you ever wanted a dinner-table conversation starter about why there are so many Bibles, this table might just be it!)

Conclusion

How many versions of the Bible are there? Who really knows the exact number, right? The history of Christianity has always been a complex and multifaceted story marked by a wide range of denominations, branches, and communities. 

From its earliest centuries, Christians (and Jews) placed central emphasis on the Holy Scriptures, while also acknowledging the need for translation so that people could understand these texts in new languages and cultures.

For that reason, it should come as no surprise that over the past 2,000 years, so many different Bible versions have been produced. In this article, we have traced the paths that led to their creation, explored the philosophies behind their translation, and surveyed the extraordinary variety that now exists.

What emerges from this overview isn’t confusion but cultural richness. Each translation, whether ancient or modern, literal or paraphrased, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Jewish, represents a community’s best effort to render the sacred texts meaningful in its own context. 

No single version can claim to be the final word, yet taken together, they remind us that the Bible is a living document, continually re-engaged and re-expressed for each new generation.

Far from being a uniform or static tradition, the story of Bible translation highlights the dynamic ways in which texts are interpreted, adapted, and disseminated. The abundance of Bible versions is, therefore, best seen as evidence of the Bible’s ongoing relevance and its remarkable capacity to cross boundaries of language, geography, and history.