The translations
Twelve English Bibles, and how they differ
Same Bible, different choices — about wording, about where a verse ends, and about a handful of verses the oldest manuscripts don’t carry. Here is each one, in full.
KJVKing James Version1611Available now
How it came to beCommissioned by King James I in 1604 and finished in 1611 by 47 scholars, revising earlier English Bibles against the Hebrew and Greek.
The intentOne authorised, dignified English Bible for reading aloud in every church — formal, rhythmic, built to be heard.
Best forReaders who want the traditional, majestic cadence, memory work, and the wording most quoted in English.
Where it differsThe one every other count here is measured against.
Verses left outNone — it prints every verse, including the disputed ones.
Phrases left outNone — it keeps the full wording of every verse.
GNVGeneva Bible1599Available now
How it came to beMade by English Protestant exiles in Geneva (1560; this printing 1599) — the first English Bible with numbered verses and study notes.
The intentA study Bible for ordinary readers, with explanatory notes in the margins.
Best forReaders curious about Reformation-era English and where verse numbering began.
Where it differsTwelve fewer verses, and not one of them missing text — it divides verses differently in 42 chapters.
Verses left outNone — it prints every verse, including the disputed ones.
Phrases left outNone — it keeps the full wording of every verse.
ASVAmerican Standard Version1901Available now
How it came to beThe American revision of the 1885 Revised Version, using older manuscripts than the KJV had access to.
The intentA stiff, highly literal study Bible reflecting late-1800s scholarship.
Best forReading beside the KJV to see where the manuscripts differ.
Where it differsSame total as the KJV, but 16 verses are printed empty.
Verses left out16 verses the oldest manuscripts don’t carry — here are the exact words it leaves out:Matthew 17:21“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”Matthew 18:11“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”Matthew 23:14“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”Mark 7:16“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”Mark 9:44“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”Mark 9:46“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”Mark 11:26“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”Mark 15:28“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”Luke 17:36“Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”Luke 23:17“(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)”John 5:4“For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”Acts 8:37“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 15:34“Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”Acts 24:7“But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,”Acts 28:29“And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”Romans 16:24“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Phrases left outIt also drops parts of some verses. Here is each verse in full, with the struck-out words being what this version leaves out:Matthew 6:13“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”Matthew 20:16“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”Luke 4:8“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”Romans 8:1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”Ephesians 5:30“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”Colossians 1:14“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”1 Peter 4:14“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
YLTYoung's Literal Translation1898Available now
How it came to beOne man, Robert Young (1862; rev. 1898) — an attempt to mirror Hebrew and Greek word order and tense exactly.
The intentExpose the shape of the original sentence, even where English strains.
Best forWord study and seeing the literal structure of a verse.
Where it differsIdentical to the KJV, verse for verse.
Verses left outNone — it prints every verse, including the disputed ones.
Phrases left outNone — it keeps the full wording of every verse.
WEBWorld English Bible2000Available now
How it came to beA modern public-domain update of the ASV, completed around 2000 by volunteers.
The intentFree, modern English that anyone can copy, quote and use without permission.
Best forA free modern read with no restrictions.
Where it differsOne more, because Romans 16 is divided differently. 5 printed empty.
Verses left out5 verses the oldest manuscripts don’t carry — here are the exact words it leaves out:Luke 17:36“Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”Acts 8:37“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 15:34“Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”Acts 24:7“But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,”Romans 16:25“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”
Phrases left outIt also drops parts of some verses. Here is each verse in full, with the struck-out words being what this version leaves out:Mark 10:24“And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”Luke 4:8“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”Colossians 1:14“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”1 John 5:7“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
BSBBerean Standard Bible2023Available now
How it came to beA fresh translation released into the public domain in 2023.
The intentThe plainest accurate modern English, freely usable by anyone.
Best forA clear, current, everyday read.
Where it differsSame total, and it leaves out the same 16 as the ASV — but drops the number rather than printing it empty.
Verses left out16 verses the oldest manuscripts don’t carry — here are the exact words it leaves out:Matthew 17:21“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”Matthew 18:11“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”Matthew 23:14“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”Mark 7:16“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”Mark 9:44“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”Mark 9:46“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”Mark 11:26“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”Mark 15:28“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”Luke 17:36“Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”Luke 23:17“(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)”John 5:4“For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”Acts 8:37“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 15:34“Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”Acts 24:7“But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,”Acts 28:29“And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”Romans 16:24“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Phrases left outIt also drops parts of some verses. Here is each verse in full, with the struck-out words being what this version leaves out:Matthew 6:13“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”Matthew 20:16“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”Mark 10:24“And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”Luke 4:8“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”Romans 8:1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”Ephesians 5:30“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”Colossians 1:14“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”1 John 5:7“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”1 Peter 4:14“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
DBYDarby Translation1890Available now
How it came to beJohn Nelson Darby, 1890 — a very literal Victorian translation from the Hebrew and Greek by one man.
The intentA precise study aid for close, careful reading.
Best forClose study alongside a smoother version.
Where it differsSame total as the KJV, with 3 verses left out.
Verses left out3 verses the oldest manuscripts don’t carry — here are the exact words it leaves out:Matthew 23:14“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”Acts 8:37“And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 15:34“Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”
Phrases left outIt also drops parts of some verses. Here is each verse in full, with the struck-out words being what this version leaves out:Matthew 6:13“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”Luke 4:8“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”Romans 8:1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”Colossians 1:14“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”1 John 5:7“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
LSVLiteral Standard Version2020Available now
How it came to beThe Literal Standard Version, 2020 — a modern literal revision in the Young's tradition.
The intentKeep the original tenses and word order, in readable modern English.
Best forLiteral study without the Victorian English.
Where it differsTwo more than the KJV, because it divides a few verses differently.
Verses left outNone — it prints every verse, including the disputed ones.
Phrases left outNone — it keeps the full wording of every verse.
Coming soon
ESVEnglish Standard Version2001Coming soon
How it came to beA 2001 revision of the Revised Standard Version, standing in the Tyndale–KJV line.
The intentWord-for-word but readable, made for both study and reading aloud.
Best forStudy and church use — accuracy with readability.
NLTNew Living Translation2015Coming soon
How it came to beFirst published in 1996 (revised 2015), it began as a thorough revision of an earlier paraphrase.
The intentThought-for-thought — render each sentence's meaning in natural, contemporary English.
Best forNew readers, reading aloud, and devotional reading.
NIVNew International Version2011Coming soon
How it came to beFirst published in 1978 (revised 2011), a committee translation from the original languages.
The intentBalance accuracy and readability for the widest possible audience.
Best forA widely-used, balanced everyday and church read.
CEBCommon English Bible2011Coming soon
How it came to beA broad, multi-denominational committee project, published in 2011.
The intentComfortable, present-day English at a common reading level.
Best forEasy reading at a relaxed, everyday pace.