Overview of Major Bible Translations

In this article, we’ll explore some of the major translations of the Bible, providing insight into the purpose, style, and distinctive features of each version. For each translation, we’ll include its name, date of publication, a description from the version itself, and sample extracts from Genesis 1:1-2 and John 1:1-3.

The Abbreviated Bible

• Date of Publication: 1971
• Description: The Abbreviated Bible was created with three primary goals. First, it aimed to shorten the text sufficiently so that those who might not have the time or desire to read a full version could still gain a workable knowledge of the Bible. Second, it was designed to present the material in a language that is easily understandable for the average reader. Third, the compilers focused on condensing the content and simplifying the language without omitting or altering any significant material. Each chapter stands alone, and the Apocrypha was included despite varying acceptance levels, to offer a more comprehensive work. The version drew from a dozen different translations, primarily following the American Standard Version and the Revised Standard Version.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “Originally God created the cosmos. Then the earth was wasted, empty, and enveloped in darkness. God’s Spirit hovered over the waters with Life-generating power.”
  • John 1:1-3: “The Word existed with God from the beginning, and all things were created through him.”
• American Translation, An (Beck)
• Date of Publication: 1976
• Description: This translation is the work of Dr. William F. Beck, who dedicated his efforts to simplifying the English Bible for people of all ages. With nearly 5,000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament and numerous Latin, Syriac, and other translations available worldwide, Dr. Beck was driven by the belief that God desires for us to pursue truth with passion. He emphasized using the best available evidence from manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars to illuminate the text and sought to uncover its exact meaning with fervor. Dr. Beck aimed to produce both the Old and New Testaments as the most accurate on the market, grounded in the best textual, lexical, grammatical, and archaeological evidence.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was desolate and uninhabitable, and it was dark on the deep sea, but God’s Spirit hovered over the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Everything was made by Him, and not one thing that was made was made without Him.”

This entry highlights Dr. Beck’s commitment to accuracy and clarity, ensuring that his translation was both accessible and faithful to the original texts.

American Translation, An (Smith-Goodspeed)

• Date of Publication: 1931
• Description: This translation of the Old Testament was a collaborative effort by scholars from various universities, including Alexander R. Gordon, Theopile J. Meek, Leroy Waterman, and J. M. Powis Smith, who also served as the editor. The New Testament was translated by Edgar J. Goodspeed. The need for this translation arose due to significant advancements in the understanding of Hebrew vocabulary and syntax, as well as progress in the science of textual criticism. These factors provided scholars with tools far superior to those available to the translators of the Authorized Version. Additionally, the interest in the stylistic qualities of Hebrew poetry had grown, and it was felt that the English of the King James Version was no longer natural or clear to the average reader. Therefore, the Old Testament was translated with these considerations in mind. For the New Testament, which was originally written in everyday Greek, the translation was rendered into everyday English to maintain its original accessibility.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was a desolate waste, with darkness covering the abyss and a tempestuous wind raging over the surface of the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was divine. It was he that was with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him, and apart from him nothing came to be.”

This translation highlights the importance of modern scholarship in producing a version of the Bible that is both accurate and accessible, bridging the gap between ancient texts and contemporary readers.

The Amplified Bible

• Date of Publication: 1965
• Description: The Amplified Bible is rooted in the American Standard Version and employs a unique system that includes synonyms, punctuation, typographical features, and clarifying words or phrases. This approach aims to reveal the nuances of meaning in the original text’s key words. The translation strives to be true to the original languages, grammatically correct, and understandable to a broad audience, while ensuring that Jesus Christ is given the prominent place ascribed to Him by the Word. The Amplified Bible was not intended to replicate previous translations but to advance the understanding of scripture beyond where others have left off.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned,) and created the heavens and the earth. [Heb. 11:3.] The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the great deep. The Spirit of God was moving, (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word [Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Is. 9:6.] He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.”

The Amplified Bible offers a deeper exploration of the text by highlighting the richness of the original languages, making it a valuable tool for those seeking to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Bible’s message.

The Basic Bible

• Date of Publication: 1950
• Description: The Basic Bible uses Basic English, a simplified form of the English language developed by C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute. This version is crafted to communicate the essence of any English text using only 850 words, making it accessible to a broad audience. It was specifically designed to be used in regions where English is spoken or understood, ensuring that the core message of the Bible is conveyed in a straightforward and easily comprehensible manner.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “At the first God made the heaven and the earth. And the earth was waste and without form; and it was dark on the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God. This Word was from the first in relation with God. All things came into existence through him, and without him nothing was.”

Continuing from the Abbreviated Bible, the Basic Bible exemplifies an approach that prioritizes simplicity and clarity, making the Bible’s teachings accessible to those with basic English proficiency.

The Bible Designed to Be Read as Literature

• Date of Publication: 1930
• Description: The Bible Designed to Be Read as Literature presents a selection of the English Bible with a focus on its literary qualities. This volume is intended for readers of all beliefs and backgrounds. While not the first attempt at presenting the Bible as literature, it offers a new selection and arrangement of the text, edited and arranged by Ernest Sutherland Bates. The aims of this version include providing a conservative narration from creation to the exile, supplemented by selections from 1 Maccabees to complete the story up to the times of Jesus; emphasizing the major Prophets while minimizing others; rearranging the drama, poetry, and fiction, including parts of the Apocrypha; offering the basic biography of Jesus from the Gospels; and restricting the writings of Paul to those of lasting value, omitting less significant epistles. The text is presented in the order of composition whenever possible.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

The Bible Reader

• Date of Publication: 1969
• Description: The Bible Reader is an interfaith interpretation that includes notes from Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish traditions, as well as references to art, literature, history, and contemporary social issues. Prepared by Walter M. Abbott, S.J.; Rabbi Arthur Gilbert; Rolfe Lanier Hunt; and J. Carter Swaim, this version was developed in the early 1960s with the belief that understanding the Bible is crucial for modern life. The editors selected passages based on their significance to their respective religious observances and beliefs, highlighting texts that have generated various denominational emphases.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “When God began to create the heaven and the earth – the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water – . (Torah)”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

This continuation provides a glimpse into how the Bible Reader sought to integrate diverse religious perspectives and contextualize the scriptures within broader cultural and historical frameworks.

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Translation

• Date of Publication: 1953
• Description: The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Translation incorporates advancements in modern Bible scholarship to provide an updated edition of the Holy Bible. The Old Testament is based on the venerable Douai Version, except for the first eight books (Genesis to Ruth), which were translated by members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America under the patronage of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Additionally, the Book of Psalms features a new English translation derived from the Latin version approved by Pope Pius XII. The New Testament is presented in a newly revised version by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; the earth was waste and void; darkness covered the abyss, and the spirit of God was stirring above the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that has been made.”

This translation highlights the efforts to integrate modern scholarship while respecting traditional biblical texts, offering a rich blend of historical and contemporary insights.

Coverdale Bible, The

• Date of Publication: 1540
• Description: The Coverdale Bible was the work of Miles Coverdale, who, ordained around 1514, was influenced by the works of Erasmus, Luther, and Tyndale. He assisted Tyndale in Antwerp in 1529 and translated the Psalms and Ecclesiastes from the Latin works of Campensis, publishing them in 1534 and 1535, respectively. Coverdale began his own translation work in 1534, which culminated in this Bible.The Coverdale Bible is divided into six parts, reflecting a structure similar to Luther’s translations. The chapters are arranged into paragraphs without systematic numbering, and the notes mainly address alternate readings. Marginal cross-references are plentiful, and the Bible contains over one hundred fifty illustrations. Unlike many other translations, it was not translated directly from Hebrew and Greek but from German and Latin sources. Coverdale relied on five different interpreters—Jerome, Pagninus, Luther, the translators of the Zurich Bible, and Tyndale—to ensure accuracy and impartiality. The Bible features an extensive introduction and uses Old English spelling and type.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In ye begynnynge God created heauen and earth: ye earth was voyde and emptie, and darcknes was vpon the depe, and ye sprete of God moued vpo the water.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the begynnynge was the worde, and the worde was with God, and God was ye worde. The same was in the begynnynge wt God. All thinges were made by the same, and without the same was made nothinge that was made.”

This section highlights the historical significance and unique characteristics of the Coverdale Bible, emphasizing its approach to translation and its role in the development of English Bible texts.

Darby Holy Bible

• Date of Publication: 1923
• Description: The Darby Holy Bible is a translation of the Old Testament derived from an in-depth study of the common Hebrew text. Its primary aim is to offer a translation that is as precise as possible for the simple and unlearned reader, rather than providing a scholarly work for the learned. The translation utilizes all available aids to achieve accuracy and does not serve as a revision of the commonly used Bible. It maintains the style of the Authorized Version (KJV) wherever feasible and distinguishes poetical parts with a metrical arrangement familiar to users of Paragraph Bibles.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things received being through him, and without him not one [thing] received being which has received being.”

This translation reflects Darby’s commitment to making the scriptures accessible while preserving the stylistic elements of traditional versions.

Douai-Rheims Bible

• Date of Publication: 1899
• Description: The Douai-Rheims Bible (DRB) is a meticulously faithful English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, which was originally translated by Jerome from the Hebrew and Greek texts. The Latin Vulgate had been declared the official Latin version of the canonical Scriptures by the Council of Trent. The DRB translators aimed for exactness in their translation. They chose to retain passages that might seem strange or obscure rather than altering them to fit contemporary understanding. The translators of the DRB expressed a strong preference for the Latin Vulgate over other Latin translations, and even over the Greek texts in places of disagreement. They argued that the Vulgate was purer than the existing Hebrew or Greek texts and was better preserved from corruption.
• Sample Extracts:
  • Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.”
  • John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was made nothing that was made.”

This translation reflects a historical effort to maintain the integrity of the Latin Vulgate, emphasizing its perceived superiority and preservation over other scriptural texts.