The Bible was written over thousands of years, and it has been translated into over 2,000 languages. Here are some of the most common versions:
Hebrew Bible (also called the Old Testament)
The standard version of the Hebrew Bible is called the Masoretic Text, which was created by Jewish scholars in the Middle Ages. It’s based on a series of texts that had been passed down orally since ancient times and was completed around 1000 AD.
Right here on Churchgists, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on how many versions of the bible are there, versions of the bible in chronological order, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.
List Of Versions Of The Bible
- English Standard Version. ESV Bible editions.
- King James Version.
- New American Standard Bible.
- New English Bible.
- New International Version.
- New King James Version.
- New Living Translation.
- New Revised Standard Version.
Greek New Testament (also called the New Testament)
The standard Greek New Testament text was first published in 1516 by Erasmus and printed for distribution. It’s based on several manuscripts from early Christianity and includes both original Greek as well as translations into Latin and other languages.
King James Version (KJV)
The King James Version, also known as the KJV, is one of the most popular and widely used translations of the Bible. It was first published in 1611 and has since been revered for its poetic language and accuracy in translation.
One of the most famous verses from the KJV is John 3:16, which reads: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
New International Version (NIV)
The New International Version, or NIV, is another widely used translation of the Bible. It was first published in 1978 and aims to provide a more modern and accessible interpretation of the biblical text.
In Philippians 4:13, the NIV states: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The English Standard Version, or ESV, is a more recent translation of the Bible that was first published in 2001. It strives to be faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek texts while also being readable and understandable for modern English speakers.
In Psalm 23:1, the ESV reads: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation, or NLT, is a modern and dynamic translation of the Bible that was first published in 1996. It aims to make the text more accessible and readable for contemporary audiences.
In Matthew 6:33, the NLT states: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
The Message
The Message is a unique translation of the Bible that was published in 2002. It seeks to present the biblical text in a more contemporary and colloquial language, making it accessible to a wider audience.
One of the most well-known verses in The Message is John 1:14, which says: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
How Many Versions Of The Bible Are There In English
Introduction
The first Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek, which are difficult for many people to read today. Since then, the Bible has been translated into hundreds of different languages that many people can understand. This is a list of versions of the Bible that have been translated into different languages.
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text (MT) is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible, also called the Tanakh. It defines what most Jews consider to be the authoritative version of their scriptures, and is used as a basis for many modern English translations of the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain early copies of portions of the Masoretic Text which can help us to determine its original form.
The Hebrew word “masorah” means tradition; thus Masoretic Text refers to an oral or written tradition concerning how to interpret and transmit Scripture through generations. The MT serves as a standard compilation of these traditions, which were passed down by certain groups that were responsible for maintaining such practices in various synagogues over time.
Septuagint
The Septuagint, or the LXX for short, was a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) originally made by Jewish scholars around the third century BC. The name “Septuagint” refers to its 70 translators, but it is also often called “the Old Testament” or “the Greek Bible.”
The first thing you should know about this version of the Bible is that it wasn’t written in English. It was written in Greek—a language very different from English. That’s why many Bibles use italics when they quote from the LXX—so that you can see what words mean in English. (Remember: your own Bible may not have any such words in italics.) For example:
- Mark 1:2 – And saith unto them; Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men; as Jesus said unto Simon Peter before he was called Cephas (RV).
- John 7:38 – Now he spake these things because there were some Jews murmuring against him…
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a Latin translation of the Bible and was translated by Jerome in the 4th century. It is considered to be the official version of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Latin word “vulgate” means “common” or “vulgar.” The Vulgate has been used for more than 1,500 years and is still being used today. It is also known as St. Jerome’s Bible because it was translated by him during his retirement at Bethlehem, which he spent translating from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into Latin (the original language).
Peshitta
The Peshitta is the standard version of the Bible for churches in the Syriac tradition. This version was translated from Hebrew to Aramaic and then into Syriac, which is an ancient language spoken by Christian communities in Southwest Asia. The Old Testament portion of this ancient translation was completed around 150 AD, while its New Testament was translated around 200 CE
The Old Testament Peshitta includes a total of 73 books (40 books in common with Protestant Bibles; 23 books unique to this text). The New Testament contains 27 books (20 that are shared with Protestant Bibles; 7 others unique to this text).
Targum
You may be wondering, “What is a Targum?” Well, it’s an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible. The first Targums were written in the 1st century BCE and continued to be produced until the 2nd century CE (Common Era). Targums were written by Jewish scholars and translated important parts of scripture from Hebrew into Aramaic, making it more accessible to people who spoke that language.
New Testament in a different language than the rest of the Bible
The New Testament was written in Greek, while the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. As a result, it can be difficult to read through a New Testament and then jump over to an Old Testament without being confused by the language change. This is why you shouldn’t let the fact that some versions of the Bible include only one or two books from both Testaments stop you from checking them out.
The Bible was first translated into a language that many people could understand
The Bible was first translated into a language that many people could understand. The Bible was translated into many languages because many people could not read Hebrew or Latin.
Conclusion
The Bible is a wonderful book that has inspired generations of people all over the world. Its words have given us hope, comfort and a sense of direction in our lives. The translation into various languages has allowed those who do not speak English or other languages of Western Christianity to read this sacred text as well. This list includes some versions that are no longer used by many Christians but have been important for others. It also includes translations into different languages from what was originally written so you can see how a particular language influenced the interpretation and meaning
