Different Versions of the Bible: How Many There Are and How They Compare

There are hundreds of different versions of the Bible. The American Bible Society puts the number of printed English translations and paraphrases, complete or partial, at about 900, and the full Bible has been translated into 776 languages as of 2025, according to Wycliffe Global Alliance. Most English readers, though, use one of about ten versions: the King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), New Living Translation (NLT), Christian Standard Bible (CSB), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the Catholic New American Bible (NABRE), and paraphrases such as The Message.

These versions differ in three ways: which original manuscripts they translate from, how literally they translate them, and which books they include. This guide explains each difference, compares the major versions side by side, and shows which denominations use which Bible.

Why Are There Different Versions of the Bible?

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek over many centuries. Every English Bible is a translation, and translators have to make choices that produce different versions:

• Source texts. The KJV translators in 1611 worked from the manuscripts available to them. Since then, older manuscripts have been discovered, including the Dead Sea Scrolls. Most modern versions draw on these older sources, so a handful of verses read differently or appear only as footnotes.
• English changes. Words like "thee," "thou" and "suffer" (meaning "allow") were everyday English in 1611. Modern versions update the language so today's readers understand it the way the first readers did.
• Translation approach. Some translators render the original word for word; others translate the meaning of each sentence (more on this below).
• Religious tradition. Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches recognize different sets of books, so their Bibles are not the same length.

Word-for-Word vs. Thought-for-Thought Translations

The biggest practical difference between Bible versions is translation philosophy. Scholars place versions on a spectrum:

• Word-for-word (formal equivalence): keeps close to the original wording and sentence structure. More precise for study, but can read stiffly. Examples: KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV.
• Balanced (optimal equivalence): aims for accuracy and natural English at the same time. Examples: NIV, CSB, NRSV.
• Thought-for-thought (dynamic equivalence): translates the meaning of whole phrases into natural modern English. Easier to read aloud and for new readers. Examples: NLT, Good News Translation.
• Paraphrase: restates the text freely in contemporary language. Good for devotional reading, not considered a translation for study. Examples: The Message, The Living Bible.

Tyndale House, the NLT's publisher, gives a clear example of the difference: where a literal version says mourners "went home beating their breasts" (Luke 23:48), the NLT renders it "They went home in deep sorrow" and puts the literal Greek in a footnote, as its translation notes explain.

The Most Popular Bible Versions Compared

The King James Version (KJV)

The King James Version was published in 1611, authorized by England's King James I. It became the dominant English Bible for more than three centuries, and English-speaking Protestants, including Puritans, Presbyterians and Methodists, carried it to North America, History.com notes. Its phrasing ("The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want") shaped the English language itself.

It is still widely read. In survey data published in 2014 by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 55% of Americans who read the Bible said they most often used the KJV and 19% the NIV, the Association of Religion Data Archives reported. Sales have shifted toward modern versions since then, but the KJV remains a fixture on the ECPA bestselling translations list alongside the NIV, ESV and NLT.

Choose it if: you value traditional, poetic language or your church reads from it. The NKJV keeps the KJV's structure and manuscript base while updating archaic words.

New International Version (NIV)

The NIV was not a revision of the King James. According to Biblica, which stewards the translation, Seattle engineer Howard Long found the KJV's 17th-century English was not connecting with the people he shared Scripture with, and in 1955 began pushing for a new translation. His denomination, the Christian Reformed Church, and the National Association of Evangelicals backed the idea. In 1965 a cross-denominational group of evangelical scholars agreed to translate from scratch, working from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek manuscripts.

The full NIV was published in 1978 and revised in 1984 and 2011. Its Committee on Bible Translation still meets every year to review the text. Its balance of accuracy and readability has made it one of the bestselling English Bibles.

Choose it if: you want one Bible for both reading and study in clear, modern English.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Published by Crossway in 2001, the ESV is a revision of the 1971 Revised Standard Version. It is an "essentially literal" translation that keeps closer to the original wording than the NIV while reading more smoothly than the NASB. It is popular in Reformed and Presbyterian churches and for in-depth study.

Choose it if: you want a literal translation in modern, readable English.

New Living Translation (NLT)

The NLT began as a revision of The Living Bible, a 1971 paraphrase, but was rebuilt by a team of scholars working from the original languages. It was first published in 1996, with a second edition in 2004. Its translators set out to use only vocabulary and sentence structures in common use today, and they converted ancient weights, measures and dates into modern equivalents, Tyndale explains.

Choose it if: you are new to the Bible, reading with teenagers, or reading aloud to a group.

Other Common Versions: NASB, CSB, NRSV and The Message

• NASB (New American Standard Bible): first completed in 1971 and updated in 1995 and 2020, it is widely considered the most literal major English translation. Favored for word studies.
• CSB (Christian Standard Bible): released in 2017 as the successor to the Holman Christian Standard Bible. It aims for "optimal equivalence," a middle ground between literal and readable.
• NRSV (New Revised Standard Version): published in 1989, with an updated edition (NRSVue) in 2021. Common in mainline Protestant churches and universities, and available in editions that include the Catholic and Orthodox books.
• The Message: Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, completed in 2002. It reads like contemporary prose and is best used alongside a translation rather than instead of one.

Bible Versions by Denomination

Denominations do not just prefer different translations; some use Bibles with a different number of books. Protestant Bibles contain 66 books. Catholic Bibles contain 73, adding the books Catholics call deuterocanonical (such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach and 1 and 2 Maccabees). Eastern Orthodox Bibles include these and several more, with the exact list varying by church.

Which Bible Version Should You Read?

There is no single "correct" version for everyone. A practical way to choose:

1. Start with your church. Reading the same version your congregation uses makes it easier to follow sermons and readings.
2. Match the version to the purpose. For close study, use a word-for-word version (ESV, NASB, NKJV). For daily reading, a balanced or thought-for-thought version (NIV, CSB, NLT) is easier to stay with.
3. Compare a familiar passage. Read Psalm 23 or John 3:16 in three versions on a free Bible app and see which one speaks to you.
4. Ask a pastor or priest. If you are unsure, your minister can recommend a version that fits your tradition.

Choosing a Bible Version for a Funeral Reading

Families often have to pick Scripture readings quickly when they plan a funeral. Many choose the KJV for its familiar, dignified wording, especially for Psalm 23, while others prefer the NLT or NIV so every guest can follow along. If the service is in a church, the officiant will usually confirm which version is read from the lectern. Our guide to what to expect at Christian funerals explains where readings fit in the order of service, and our collection of Bible verses about strength is a good place to start looking for a passage.

If you are arranging a service and need help with readings, officiants or the rest of the details, Titan Concierge offers free funeral planning guidance, and its funeral concierge services can help you coordinate the service from start to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many versions of the Bible are there?

There is no exact count. The American Bible Society estimates about 900 printed English translations and paraphrases, complete or partial, since Tyndale's New Testament of 1526. Across all languages, the full Bible has been translated into 776 languages as of August 2025.

What is the most accurate version of the Bible?

For word-for-word accuracy to the original languages, scholars most often point to the NASB and ESV. The NIV and CSB are also highly regarded for balancing accuracy with readability. "Most accurate" depends on whether you mean literal wording or clear meaning.

What is the difference between the KJV and the NIV?

The KJV (1611) uses Early Modern English and a word-for-word approach based on the manuscripts available in the 1600s. The NIV (1978, revised 2011) uses modern English, a balanced translation approach, and older manuscripts discovered since the KJV was made.

What religions use the King James Bible?

The KJV is the official English Bible of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the only version used in KJV-only Independent Baptist churches. It is also still read in many traditional Baptist and Pentecostal congregations.

Why do Catholic and Protestant Bibles have different numbers of books?

Catholic Bibles include seven Old Testament books, plus additions to Esther and Daniel, that were part of the Greek Septuagint. Protestant reformers followed the shorter Hebrew canon, so Protestant Bibles have 66 books and Catholic Bibles have 73.

Is The Message a real Bible translation?

The Message is a paraphrase, not a formal translation. It is useful for devotional reading but most pastors recommend pairing it with a translation such as the NIV or ESV for study.