Bible Translation reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 520 Reddit reviews across 27 subreddits and 84 posts to rank the best Bible Translation brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Bible, r/Christianity, r/TrueChristian, r/Christian, r/Catholicism. Top-rated brands include ESV (4.1/5), New Revised Standard Version (4.3/5), NRSV (4.4/5).

Stats

Reviews520

Subreddits27

Posts84

Brands83

Products26

Top communities

r/Bible128 r/Christianity109 r/TrueChristian98 r/Christian27 r/Catholicism25

520 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

ESV

4.1

(41)

"The best of those. NIV and CSB not quite as accurate, but more readable."

"Great balance of readability and precision"

"Contextually accurate, well researched and reviewed, but offers a simpler text"

"One of the more accurate translations and because it is really readable for me."

"The most accurate translations are objectively the LSB and the ESV."

"NASB/ESV- Very word-for-word, best for studying a passage"

"1. ESV Study Bible as your primary Bible."

"I love the ESV!"

"I use a mix of ESV, NIV and RSV."

"A balance between accuracy and readability."

New Revised Standard Version

4.3

(39)

"NRSVUpdated is excellent."

"I just bought NRSVue."

"Anything based on the NRSVue would be good."

"The NRSVue is well recommended."

"I only recommend the SBL Study Bible (text New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)"

"The New Revised Standard Version of which there is an Updated Edition is the Gold Standard in Bible Translations."

"The NRSVue is probably the most current and scholarly English translation."

"Most scriptural and theological scholars in the English-speaking world use the New Revised Standard Version."

"My personal favourite is the New Revised Standard Version (Update Edition)."

"NRSVue."

NRSV

4.4

(33)

"Most accurate currently is NRSVue. The NASB is also very good."

"NRSVue. Most scholarly, most accurate, most up-to-date."

"Reflects the most up-to-date scholarship on the text."

"Universally acknowledged as being the best of the translations by committee."

"Which finally got rid of the 'inn' that never existed in Bethlehem!"

"If you want something modern (and trusted by scholars), I recommend the NRSVue."

"Will probably be your best!!"

"NRSV is the best translation available if you’re reading in English"

"NRSV is the gold standard for most accurate translation."

"You may prefer the NRSV-A which contains the Catholic-only books as well as the Protestant canon."

New International Version

4.0

(30)

"Definitely the NIV, it had a major revision in 2011 and is the original Hebrew and Greek translated into contemporary English."

"I love NIV so much is good too"

"Niv is easy to understand esv is very close to the orginal text"

"NIV is the safe choice"

"This NIV is a good all-around translation."

"The NIV is a good blend of the two approaches."

"Niv is what i started with, God used it greatly to help me early on."

"Messianic Jews say NIV is closer to original Hebrew."

"NLT is very similar to NIV."

"I usually bounce between the Nasb, NIV and ESV."

English Standard Version

4.2

(28)

"ESV always for me."

"My favorite is ESV as it’s a literal translation."

"I think the ESV is great because it's close to the Greek while also still very readable."

"ESV! I’d get a study Bible."

"The ESV, which is very good and based on the latest research and ancient documents found."

"Btw, a good easy to read translation is ESV."

"I recommend ESV for easy reading, and listening."

"I also like the NASB and ESV, but I prefer more word-for-word translations."

"I like ESV in general."

"I usually bounce between the Nasb, NIV and ESV."

King James Version

4.4

(26)

"I would recommend the KJV for the Psalter. The KJV cannot be surpassed for its lyrical beauty."

"The King James Version (KJV) was regarded as the best of the best"

"King James is best for beauty of language, and New American Standard is best for clarity."

"KJV because it was THE chief translations for English speaking Christians for > 300 years."

"But in my humble opinion, good old KJV is unbeatable."

"KJV is the best."

"Yeah, Keep the King James, throw all the other ones out."

"I like this version the best because it helps me feel the spirit the best."

"The King James Version."

"We use the King James Version exclusively."

New American Standard Bible

4.3

(24)

"I prefer the (95) NASB because it's a literal (word for word from original languages) translation."

"Nasb 1995 as it's considered the most accurate."

"I prefer the (95) NASB because it's a literal (word for word from original languages) translation."

"I've heard before that it is one of the most accurate translations."

"NASB it is the most accurate."

"NASB, ESV or NKJV."

"I prefer the NASB because it's a literal (word for word from original languages) translation."

"I like the NASB. It is very accurate."

"I particularly like the NASB for poetry."

"Seconded, especially for the Psalms."

NIV

4.0

(25)

"It uses normal modern English while still being perfectly accurate."

"It's the most accurate for me, and I've lived it."

"I could never get into reading the Bible until someone gave me a copy of the NIV."

"I prefer the NIV because it’s translated to today’s English language."

"If you're a beginner you might want to use the NIV."

"I recommend the NIV or the NLT, they are easy reading versions."

"I think the NIV is a good choice for people whose first language isn't English."

"I’d suggest looking into translations like the New International Version (NIV) or the Contemporary English Version (CEV)."

"I personally like NIV, it seems pretty simple without all the 'Thou's' and 'Thou art's'."

"ESV, NKJV, CSB, NASB and NIV are all modern translation that are good."

New Living Translation

4.3

(16)

"Very readable, modern language, and great for beginners."

"It’s translated on a sixth grade reading level, making reading and comprehending it smooth and easy."

"I think based on everything I've been told so far, the NLT is the correct choice for me!"

"The best one I’ve found to read out loud is the NLT."

"I can easily read it and understand everything it says."

"If you're going to go with a thought-for-thought translation though, the NLT is my favorite. It's easy to read."

"The NLT or the NIV would be good choices, and the NIV comes in the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible."

"I might recommend an easier to read version, something like the NLT."

"NLT gets a lot of grief, but it really makes it easier to read from cover to cover."

"NLT is even more layman's terms than ESV and NIV."

#10

NASB

4.2

(14)

"NASB all the way for me, I also like to use it with a concordance."

"NASB, LSB, and ESV."

"NASB/ESV- Very word-for-word, best for studying a passage"

"I’ve been a big fan of the NASB for a long time."

"I think NASB is good too."

"If you're looking for the best word-for-word translation NASB is good."

"Other scholars prefer the NASB because it's highly accurate."

"I enjoy the NASB and NKJV."

"I feel the best 2 options are NASB & ESV."

"I like the Zondervan edition. Mine has scholarly footnotes with references."

#11

KJV

3.7

(15)

"My favorite is the KJV, it's just the version that I grew up on."

"1611 KJV with apocrypha is the best overall."

"I use KJV based on the Received Text."

"I use KJV and then if I want a different translation, I’ll follow up with NASB."

"If you want punch in English, you go KJV."

"KJV because it is translated from Masoretic and Textus Receptus."

"Personally I like the KJV and NASB."

"It's best if you stick with the kjv because it is translated from reliable source texts."

"I prefer the KJV and the ESV, in no particular order."

"I switch between KJV and NIV."

#12

New King James Version

3.9

(14)

"I'm generally in favor of more literal translations like NKJV or maybe NASB."

"I would suggest the New King James Version. It is based on the Majority Text which was the Greek text used for the King James Version."

"I usually read from the NKJV. It's one of the more literal translations and is easy to follow."

"The Orthodox Church tends to use liturgically the New King James Version."

"NKJV is fine. If you're still finding it tough, you might try CSB or NLT."

"I like the NKJV myself."

"I've seen people recommend NKJV or NIV as the most accurate translations overall."

"NKJV is the solution to that."

"I really enjoy the NKJV: the translation of the lords prayer sold me."

"I like the NKJV. It retains the poetic sound of the KJV but with updated English."

#13

NLT

4.0

(13)

"If you want one that’s just easy to read with no 'theological language', the NLT is probably your best choice."

"Because it's a Life Application Study Bible"

"It’s so simple and clear it’s my daily reader."

"NLT is a little easier to read."

"I also like to read from the New Living Translation."

"I use the NLT for casual reading."

"You want an easy reader? NLT (New Living Translation)."

"NIV/NLT- easiest to understand"

"Try reading the NLT first, and after you feel ready to level up, try reading the NKJV."

"Personally, I prefer the NLT and a good thought for thought translation."

#14

NKJV

4.0

(11)

"The Lord led me to NKJV being right for me."

"My main version I use is the NJKV as that was the first Bible I had."

"Personally I like the NKJV."

"I use the NKJV because it is based on the Received Text with other manuscripts considered."

"NKJV and NLT are my personal faves."

"My personal favorite is the nkjv."

"NKJV here."

"I recommend NKJV"

"It's the one I read as a child and understood."

"NKJV, ESV, NASB, & NLT"

#15

The Message

3.7

(10)

"I would suggest a few options. The message, or the amplified Bible, or the CEB."

"The Message gets a lot of hate but I’ve gotten a lot out of reading it side by side with ESV."

"The Message - Jesus' words were more like everyday speech."

"The Message is pretty good, doesn't have any nasty 'clobber passages' in it."

"For the yearly read through I’m currently doing I chose the message."

"I find Eugene Peterson’s The Message really helpful."

"The Message is the most widely read bible by teenagers."

"The Message"

"I like the Message translation"

#16

Christian Standard Bible

4.1

(8)

"I've loved reading the Bible so much since I got the CSB."

"For a non-native English speaker, I'd be eyeing CSB, NIV, or NLT."

"What do y’all think of CSB?"

"The Christian Standard Bible is also very good if you want one with a more conservative theological position."

"I do my daily reading in the CSB."

"I second the suggestion for csb or NIV."

"The CSB is good."

"For a newbie I'd recommend either CSB or NLT."

#17

CSB

3.9

(8)

"Probably CSB/HCSB."

"I would go either CSB or NIV"

"I like the CSB, ESV and NASB."

"I am using the CSB for the first time this year for my Bible reading plan, and man I love it so far."

"I found it to be the best all-round."

"I’m using a CSB study Bible and it’s good."

"CSB. The accuracy of the ESV with the emotion and umph of the KJV."

"IMO NLT is easiest to understand out of the rest."

#18

Douay-Rheims

4.3

(7)

"Douay-Rhimes is the best English translation."

"I read the Douay-Rheims only."

"Whilst the DR is absolutely beautiful, I think it should be a newbies *second* Bible, not their first."

"Douay-Rheims, it’s translated straight from the Latin Vulgate which is basically the official Bible translation of the Church."

"If you like the older English style you may like the Douay-Rheims translation."

"Douay Rheims is the better KJV, it came out 2 years before."

"I like Douay-Rheims for formal equivalence."

#19

Young's Literal Translation

4.0

(7)

"YOUNG'S LITERAL TRANSLATION OR KJV"

"Young Literal Translation is very good and literal."

"Literal translations give you a totally different view of the scriptures."

"Young's Literal Translation or The Holy Bible in Modern English by Ferrar Fenton."

"Young's Literal Translation is a good one, if a bit hard to read."

"You might try Young's Literal Translation. Though it's not annotated, Biblegateway describes it as: an extremely literal translation."

"Young's Literal Translation. Not the easiest to read but definitely useful."

#20

Orthodox Study Bible

4.0

(7)

"I have the Orthodox Study Bible, which is a fine resource because of its notes."

"The Orthodox Study Bible, of course."

"Orthodox Study Bible is probably best."

"I found this pdf and this amazon link as well."

"The Orthodox Study Bible is fine."

"I like the Orthodox Study Bible edited by Nelson."

"For better reference I got myself the Orthodox Study Bible."

#21

Ignatius

4.7

(6)

"As many have said already, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is pretty great!"

"RSV2CE, which is ignatius catholic study bible's translation"

"The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible was recently released and wildly popular"

"Another good translation is the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible."

"I prefer the RSV to the NABRE, and primarily read from Ignatius' RSV2CE."

"Ignatius Press has some very editions of the RSV - 2Ce."

#22

New World Translation

3.3

(8)

"Absolutely not going to find a better one than the New World Translation."

"The NWT is an accurate and reliable translation."

"The New World Translation is an updated version that was carefully translated to avoid archaic words you don't hear in everyday speech."

"I have found the NWT to be the most accurate."

"I like the NWT, for several reasons."

"The New World Translation. It's published and used by the Jehovah's Witnesses."

"According to Jason Beduhn, the most accurate translation available today is the NWT."

"You should avoid the JW “New World Translation” like the plague."

#23

Common English Bible

4.2

(6)

"I would recommend the Common English Bible here."

"I normally use NRSV with high school and CEB with middle school."

"The Common English Bible CEB is really good as is the New Living Translation NLT."

"I'd recommend the Common English Bible with the Apocrypha."

"I've read bits and pieces of the Common English Bible. Not sure how it does with the clobber verses, but the language style is very readable."

"The Common English Bible is pretty decent, and very readable."

#24

Revised Standard Version

4.2

(5)

"It is the translation of choice of many apologists and biblical scholars."

"The Orthodox Church tends to use liturgically the original Revised Standard Version."

"Thomas Hopko's recommendation was RSV."

"Fr. Thomas Hopko recommended RSV a lot but make sure it’s RSV and not NRSV."

"RSV-2CE seems to be the pretty standard translation among Catholic circles on Reddit."

#25

David Bentley Hart

4.0

(5)

"David Bentley Hart's is the only one I can fully recommend."

"David Bentley Hart's translation of the New Testament is available and I'd recommend it."

"David Bentley Hart has a translation of the New Testament."

"For studying purposes I recommend David Bently Hart's translation of the NT."

"David Bentley Hart did a translation of the New Testament that aimed to preserve *how* the Greek reads in English."

#26

New Oxford Annotated Bible

4.5

(4)

"New Oxford Annotated Bible. It helped me BIG TIME."

"I also recommend the New Oxford Annotated, as others have sugges"

"I recommend two options.. The New Oxford annotated Bible RSV translation."

"The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha is a huge undertaking."

#27

Contemporary English Version

4.3

(4)

"I would highly recommend: The Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible."

"The Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible. It's one of the easiest English Bibles to read."

"I started using the CEV, Contemporary English Version. It read like a story book."

"My favorite translation is CEV due to its ease of understanding."

#28

Good News Translation

4.3

(4)

"It is also an approved translation of the Bible by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops."

"It’s translated with words that the writers would have used TODAY."

"It is as good a simple, readable translation as there is."

"Good News Translation because God directed me to it after speaking "Good News"."

#29

Amplified

4.0

4.0

(3)

"If I had to take one with me to a desert island it would be the HCSB or the NET."

"I know some bible profs who really like HCSB."

#40

YouVersion

4.0

(3)

"I highly recommend using a parallel Bible."

"If you don't mind digital, there are plenty of free electronic Bibles available that allow you to switch between different versions (I like the YouVersion app)."

"YouVersion is an app that has pretty much every common translation of the Bible."

#41

Concordant Literal Version

3.7

(3)

"I enjoy the concordant literal version - concordant.org"

"I enjoy the concordant literal version - concordant.org."

"If you really want to get the closest you can to the original greek/Hebrew I would recommend the CLV (Concordant Literal Translation), however it is harder to read."

#42

Passion Translation

3.3

4.0

(1)

"Oh and the PASSION."

#83

RSV Catholic Edition

4.0

(1)

"For study and daily reading purposes, you probably can't go wrong with the RSV Catholic Edition."

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