What's The Best Bible Translation?
How to Pick The Best Study Bible For YOU!

Best Bible Translation - Bible and reading glasses

Is there really a such thing as the best Bible translation?

When I first got serious about studying God's Word, I remember walking into the Christian bookstore, heading over to the huge Bible section, and feeling totally overwhelmed!

Which one was the best study Bible?

Not only were there way too many Bible translations, but each translation had it's own bookshelf full of various versions to choose from. I had absolutely no idea where to start!

When I tried to find out which was the best Bible translation, everyone had their own opinion.

Some said that the King James Version was the only REAL translation, and the others were not really the Word of God at all!

Others said that I had to use the New International Version because the King James Version was impossible to understand. And on and on...

Well, if you have ever wondered what the best Bible translation really is, I have some news that I hope will set you free: There is no ONE best Bible translation for everyone!

The truth is, depending on your personality, your current understanding of God's Word, and your individual learning style, the best Bible translation for you may not work for me, and vise versa.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular translations, and discuss their unique benefits. Then, you can decide which one you think will work best for you!

Picking The Best Study Bible for You

King James Version (KJV)

The KJV is what most people consider to be the traditional translation of the Bible.

It is a very literal word for word translation of the original text.
It is written in Old English, which gives it the elegance that we are used to hearing when we hear the Bible read aloud.
Since it is written with thee, thou and other words that we no longer use, it can be confusing for some.
There is a newer version of the KJV Bible called the New King James Version (NKJV) that is also a word for word translation, but is a bit more modern and easier to understand.

New International Version (NIV)

The NIV version of the Bible is currently the most widely read English translation.

It is a much more modern translation (1978) which makes it easier to understand. But, some of the original scriptural meaning can seem a bit watered down.
It is not as literal of a translation as the KJV because it was translated thought-for-thought instead of word-for-word.
The NIV is still considered to hold the original meaning of the Bible because it attempts to capture the entire thought behind each verse.
But, some do argue that certain thoughts in the NIV are not complete because they omit things that other translations do not. (For instance, in the NIV, there is no Matt 18:11 or Acts 8:37, both of which may or may not have been in the original text)

New Living Translation (NLT)

The NLT Translation is one of the newest translations of the Bible (1996).

This is probably the most easily understood Bible translation, which is why I use it in most of our free Bible studies on this website.
But, as with the NIV version, the actual meaning of the scriptures can sometimes be watered down in an effort to make them more understandable.
It is considered to be another thought-for-thought translation.
The NLT is an excellent version if you are a new Christian or if you are just getting into studying the Word for yourself. Even if you have been studying the Bible for years, you may still enjoy the straightforward wording of this Bible.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

The AMP translation is said to reveal subtle shades of meaning in God's Word.

It uses the exact word meanings and the context in which the word was being used to try and give a more accurate Bible translation.
Since most Hebrew and Greek words do not have exact English translations, the AMP gives you multiple English words to explain the key Hebrew and Greek words. These extras make this translation a bit controversial.
This is more of an advanced translation. The use of the words in parenthesis and brackets to provide deeper meaning can become confusing for new readers.
But, if you are looking for a more in-depth look at specific scriptures, this may be the best Bible translation for you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The NASB is a VERY literal translation of the original text.

It is a word for word translation, often even preserving the original grammatical structure of the text.
It can be a bit difficult to read, but an updated version was created in 1995 that is easier to follow.
The NASB is often the best Bible translation for those who are looking for the most literal word-for-word translation of the original text.

Which is the Best Bible Translation for You?

To help you decide,
here is an example of one verse written in each of the 5 translations:

Psalm 1:1

King James Version (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.	New International Version (NIV) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.	New Living Translation (NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
Amplified Bible (AMP) BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.		New American Standard Bible (NASB) How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Personally, if I were stuck on a deserted island, and I could only have one translation of the Bible for the rest of my days, it would definitely be my Amplified Bible (AMP) . The one I have here at home is literally falling apart at the seams from use!

Over the years, God has used my AMP translation to reveal some really powerful things to me about the true meaning of many over-simplified words (like the word blessed that we see in the above scripture example).

But, thankfully, I will never be stranded on a desert island, so I don't have to choose Best Bible Translation - Bible study online smiley

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I really don't think there is one best Bible translation for me. Most Christians find that, as their understanding of the Word deepens, they are able to do more in depth study when they are studying from various translations, instead of just one translation alone.

It's kind of like being in school - Even if you have a really good teacher, it's always helpful to have someone else who says things a bit differently explain things to you a second time.

Studying from multiple translations also opens up the door for the Holy Spirit to use each translation to speak to you in a different way. In my own study time, I have found that to be invaluable.

If you are at the point in your Christian walk where you are looking to really dig into the world, a Comparative Study Bible that includes several translations in one can help you take your studying to the next level. The one that I have linked to above is my favorite because it includes the NIV, the Amplified, the King James, and the NASB Bible translations all in one book. In fact, the various translations are even on the same page, allowing you to study scriptures in the different versions all at the same time.

In my humble opinion, it is the best study Bible.

I hope this explanation of the different kinds of Bibles has helped you discover what the best Bible translation for you really is. If you still have questions about which Bible is right for you, just ask, and I will do my best to help you decide!

If you would like to learn how to study your Bible more effectively, The Hem's free Bible Study Basics course is now available as a free eBook and a free eCourse - Just choose what's best for your Christian lifestyle.

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