There are over 450 English translations of the Bible. How do you choose between 450, especially when so many people think that this is the most important book you’ll ever read? There are a lot of options out there, but the ESV, NIV, and NASB are strong choices. But which one should you go for when it’s the ESV vs NASB vs NIV?
A little about Bible translations
Every translation has a slightly different approach and is built by a different group of translators. But at the end of the day, most all of them are very close. Even though a translator will take poetic license here and there, Koine Greek isn’t impossible to understand or translate. There are times where translations simplify or modernize, and this requires some interpretation, but even with these slight variations, you’re reading the Bible as long as you’re reading a well accepted translation.
The major difference between most modern translations is a difference in their philosophy on translation. Some translators attempt to translate the concept into a phrase while others attempt to translate each individual word to its closest equivalent. Translations are easier to read when they’re a little looser. But sometimes you might be missing the original word (but wait! you’re always doing this when reading in translation).
ESV
The ESV is a pretty balanced translation. It is definitely leaning on the literal side, so there are sometimes strange constructions. For example:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV
As opposed to the NLT:
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
Hebrews 1:1–2 NLT
Sorry to bring yet another translation into the mix, but the NLT is a less literal translation than any of the translations discussed today. And as you can see above, it reads a little easier than the ESV.
One passage that I think the ESV gets better than any other translation is Psalm 23, though. The problem with almost any passage is that you most likely think of it in the language that you first hear it, but I think the ESV does a great job here:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.You prepare a table before me
Psalm 23 ESV
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
NASB
The NASB is the most literal of these three versions. And it is also the version that I’ve been reading most regularly over the last few years. This isn’t because this is the right philosophy of translation. It’s rather more a product of habit. The NASB creates the strangest constructions of all three by far, but it also creates quite interesting phrasing because of the parameters that it’s set for itself. Here’s an example:
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1–4 NASB
This may not be the most modern or direct way of saying what the writer of Hebrews intended, but it’s beautiful in its own right. Even though I’ve made a habit out of reading the NASB, I ultimately lean towards quoting from the NIV in my blogs, and that’s because they are more modern and easier to read. It all depends on what you’re looking for.
NIV
With ESV vs NASB vs NIV, the NIV is the least literal of the three. This means that at times the translators will simplify a passage so that it works better at communicating the central idea of the statement. Fierce proponents of the ESV or NASB will belittle the NIV for this reason, but language is often more like this than the most literal of translations.
Rodney Decker constructed a sentence in the most direct word-for-word style just to poke fun at the result. This is an example of what a verse would look like if word-for-word translations were common:
Of the but Jesus Christ the birth thus it was being betrothed of the mother of him Mary to the Joseph before or to come together them she was found in belly having from Spirit Holy.
Matthew 1:18
Don’t take it so seriously
I would encourage you to read the Bible and not to get too hung up on what the best or most literal translation is. So when it comes to ESV vs NASB vs NIV, please don’t listen to someone if they say that there’s only one good choice. Try the NLT. Try the NRSV. Why not go for the King James or the New King James. They’re all good. Don’t get too stuck on what translation you’re reading because ultimately every option is just that: a translation.
Blue Letter Bible is a great resource if you’re looking into the original Greek, but the reality is that modern scholars are able to translate the Bible, and if you’re reading a translation that says something entirely different from all the others, you probably had to go out of your way to find that translation.
BibleGateway also has the option to view multiple translations side by side. I would encourage you to read the translation that you like first. Maybe the second time you read through the Bible try a different one. But don’t take your translation all that seriously. Instead, focus on the teachings of the Bible. I think they are certainly worth taking seriously.
And please reach out if you’re reading the Bible for the first time and want to talk through any questions that have come up. Finding a local church is the best first step, but if you need to talk through where to look first, I’d love to talk you through those choices.