Based on the excellent feedback from our first Bible translation poll, I wanted to offer everyone some more choices. Many mentioned that they own dozens of different Bible translations - some over 100!If I’ve left out your one your top three, leave a comment and I can add it.
If you could own only 3 Bible translations, which of the following would you pick?
- English Standard Version (26%, 210 Votes)
- New American Standard (22%, 180 Votes)
- New International Version (11%, 86 Votes)
- New King James Version (9%, 72 Votes)
- King James Version (9%, 70 Votes)
- Holman Christian Standard (4%, 36 Votes)
- New Living Translation (4%, 34 Votes)
- New English Translation (NET) (3%, 26 Votes)
- 1599 Geneva Bible (2%, 18 Votes)
- New Revised Standard (2%, 15 Votes)
- The Message (2%, 14 Votes)
- Amplified Bible (2%, 13 Votes)
- Today's New International Version (TNIV) (1%, 12 Votes)
- Revised English Bible (1%, 7 Votes)
- Contemporary English Version (1%, 5 Votes)
- New Century Version (0%, 3 Votes)
- Leave a comment and I'll add what's missing (0%, 2 Votes)
- Jewish Piblication Society (0%, 2 Votes)
- New International Readers Version (0%, 0 Votes)
- Good News Translation (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 805
Loading ...More about Bible translations
- SBTS Alumni Steve Weaver’s series on Bible Translations
- Rick Mansfield’s whole blog This Lamp. He even has a chart of the 84 Bibles that he owns.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
G. F. McDowell 12.19.07 at 10:24 am
1599 Geneva Bible, if you please.
Massimo 12.19.07 at 10:29 am
I would add the Amplified Bible.
Tony Kummer 12.19.07 at 10:48 am
Done
Lucas Defalco 12.19.07 at 12:35 pm
I know this is a poll about “translations” but I would always have to cast a vote for Greek and Hebrew.
Tony Kummer 12.20.07 at 12:15 pm
Matt - Good point. I thought many would pick one or the other and then go with something from a different translation approach.
Matt Svoboda 12.20.07 at 12:47 pm
I honestly do not know how neither the ESV or NASB are in the top three of some peoples list!
Rob 12.20.07 at 2:53 pm
Interestingly, I picked the top three (thus far, anyway) in that order. I guess that makes me part of the (this) herd.
Wayne Leman 12.20.07 at 3:40 pm
I honestly do not know how neither the ESV or NASB are in the top three of some peoples list!
I think that English scholars who are devoted Christians would typically not choose either version among their top three because the English of both versions is so poor. There are inverted negatives which have been obsolete for 300 years. There are many instances of non-English syntax.
The NASB is a good crib for those who do not read Biblical Hebrew or Greek fluently. And I enjoyed using it for many years when there was no better English version.
G. F. McDowell 12.21.07 at 10:26 am
Shocking! 1599 Geneva has more than one vote!! Huzzah for the “breeches” bible!
Martin Pitcher 12.21.07 at 12:17 pm
Tony,
There is something another area that we should do a poll on and that is favorite Study Bibles. I think that would be a lot of fun and very informative.
Tony Kummer 12.21.07 at 2:26 pm
Martin - Good idea, which study Bibles would we include? I have never really used them, except early on when I was new to the Bible.
G F McDowell 12.21.07 at 8:25 pm
Well there are just TONS of study bibles out there. Just take a look at CBD if you ever want to go dizzy. My spidey senses tell me that the Reformation study bible would be first by a long shot.
Massimo 12.22.07 at 9:51 pm
Some of you may be interested in the latest figures of Bible version sales per dollar and per unit:
http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Bible_Translations.pdf
Aaron Armitage 12.27.07 at 2:54 pm
Not a complete version, but I would include Robert Alter’s translations in my top three.