List of Abbreviations of Bible Translations
| Abbr. | Use | Translation Date, Revision Date & Comment |
|---|---|---|
| ALV | American Literary Version | 2016 |
| AMP | Amplified Version | 1958 (NT), 1962 (1st vol of OT), 1964 (2nd vol of OT), 1 vol Bible: 1965 1987, 2015, AMPC is used for 1965 & 1987 versions) |
| AMPC | Amplified Version Classic Edition | 1958 (NT), 1962 (1st vol of OT), 1964 (2nd vol of OT), 1 vol Bible: 1965 1987, 2015, AMPC is used for 1965 & 1987 versions) |
| ASV | American Standard Version | 1901, based on the English Revised Version. The ASV was the base for the RSV, NASB, ESV, Amplified Bible, the Living Bible and many others. |
| AV | Authorized Version | Same as the KJV, the “Authorized Version” name mostly used in Great Britain. |
| BSB | Berean Study Bible | 2016 (NT), whole Bible coming in 2021 |
| CEB | Common English Bile | 2011 |
| CEV | Contemporary English Version | 1991 (NT), 1995 |
| CJB | Complete Jewish Bible | 1989 (NT), 2016 a Messianic Jewish translation |
| CSB | Christian Standard Bible | HCSB: 1999 (Gospels), 2000 (NT), 2002 (Psalms and Provers), Bible: 2003, 2009 CSB: 2017, 2020 (minor revision). CSB is an update of the HCSB. Name was changed for marketing reasons and both are of the same translation family) |
| DRB | Douay-Rheims Bible | 1582, revised last 1752, a Catholic translation. |
| EHV | English Heritage Version | 2019, a Lutheran work |
| ERV / RV | English Revised Version | 1881-NT, 1885-Bible, AKA: Revised Version. |
| ESV | English Standard Version | 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025. The ESV was a revision of the RSV. There is also a 2013 version updated for use by the Gideon International and a Catholic edition of 2017. |
| GNB | Good News Bible | 1966 (NT), 1967 (NT), 1970 (Psalms) 1971 (NT), 1976, 1992, This translation has gone by a number of names over the years. Known as: the Good News for Modern Man, Good News Bible (GNB), the Good News Translation (GNT) and Today’s English Version. |
| GNT | Good News Translations | See GNB |
| GWN | God’s Word for the Nations | 1988(NT), 1989(NT), 1990 (NT) 1987 (John), 1988(NT), 1989(NT), 1990(NT), 1991 (NT) |
| GWT | God’s Word Translation | 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019 |
| HCSB | Holman Christian Standard Bible | HCSB: 1999 (Gospels), 2000 (NT), 2002 (Psalms and Provers), Bible: 2003, 2009 CSB: 2017, 2020 (minor revision). CSB is an update of the HCSB. Name was changed for marketing reasons and both are of the same translation family) |
| ICB | International Children’s Bible | 1976 (NT), 1986 (OT), 1999 a translation done at a very early reader level. The 1988 text is shared with the NCV, which is a slightly higher reading level. The ICB is directed solely at children while the NCV is also targeted toward English as a second language readers. |
| ISV | International Standard Version | 1999 NT, 2011 OT, 2018. OT and whole Bible on in e-Version |
| JB | Jerusalem Bible | 1966 (NT), 1967, 1968, 1985 (NJB), 2019 (RNJB), a Catholic translation |
| KJ21 | 21st Century King James Version | 1994 |
| KJV | King James Version | 1611, many revisions last in 1769 |
| LB or TLB | The Living Bible | 1971. A paraphrase of the ASV. It should be noted that the New Living Translation (NLT) is not a revision of the LB but a fresh work of translation. |
| LEB | Lexham English Bible | 2012, An e-Version used in Logos software |
| LSB | Legacy Standard Bible | 2021 (NT), Bible: late 2021. a revision of the NASB 1995 (NASU) under direction of John MacArthur and Master’s Seminary. |
| LSV | Literal Standard Version | 2020 |
| MEV | Modern English Version | 2014 |
| MSG | Messages | 2002 |
| NAB | New American Bible | Catholic: 1970, 1986, 1991, NABRE:2010 |
| NABRE | New American Bible Revised Edition | See NAB |
| NASB | New American Standard Bible | 1960 (Gospel of John), 1962 (The Gospels), 1963 (NT), Psalms (1968), 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 (NASU), 2020. A Revision of the ASV. The 1995 update became known as the NASU, the “U” standing for “Updated. The latest version is known as the NASB2020. Currently the 1995 and the 2020 are still in print with the 1977 sometimes still printed today. |
| NASU | New American Standard Bible Updated | See NASB |
| NCV | New Century Version | 1988, 1991 (gender-neutral edition) a revision of the ICB as a slightly higher child’s reading level. The 1988 text is shared with the ICB. The ICB is directed solely at children while the NCV is also targeted toward English as a second language readers. |
| NEB | New English Bible | NEB: 1961, 1970, REB: 1989 these are both of the same translation family |
| NET | New English Translation | 2005, 2017, started primarily as a e-version but has done well in print editions. |
| NIrV | New International readers’ Version | 1994 (NT), 1995 (OT), 1996, 1998, 2014 A simplified version of the NIV for children. |
| NIV | New International Version | 1973 (NT), Bible: 1978, 1984, 2011. In 1989 the NIV became the first Bible to surpass the KJV in sales. The NIV is a fresh translation work. |
| NIVi | New International Version Inclusive Language | 1996, Sold mostly in Great Britain was greater uses of gender inclusive language |
| NJB | New Jerusalem Bible | 1966 (NT), 1967, 1968, 1985 (NJB), 2019 (RNJB), a Catholic translation, Revision of the JB |
| NKJV | New King James Version | 1979 (NT), 1980 (NT & Ps), 1982 |
| NLT | New Live Translation | 1996, 2004, 2007,2013, 2015 the New Living Transition (NLT) is not a revision of the LB but a fresh work of translation. |
| NLV | New Life Version | 1969 (NT), 2003 |
| NRSV | New Revised Standard Version | 1896, a revision of the Revised Standard Version |
| NWT | New World Translation | Partial works from 1953, whole Bible: 1961, 1981, 1984, 2013 a Jehovah Witness Translation |
| Phillips | New Testament in Modern English | Letters to Young Churches 1947, Gospels 1952, The Young Church in Action 1955, Book of Revelation 1957, NT 1958, 1960, 1972. The 1972 version of this translation is still in print today. |
| QJV | Queen James Bible | a version supporting LGBTQ issues. |
| RCV | Recovery Version | 1985(NT With study aids), 1991(NT with study aids), 1993(NT text only), 1999 Bible, 2003 Bible with study aids, 2016 |
| REB | Revised English Bible | NEB: 1961, 1970, REB: 1989 these are both of the same translation family. |
| REV | Revised English Version | 2013, revision of the ASV, a Unitarian translation |
| RNJB | New Jerusalem Bible | 1966 (NT), 1967, 1968, 1985 (NJB), 2019 (RNJB), a Catholic translation, a revision of the NJB |
| RSV | Revised Standard Version | 1946(NT), 1952, 1971 (the Reader’s Digest – ’82) Other editions such as the Catholic edition 1957, Ecumenical Edition (“Common Bible”), 1973 |
| TEB | Today’s English version | See GNB |
| TLV | Tree of live Version | 2015, a Messianic Jewish version |
| TNIV | Today’s New International Version | 2001(NT), 2005, A more gender inclusive version of the NIV which was dropped from further publication when the NIV 2011 version was produced. |
| TPT | The Passion Translation | 2017 (NT) revised in 2020, OT is a work in progress. WARNING: this is a very poorly done translation by a person claiming but lacking the background to do the work. Avoid this translation! |
List of other Abbreviations and Terms
| Abbr. | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | American Bible Society | US publisher of Bibles |
| B&H | Broadman & Holman Publishers | Today known as Holman Publishers |
| BHS | Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia | OT Hebrew Text |
| BHW | Biblia Hebraica Quinta | OT Hebrew Text |
| Biblica | Biblica | Biblica, formerly International Bible Society, was founded in 1809 and is the worldwide copyright holder of the New International Version of the Bible, licensing commercial rights to Zondervan in the United States and to Hodder & Stoughton in the United Kingdom. |
| CBT | Committee on Bible Translation | Oversight board for the NIV |
| DSS | Dead Sea Scrolls | Ancient Jewish religious manuscripts that were found in the Qumran Caves in the Judaean Desert, near the northern shore of the Dead Sea. They are dated from the last three centuries BC and the first century AD |
| IBS | International Bible Society | see Biblica |
| JPS | Jewish Publication Society | Tanak is the Jewish name for what Protestants all the Old Testament. |
| KJVO | King James Version Only | Term used for the holding the Tanka KJV is the only correct version to use. |
| Lifeway | Lifeway Christian Resources | The publishing arm the Southern Baptist Convention |
| Lockman | Lockman Foundation | The Organization behind the Amplified Bible and the NASB |
| LXX | Septuagint | Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible done around 300-200 BC. |
| MT | Masoretic Text | OT Hebrew Text |
| NA (#) | Nestle-Aland | An edition of NT Greek text also known as Novum Testamentum Graece; a number indicates a particular edition. The 28th edition is the most recent |
| Nelson | Thomas Nelson | The organization behind the NKJV & the NLT |
| NT | New Testament | This is the 27 books of the Christian Scriptures from the time of Christ and the early church. |
| NU-Text | Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies text | An edition of NT Greek text |
| OT | Old Testament | This the 39 books of the Christian Scriptures ending in about 400 BC. These are the same books in the Jewish canon. The Jewish scriptures would combine some of the books and put them in a different order. This does not include Apocrypha books. |
| Pentateuch | First five books of the Bible | |
| Tanak | Jewish Scriptures | Jewish name for what Protestants call the Old Testament |
| TBS | Trinitarian Bible Society | International Bible distributor |
| TGI | The Gideons International | International Bible distributor |
| Torah | First five books of the Bible | |
| TR | Textus Receptus | An edition of NT Greek text used from Tyndale to the KJV and in some modern translations such as the NKJV or MEV. |
| UBS | United Bible Societies | International Bible distributor |
| UBS (#) | United Bible Societies | An edition of NT Greek text United Bible Societies (a number indicates a particular edition. The 5th edition is the most recent.) |
| W-H | Westcott and Hort | An edition of NT Greek text used for translation such as the ERV and ASV. |