NIV · 1978
New International Version
The best-selling modern English Bible; readable and widely accepted.
- Publisher
- Biblica / Zondervan
- Text base
- NA28 / BHS
- Philosophy
- Balanced
- Reading level
- 7th–8th grade
Strengths
- Very readable
- Widely used worldwide
- Balanced translation philosophy
Textual issues & criticisms
Dynamic renderings
Sometimes smooths over ambiguity present in the originals.
2011 revision controversy
Gender-inclusive updates led some publishers to drop the edition.
Interpretive paraphrasing
Occasionally chooses one interpretation where the Greek is genuinely ambiguous.
Divine names in this translation
YHWH — the Tetragrammaton
Rendered as LORD
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh — I AM WHO I AM
Rendered as I AM WHO I AM
Elohim
Rendered as God (capital G); 'gods' when referring to others
Adonai
Rendered as Lord (mixed case); 'Lord GOD' for Adonai YHWH
El Shaddai
Rendered as God Almighty / the Almighty
El Elyon and the El names
Rendered as God Most High
YHWH Sabaoth — LORD of Hosts
Rendered as LORD Almighty
Yah
Rendered as LORD
Messiah / Christos
Rendered as Messiah in many NT verses — Where the title sense is prominent.