Thought for Thought Bibles

Thought-for-thought Bibles seek to express the meaning of each sentence or paragraph from the original language in simple up-to-date English without being tied to translating every word.

ALL BIBLES | WORD-FOR-WORD | THOUGHT-FOR-THOUGHT | PARAPHRASE

CEB

CEB

Common English Bible

Translation Type:  Hybrid verbal equivalent with dynamic balance and common language.
Target Audience:  Bible readers of all ages.
Denominational Affiliation:  Interdenominational
Publisher:  Abingdon Press (Sole Distributor)
Year Released:  2010, 2011

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CEV

CEV

Contemporary English Version

Translation Type:  Dynamic Equivalence - thought-for-thought
Target Audience:  Unchurched.
Denominational Affiliation:  Conservative, evangelical and mainline
Publisher:  American Bible Society
Year Released:  1995

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CJB

CJB

Complete Jewish Bible

Translation Type:  Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience:  Jews and Christians interested in Jewish roots.
Denominational Affiliation:  Messianic Jewish
Publisher:  Messianic Jewish Publishers / Jewish New Testament Publications
Year Released:  1998

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ESV

GNT

Good News Translation

Translation Type:  Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience:  Evangelical and mainline Protestant. Catholic Orthodox.
Denominational Affiliation:  Evangelical snd interconfessional
Publisher:  American Bible Society
Year Released:  1976, 1992, 2001

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ESV

ICB

International Children's Bible

Translation Type:  Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience:  Elementary readers
Denominational Affiliation:  Broad evangelical
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Year Released:  1989

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TLB

MSG

The Message

Translation Type:  Paraphrase. Contemporary equivalence.
Target Audience:  People who have never read the Bible. Long time Christians wanting to read with new eyes.
Denominational Affiliation:  Evangelical
Publisher:  NavPress Publishing Group
Year Released:  2002

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TLB

NCV

New Century Version

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence.
Target Audience:  Those who want a highly readable translation of the Bible in today's language.
Denominational Affiliation:  Conservative and evangelical
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Publishers
Year Released:  1988, 1991

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TLB

NIRV

New International Reader's Version

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence. Simplified NIV with an emphasis on meaning when necessary.
Target Audience:  Children ages 10 and under and adults.
Denominational Affiliation:  Conservative and evangelical
Publisher:  Zondervan
Year Released:  1996, 1998

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TLB

NIV

New International Version

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence. Balance between between word-for-word and thought-for-thought.
Target Audience:  Bible readers of all ages.
Denominational Affiliation:  Conservative and evangelical
Publisher:  Zondervan
Year Released:  1978, 1984, 2010

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TLB

NLT

New Living Translation

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence. Thought-for-thought, original meaning focused.
Target Audience:  For readers of all ages desiring a readable contemporary English translation.
Denominational Affiliation:  None. Broadly conservative and evangelical.
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released:  1996, 2004, 2015

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TLB

NTV

Nueva Traducción Viviente

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence. Spanish
Target Audience:  Adults and children.
Denominational Affiliation:  All mainstream evangelical denominations.
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released:  2010

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NLT

TLB

The Living Bible

Translation Type:  Paraphrase
Target Audience:  Adults and children.
Denominational Affiliation:  All denominations
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released:  1971

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NLT

VOICE

The Voice

Translation Type:  Dynamic equivalence.
Target Audience:  Those seeking to connect or reconnect with God.
Denominational Affiliation:  Broad evangelical
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Publishers
Year Released:  2012

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