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English Standard Version

The English Standard Version (ESV) is a translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Published in 2001 by Crossway, the ESV was "created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors."[11][12][13][14][15] The ESV relies on recently published critical editions of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.[1][2]

"ESV" redirects here. For other uses, see ESV (disambiguation).

English Standard Version

ESV

2001

Revised Standard Version (2nd ed., 1971)

2007, 2011, 2016[b]

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

290,000,000[10]

Crossway claims that the ESV continues a legacy of precision and faithfulness in translating the original text into English.[c] It describes the ESV as a translation that adheres to an "essentially literal" translation philosophy, taking into account "differences in grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages."[16] It also describes the ESV as a translation that "emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning."[11]


Since its official publication, the ESV has received endorsement from numerous evangelical pastors and theologians, including John Piper and R. C. Sproul.[17]

History[edit]

Pre-publication[edit]

During the early 1990s, Crossway president Lane T. Dennis engaged in discussions with various Christian scholars and pastors regarding the need for a new literal translation of the Bible.[18] In 1997,[19] Dennis contacted the National Council of Churches (NCC) and proceeded to enter negotiations, alongside Trinity Evangelical Divinity School professor Wayne Grudem, to obtain rights to use the 1971 text edition of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) as the starting point for a new translation.[20] In September 1998, an agreement was reached with the NCC for Crossway to use and modify the 1971 RSV text, thereby enabling the creation of a new translation.[20] Crossway moved forward from this position by forming a translation committee and initiating work on the English Standard Version. Crossway officially published the ESV in 2001.[18]


In 1999, World reported of "feminists" noticing links between Crossway and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW).[20] Members of the CBMW had earlier been involved in criticizing plans made by Zondervan's New International Version (NIV) translation committee[d] to publish a gender-neutral edition of the NIV.[22] Grudem, who was president of the CBMW at the time, responded by stating, "This [translation] is not a CBMW project."[20]

Translation Oversight Committee[edit]

Chaired by Dennis, the fourteen-member Translation Oversight Committee was aided by more than fifty biblical experts serving as review scholars.[14] The translation committee also received input from the Advisory Council, having more than fifty members.[15] J. I. Packer served as general editor of the translation.[23] Grudem states that the NET Bible study notes were one resource that the translation committee consulted during the translation process.[24] He also claims that the translation committee meets approximately every 5–7 years to consider text revisions.[25]


The original translation committee featured the following notable individuals:[26]

Use[edit]

Audio Bibles[edit]

In August 2003, Crossway released its first audio Bible, being the New Testament read by Marquis Laughlin.[72] Shortly after, the New York City-based Fellowship for Performing Arts released an ESV audio Bible read by Max McLean, having been produced by Liz Donato and recorded under a licensing agreement. The first format released was the New Testament as a set of 12 cassette tapes, having been published by Crossway on October 31, 2003, being the 486th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.[73] A set of New Testament CDs was published the following month,[74] and the full audio Bible was published in 2004.[75]


In 2008, Crossway released an audio Bible featuring the voice of David Cochran Heath. This was published on October 31, 2008, being the 491th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.[76]


In late 2023, Crossway finished releasing six new audio Bibles, having been read by Conrad Mbewe, Kristyn Getty, Ray Ortlund, Jackie Hill Perry, Robert Smith Jr., and Michael Reeves.[77][78][o] The entire project took approximately 6,000 hours of production labor. Ortlund called his recording experience "the most exacting, precise, detailed, and demanding task I’ve performed since my doctoral work 40 years ago," in addition to being "immensely satisfying." Ortlund used The HarperCollins Bible Pronunciation Guide[80] as a linguistic aid during production.

Study Bibles[edit]

The ESV has been used as the Bible text for a number of study Bible editions, including but not limited to:

Modern English Bible translations

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