The King James Version (KJV) and the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) differ mainly in origin, purpose and reading style. The KJV is a 1611 English translation shaped by the Church of England and centuries of Protestant devotion, with its familiar cadence still used in many churches. The NABRE is a Catholic translation produced for American Catholics, drawing on modern biblical scholarship and including the deuterocanonical books. Readers who love majestic, traditional language often prefer the KJV, while readers who want contemporary English and Catholic canon usually choose the NABRE.
Background
The King James Version was commissioned by King James I of England and published in 1611 by a committee of scholars working from earlier English Bibles, especially the Bishops’ Bible and the Tyndale tradition. Its wording became so deeply embedded in English-speaking worship that many people still hear it as the default “Bible voice.” It has been revised several times over the centuries, most notably in 1769, which standardized much of the text most readers know today.
The New American Bible, Revised Edition is published under the authority of the bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is a revision of the 1970 New American Bible, updated to reflect later textual research and to refine its English. It is the translation used for Scripture readings at Mass in the United States, which gives it a practical place in parish life for many American Catholics.
Translation Method
The KJV follows a formal, largely word-for-word approach. Translators tried to keep the sequence and shape of the original Hebrew and Greek visible in English, which means sentences often feel archaic and compressed. This approach rewards careful study of word choice, but it can make passages harder to follow on a first reading.
The NABRE uses a dynamic equivalence approach, rendering the meaning of each sentence into natural English rather than preserving every word order. Its translators aimed for clarity for a modern audience while staying close to the source texts. The trade-off is that some nuances of phrasing that the KJV keeps visible may be smoothed into a clearer, more interpretive sentence.
Reading Level and Style
The KJV reads like seventeenth-century English. Phrases such as “thee,” “thou,” and “hath” give it a formal, poetic tone that many listeners find reverent. For a reader unfamiliar with older grammar, however, the vocabulary can slow comprehension, especially in genealogies, law codes and prophetic passages.
The NABRE reads as clear contemporary English at a general adult level. Its sentences are straightforward and its word choices are current, making it easier for new readers, students and those following along during a homily. Some readers miss the rhythm and memorable phrasing of older English, which is one reason the KJV remains so loved.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(KJV)
This short line shows the two approaches clearly. The KJV keeps the older sentence shape and personal pronoun style, so the phrase carries a steady, stately rhythm that many readers associate with funerals and quiet devotion. The NABRE restates the same confidence in plainer modern wording, which makes the sense immediate but gives up some of the familiar cadence. Both readers arrive at the same comfort; they simply travel different roads to get there.
Who Should Use It
Choose the KJV if you value historic English, enjoy memorizing passages in traditional language, or want to read alongside the many older devotional books that quote it. Its limits are the archaic vocabulary and the Protestant canon, which omits the deuterocanonical books that the NABRE includes.
Choose the NABRE if you are a Catholic who wants a translation aligned with your Church’s canon and Mass readings, or if you want modern English that is easy to understand. Its limits are that it lacks the familiar poetry of older English for some readers, and its dynamic approach means you may want a study Bible or commentary when a passage is especially close to the original wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the NABRE include books the KJV leaves out?
Yes. The NABRE includes the deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom and Sirach, which Catholic tradition accepts as Scripture. The standard KJV omits these books, following the Protestant Old Testament canon.
Which is easier for a new Bible reader?
The NABRE is generally easier for new readers because its sentences use contemporary English. The KJV can be rewarding once you grow used to its style, but the older vocabulary takes more effort at first.
Can I use both translations together?
Many readers do exactly that, reading the NABRE for clear understanding and the KJV for its traditional phrasing. Comparing the two side by side can deepen your sense of how a single passage can be rendered in different ways.
