The NEB (New English Bible, 1970) and the REB (Revised English Bible, 1989) are both British translations produced by ecumenical committees, and the REB is best understood as a thorough revision of the NEB rather than a separate text. The core difference is that the REB keeps the NEB’s fresh modern English but corrects a number of renderings that scholars and readers found awkward, inaccurate, or dated. If you want the most recent wording and a closer hold on the Hebrew and Greek, the REB is the usual choice; if you are comparing with older readings or studying how the first major modern English revision sounded, the NEB remains useful.
Background
The New English Bible was published in 1970 by Oxford and Cambridge University Presses, produced by a large committee drawn from the main British churches and from several academic disciplines. It was a deliberate attempt to give English readers a version in the language of their own day rather than the Elizabethan cadence of the King James tradition. Its reception was mixed: many praised its clarity and freshness, while others felt some renderings drifted too far from the source languages.
The Revised English Bible appeared in 1989 from the same publishers, with a revision committee that reworked the earlier text. The revisers kept the NEB’s plain, contemporary voice but altered many individual readings, adjusted some of the phrasing that had seemed overly loose, and extended the work to the Apocrypha. Think of the REB as the NEB after nearly two decades of scholarly and public feedback.
Translation Method
Both versions aim for a middle path between strict word-for-word equivalence and free paraphrase. They are generally considered dynamic-equivalence translations: they try to convey the sense of each sentence in natural English while still tracking the structure and vocabulary of the original where that is practical. This means you will often find smoother sentences than you would in a more literal version, with some idioms supplied to make the meaning clear.
The practical difference between the two is one of degree and precision. The REB tends to reduce the interpretive freedom that the NEB sometimes took, so that a reader comparing the two will more often find the REB sticking closer to the underlying Hebrew or Greek word. The experience is still readable and conversational, but the REB asks the reader to trust that the wording has been checked a little more carefully.
Reading Level and Style
Both texts read as clear, modern British English, with short sentences, few archaic pronouns, and phrasing that a general reader can follow without a glossary. Neither is written for a particular age group, but both assume a reader comfortable with ordinary adult prose. The NEB has a slightly more distinctive voice, with some turns of phrase that feel deliberately fresh, and some readers find those memorable while others find them jarring.
The REB is generally more restrained in style. Its revisers smoothed out some of the NEB’s more striking choices, so the overall tone is steadier and more familiar to readers used to other modern versions. If you are reading aloud in a group, the REB is often easier to follow because its sentences are less likely to surprise the listener mid-phrase.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
Here the basic image of a shepherd and his flock is kept intact in both British revisions, but the wording differs in small ways. The NEB tends toward a looser, more interpretive rhythm, while the REB adjusts the phrasing to sit closer to the Hebrew structure and the sense of provision and ownership. The difference is subtle enough that a casual reader may miss it, which is itself a useful lesson about how much revision work goes into a single line.
Who Should Use It
Choose the REB if you want the more carefully revised of the two British texts, with better fidelity to the original languages and a calmer, more familiar style. It is a sensible choice for personal reading, study groups, and anyone who wants modern English without losing the sense of the original. Its main limit is that it is less widely used than some American translations, so you may find fewer study aids built around it.
Choose the NEB if you are interested in the history of modern English Bible translation, want to see how the first wave of revision handled familiar passages, or simply prefer its more vivid voice. Its limits are the ones that led to the revision: some renderings are looser than many readers want for serious study. Many people find it helpful to read the two side by side, which shows clearly how the REB refined the earlier work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the REB a completely new translation?
No, the REB is a revision of the NEB, produced by the same publishers and a related committee. It keeps the NEB’s plain modern style but changes many individual readings. Readers who know the NEB will recognize much of the REB’s structure and phrasing.
Which version is more accurate, the NEB or the REB?
The REB is generally considered the more carefully revised of the two, with closer attention to the Hebrew and Greek in many places. Accuracy depends on the passage and on what you are looking for, so it is better to think in terms of method and trade-offs than of a single winner. Comparing the two on a passage you know well is a good way to judge for yourself.
Can I use the NEB for serious study?
You can, especially for historical comparison and for seeing how early modern English revision handled difficult texts. For detailed study of specific words or grammar, many readers pair it with a more literal version or a reference work. It works best as one resource among several.
