The NJPS (the New Jewish Publication Society translation, 1985) and the JPS 1917 are both English Bibles produced for Jewish readers, but they belong to different eras and reflect different goals. The 1917 edition is an older, formal English rendering that many readers still value for its literary weight, while the NJPS is a modern, contemporary-language translation that aims for clarity and current scholarship. Readers who want a traditional, stately sound often prefer the older text, and readers who want to follow the Hebrew meaning in plain modern English usually find the NJPS easier to read.
Background
The JPS 1917 was produced by the Jewish Publication Society of America and was a landmark for its time. It brought a fresh, English-language Jewish translation into wide use among Jewish communities in North America and beyond, and it has been valued ever since for its dignified style. It is often treated as a classic of Jewish English Bible translation.
The NJPS followed roughly seven decades later, published in 1985 by the same society. It was a full new translation rather than a light revision, prepared by a committee of Jewish scholars who drew on modern Hebrew scholarship, archaeology, and the study of ancient Near Eastern languages. Its purpose was to speak to a contemporary English-speaking readership while remaining faithful to the Jewish text tradition.
Translation Method
Both translations generally aim to render the Hebrew with care for the original, but they make different trade-offs. The JPS 1917 tends to follow the Hebrew syntax and word order more closely, which can preserve the rhythm and strangeness of the source but can also make some sentences feel heavy or archaic to modern ears. Its approach is closer to formal equivalence, where the English tries to mirror the structure of the original.
The NJPS leans toward dynamic equivalence, asking what a sentence means and then expressing that meaning in natural modern English. This makes passages easier to follow on a first reading, though it means the English sometimes departs further from the Hebrew wording. Readers who study closely often compare the two side by side to see where the choices differ.
Reading Level and Style
The JPS 1917 reads in a formal, elevated English that feels distinctly older. Its sentences are often long and its vocabulary reflects early twentieth-century usage, which many readers find beautiful and others find distancing. It suits people who enjoy traditional prose or who want a text that sounds like the liturgy they may already know.
The NJPS uses contemporary sentence structure and everyday vocabulary, so most adult readers can move through it without stopping to decode phrasing. Its style is plainer and more direct. For a first-time reader or a student who wants to understand a passage quickly, this clarity is often the main reason to choose it.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
This familiar opening of the shepherd psalm shows the difference in approach clearly. The older translation tends toward a stately, formal phrasing that keeps the traditional cadence, while the newer one restates the image in more immediate modern English. Both convey the same core idea of God as a shepherd who supplies everything a person needs, but the feel of each sentence differs. Comparing the two helps you notice which rhythm speaks to you.
Who Should Use It
Choose the JPS 1917 if you value a classic, formal English voice, if you are familiar with older Jewish English readings, or if you enjoy the literary texture of traditional prose. Its limits are mostly stylistic: some vocabulary and sentence patterns will feel dated, and certain passages may be harder to parse quickly.
Choose the NJPS if you want a readable, contemporary translation grounded in modern Jewish scholarship, whether for study, teaching, or personal reading. Its main limit is that the modern phrasing sometimes trades away the feel of the original wording, so for close word-level study you may want to consult the Hebrew or a more literal rendering alongside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NJPS a revision of the JPS 1917?
The NJPS is a new translation rather than a simple revision. It was produced by a fresh committee of scholars and published in 1985 by the same society that produced the earlier edition.
Which translation is better for beginners?
Most beginners find the NJPS easier to follow because it uses modern sentence structure and everyday vocabulary. The older text can be rewarding later, once a reader is comfortable with the material.
Can I use both translations together?
Many readers and students compare the two side by side, since reading an older and a newer rendering of the same passage often reveals useful differences in meaning. This is a practical way to deepen understanding without committing to one voice.
