The New King James Version (NKJV) and the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) differ mainly in purpose and tradition. The NKJV is a modern English revision of the King James family of texts, built for readers who want the familiar cadence of the King James Bible with updated vocabulary. The OSB is an English Bible produced for the Eastern Orthodox Church, with its Old Testament drawn from the Septuagint and extensive notes from Orthodox writers. The NKJV suits readers who want a widely used Protestant study text, while the OSB suits Orthodox Christians and those who want to read the Old Testament through the Greek tradition the early church used.
Background
The NKJV was completed in 1982 by Thomas Nelson, drawing on a large team of evangelical scholars. Its goal was to keep the textual tradition behind the King James Version while replacing archaic words and grammar that had become hard for many modern readers. It was revised with later updates, and it remains popular in congregations that value the older English sound.
The OSB was published by Thomas Nelson in partnership with the Orthodox Church in America, and it draws its Old Testament from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation that Orthodox and Eastern churches have long treated as authoritative. Its New Testament follows the traditional Greek text used in Orthodox worship. Alongside the translation it includes introductions, commentary, and articles drawn from Orthodox theologians and the church fathers.
Translation Method
Both Bibles lean toward a formal, fairly literal approach, aiming to keep the wording and structure of the source text rather than paraphrase it. The NKJV carries that approach into a modern English that still preserves much of the King James rhythm, so the reading feels close to the sentences many readers grew up hearing. Because it works from the Masoretic Hebrew for the Old Testament, its wording often tracks differently from the Septuagint-based text the OSB follows.
That difference in source text is the most important practical contrast. Where the Septuagint and the Hebrew text diverge, the OSB will sometimes read differently from the NKJV, and its notes explain why. Readers comparing the two side by side will notice these differences most in Old Testament prophecy and in some Psalms, where the Greek numbering and phrasing can vary.
Reading Level and Style
The NKJV reads in a stately, traditional English that is still fairly complex. Its sentences often mirror the King James structure, which gives it a formal tone that some readers find reverent and others find dense. Most adult readers can follow it comfortably, though younger readers may need a moment with older expressions.
The OSB’s translation reads in a clear modern English, with notes and introductions that are written for general readers as well as clergy. The commentary is often the heavier part of the book, drawing on patristic writers and liturgical context. Readers who want to study the text deeply will find that the notes do much of the teaching work.
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 general pattern. The NKJV keeps the King James cadence and the traditional “LORD” rendering of the divine name, which gives the line a stately, familiar sound. The OSB follows the Septuagint’s Greek-based wording and numbering, so its verse may read with a slightly different phrasing and its notes may point to the church’s long reflection on the psalm. The meaning stays close across both, but the feel of the sentence and the surrounding notes differ.
Who Should Use It
The NKJV is a good choice for readers who want a familiar, reverent English text with a Protestant study tradition behind it. It works well for memorization, for congregations that use the King James family, and for readers who find the older sound comforting. Its limit is that it does not carry the Septuagint-based Old Testament or Orthodox commentary, so readers looking for that perspective will need another resource.
The OSB is best for Orthodox Christians, for those studying the Eastern tradition, and for readers who want to see how the early church read the Old Testament. Its notes are rich and its text is clear. Its limit is that it reflects a specific tradition, so readers outside that tradition may find some notes and emphases unfamiliar, and it is larger and more expensive than a basic reading Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NKJV the same as the King James Bible?
No, the NKJV is a modern revision of the King James tradition. It keeps much of the familiar sound but replaces older vocabulary and grammar with language that is easier for most readers today.
Does the OSB use the same Old Testament as Protestant Bibles?
Not exactly. The OSB follows the Septuagint for the Old Testament, which includes some books and readings that differ from the Hebrew text used in many Protestant Bibles. The notes explain these differences.
Which should I buy if I want to study the Bible in depth?
Choose based on your tradition and goals. The NKJV suits a Protestant study and memorization, while the OSB suits readers who want Orthodox commentary and the Septuagint-based Old Testament.
