English Standard Version


The English Standard Version is an English translation of the Bible. It was first published in 2001 by Crossway. The ESV is based upon the 1971 Revised Standard Version text.
The ESV adheres to an "essentially literal" translation philosophy, taking into account the differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original text. With regard to gender language, the goal of the ESV is "to render literally what is in the original." The ESV uses some gender-neutral language.

History

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. In 1997, Lane T. Dennis contacted the National Council of Churches to obtain rights to use the RSV text as a base for a new translation. Crossway later formed a translation committee and started work on the ESV in the late 1990s. In the translation process, approximately six percent of the 1971 RSV text base being used was changed. Crossway claims that the ESV continues a legacy begun by the Tyndale New Testament of precision and faithfulness in English translation from the original text, followed in the same standard by the King James Version of 1611, the English Revised Version of 1885, the American Standard Version of 1901, and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971.

Revisions

Crossway published the first revision of the ESV text in 2007. The revision changed about 500 words in total—improving grammar, consistency, and clarity. One notable change was made in Isaiah 53:5—the new text changing "wounded for our transgressions" to "pierced for our transgressions".
Crossway published the second revision of the ESV text in April 2011. The revision changed fewer than 500 words in total throughout 275 verses from the 2007 text—improving grammar, consistency, and precision in meaning. The 2007 edition was gradually phased out.
Crossway published the third revision of the ESV text in August 2016 as the "ESV Permanent Text Edition ". The revision changed 52 words in total throughout 29 verses from the 2011 text. Coinciding with the release of the revision, Crossway announced that “the text of the ESV Bible will remain unchanged in all future editions printed and published by Crossway.” However, in a statement released by Crossway the following month, this policy was abandoned to allow for ongoing "minimal and infrequent" periodic updates to reflect "textual discoveries or changes in English over time." Lane T. Dennis said in the statement: "We apologize for this and for any concern this has caused for readers of the ESV Our desire, above all, is to do what is right before the Lord." The revision was subsequently republished as the "ESV Text Edition: 2016".
The ESV edition of the Apocrypha text was updated in 2017.

Deuterocanonicals

developed an authorized edition of the ESV with the Apocrypha included, which was published in January 2009.
The Apocrypha inside the 2009 release is a revision of the 1971 RSV Apocrypha and the 1977 RSV Expanded Apocrypha. The team translating the Apocrypha included Bernard A. Taylor, David A. deSilva, and Dan McCartney, under the editorship of David Aiken. In this release, they are printed and arranged in the order of the RSV and NRSV Common Bibles. The Oxford translation team relied on the Göttingen Septuagint for all of the Apocrypha except 4 Maccabees, and 2 Esdras, which uses the German Bible Society's 1983 edition Vulgate.
On February 4, 2018, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India released the English Standard Version Catholic Edition, which includes the Apocrypha.
On June 20, 2019 the Anglican Liturgy Press released the ESV: Anglican Edition, which includes the Apocrypha in the back.
During late 2019, the Augustine Institute started publishing the ESV-CE in North America.

Use

The ESV has been used as the text of a number of study Bibles, including:
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod adopted the ESV as the official text used in its official hymnal Lutheran Service Book, which was released in August 2006.

Criticism

, in a paper presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, criticized the ESV for using dated language and stated it is unsuited for mainstream use. On the other hand, he has defended gender-inclusive language in translation and claims the ESV uses similar gender-inclusive language and speculated that criticism of the ESV by competing Bible translations is contrived for marketing purposes. ESV translator Wayne Grudem has responded that, while on occasion the ESV translates person or one where previous translations used man, it keeps gender-specific language and does not go as far as other translations; the ESV website makes a similar statement. ESV translator William D. Mounce has called these arguments against the ESV ad hominem.
Criticism has arisen in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, which uses the ESV as its official translation, that its frequent translation of the Hebrew word mishpatim as "rules" is not only an impoverished translation of a very rich word, but also somewhat legalistic. Although, “judgements” and “rules” are understood in similitude like “decrees” and “laws” are understood in similitude.