KJV vs NIV vs ESV: which should you read?
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The KJV was published in 1611, the NIV in 1978 and the ESV in 2001. The KJV is the oldest and most literary, the ESV aims for word-for-word accuracy, and the NIV aims to balance accuracy with readability. Pick one for daily reading and keep a second for comparison.
| KJV | NIV | ESV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First published | 1611 | 1978 (revised 2011) | 2001 |
| Publisher | Commissioned by King James I | Biblica | Crossway |
| Stated approach | Early Modern English | Balance of accuracy and readability | “Essentially literal” |
| Reading level | Older English (thee, thou) | Contemporary English | Contemporary English |
The three at a glance
All three are widely used English Bibles. They differ in age, wording style and where their text is copyrighted. The table below uses Wikipedia’s summaries and each translation’s stated approach, so you can compare date, publisher and method at a glance.
Pick the one whose English you can follow, then read it daily.
KJV: old English and public domain
The King James Version was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611. Its language is the oldest of the three, with thee, thou and verbs like “strengtheneth.” Wikipedia says the Authorised Version is in the public domain in most of the world.
NIV: readable and balanced
The NIV complete Bible was released on October 27, 1978, with a major revision in 2011. Biblica, its publisher, describes it as the best combination of accuracy and readability. It is a common pick for first-time readers who want modern English without losing the sense.
ESV: close to the original wording
The ESV was published in 2001 by Crossway. It describes itself as “essentially literal,” and it began from the Revised Standard Version text of 1971. Readers who like to follow word choices from the original languages often choose it for study.
Which to read first
If you want clear modern English, start with the NIV or ESV. If you want the wording behind older quotes and hymns, read the KJV. Read the same chapter in two translations when a passage confuses you. BibleScroll’s free text is the KJV; we do not claim NIV or ESV, so use the publishers’ own apps for those.
See it in action
Here is how we show KJV quotes in a short post.
Psalm 63, Psalm 88, Psalm 137, Psalm 119 and Psalm 150. All quotes KJV. Bible Scroll is free on iPhone and Android.
Watch on TikTokFrequently asked questions
Which Bible translation is easiest to read?
The NIV and ESV use contemporary English. The KJV uses older English.
Is the KJV more accurate?
It is older, not automatically more accurate. Newer translations draw on more recently published editions of the original texts.
Is the KJV free to use?
The text is in the public domain in most of the world, per Wikipedia. NIV and ESV text is copyrighted.
Which is best for memorizing?
Many people memorize the translation their church uses, so verses match what they hear.
Does BibleScroll have the NIV or ESV?
We do not claim those. Its free text is the full KJV, and Premium adds other English translations such as Douay-Rheims.
Should I read two at once?
It helps with hard passages. Read one daily and look up a second only when something is unclear.
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