Translations · 2001
ESV — English Standard Version
A modern revision in the Tyndale–King James stream — literal but readable, the default of Reformed evangelical churches.
Updated 18 May 2026 · By the Bibles.co.uk editorial team
The short answer
- Philosophy
- Formal
- Reading level
- Grade 10
- First published
- 2001
- Publisher
- Crossway
Where it sits on the spectrum
Below, every major English translation plotted against ESV (highlighted in burgundy). Translation philosophy runs left-to-right; reading level top-to-bottom.
How it reads
Reading level is one of the cleanest indicators of how easy a translation is to follow cold. The ESV sits at grade 10.
Strengths
- Closer to the original than NIV but more fluent than NASB
- Strong study and reference edition support
- Consistent translation of theological terms
Watch-outs
- More complex sentence structure than NIV/NLT for new readers
- Translation choices reflect a complementarian editorial stance
See it in action
Three well-known verses in the ESV. Compare against another translation using the tool below.
ESV English Standard Version | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. |
ESV English Standard Version | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. |
ESV English Standard Version | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. |
Who uses the {t.abbr}
Reformed and conservative evangelical churches; teaching pastors; readers wanting study-friendly precision.
Translation Comparator
Same verse, two translations
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
- Style
- Formal
- Level
- Grade 10
- Year
- 2001
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- Style
- Formal
- Level
- Grade 12
- Year
- 1611
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Start the Bible FinderFrequently asked
- Is the ESV a good Bible translation?
- The English Standard Version (ESV) is a literary formal-equivalence English Bible translation widely used for study and preaching, especially in Reformed and conservative evangelical circles. Strengths include: Closer to the original than NIV but more fluent than NASB; Strong study and reference edition support; Consistent translation of theological terms.
- What reading level is the ESV?
- The ESV reads at roughly US grade 10, using a formal translation philosophy.
- Who uses the ESV?
- Reformed and conservative evangelical churches; teaching pastors; readers wanting study-friendly precision.
Keep reading
KJV — King James Version
The 1611 translation that shaped English literature and church liturgy for four centuries.
NASB — New American Standard Bible
The most literal mainstream English translation — sometimes wooden, always transparent to the Greek and Hebrew.
All translations
Compare every major English Bible side by side.