Free public domain Bible translations: KJV, WEB and BBE compared
Three well-known English Bibles are free to copy and share: the King James Version (1611, traditional wording), the World English Bible (a modern-English update of the 1901 American Standard Version) and the Bible in Basic English (about 1,000 words of vocabulary). For daily reading, most people begin with the World English Bible.
If you have ever wanted to put a verse on a card, a church bulletin or a social post, or to read the Bible offline without a subscription, public-domain translations are the easy answer. You can copy them, print them and share them without asking anyone. Three English ones are widely used: the King James Version, the World English Bible and the Bible in Basic English.
The same verse in all three
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (WEB)
Putting all your troubles on him, for he takes care of you.
1 Peter 5:7 (BBE)
Read them one after the other. The King James Version is the most formal and the most memorable, the World English Bible reads like modern speech, and the Bible in Basic English uses the plainest words.
The three at a glance
| King James Version (KJV) | World English Bible (WEB) | Bible in Basic English (BBE) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | First published in 1611 | Work began in 1994, an update of the 1901 American Standard Version | New Testament 1941, Old Testament 1949, edited by S. H. Hooke |
| How it reads | Traditional, rhythmic, older English | Modern English, close to the ASV | Very simple words, about 1,000 in all |
| Good for | Memorizing, hearing familiar phrases | Everyday reading and first read-throughs | Slow reading and new English readers |
| Free to copy | Public domain in the US; special rights in the UK | Public domain, name reserved for faithful copies | Treated as public domain in the US |
The King James Version: loved for its rhythm
The KJV dates from 1611, and many familiar phrases come from it. It is wonderful to hear and easy to memorize because the rhythm carries the sentence. It is harder for a first read: words like passeth and thee slow the pace. Wikipedia notes that it is perpetually copyrighted in the United Kingdom, where the Crown holds special printing rights, and de facto public domain elsewhere. If you publish in the UK, check the rules for your use.
The World English Bible: the free modern choice
The WEB project began in 1994, with a first draft in 1997, and is published by eBible.org. Its preface says it is an update of the American Standard Version of 1901, kept in the public domain, and that you do not need permission to copy and redistribute it. The name "World English Bible" is reserved for faithful copies, so do not edit the text and still call it the WEB.
One thing surprises new readers. Where the KJV prints LORD in capitals, the WEB prints Yahweh. Compare the opening of the same psalm:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)
Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Psalm 23:1-3 (WEB)
If Yahweh feels unfamiliar, read it as the same name the KJV marks with capital letters. Some readers prefer the WEB for that reason, and others prefer the traditional form.
The Bible in Basic English: simple on purpose
Hooke's translation uses a controlled vocabulary of about 1,000 words: the 850 words of Basic English, 100 more for poetry and 50 Bible words. The result is not elegant, but it is clear. It is a good companion when you want a familiar verse to sound new:
Your word is a light for my feet, ever shining on my way.
Psalm 119:105 (BBE)
Use it for a second look, not as your only Bible. Because its vocabulary is deliberately limited, some nuance may be lost, so compare it with a second translation on a passage that matters.
Which should you start with?
Life.Church recommends the NIV and NLT for beginners, and if you can use those, they are excellent choices. Both are modern and copyrighted, so free sharing is limited by their publishers. For a free, readable Bible, begin with the WEB. Keep the KJV beside it for verses you want to memorize, and the BBE for slow reading. If you are choosing your first book, how to start reading the Bible takes you through the first week.
What to watch for
- Mixing translations in one verse. Quote from one translation at a time.
- Editing a verse and keeping its name. If you change the WEB, do not call it the WEB.
- Assuming "public domain" means the same everywhere. Check the country rules for the KJV.
- Relying on one translation for hard passages. Compare two before you decide what a verse says.
When you want to keep a verse, how to memorize Bible verses works in any of the three. And Bible reading plans compared tells you how long each takes to read.
Questions people ask
What does public domain mean for a Bible translation?
The text is no longer under copyright, or its owner has given it up, so you can copy, print, share and quote it without asking permission. Rules can differ by country, and the King James Version has special rights in the United Kingdom.
Is the World English Bible accurate?
It is a modernization of the 1901 American Standard Version, which was itself a careful translation. Like any translation, it makes choices, so compare it with another version when a passage matters.
Which is better for beginners, KJV or WEB?
Most beginners find the World English Bible easier to follow because it uses modern English. The King James Version is loved for its rhythm and is excellent for memorizing, but it takes more effort to read.
What is the Bible in Basic English?
A translation by S. H. Hooke, published in 1941 (New Testament) and 1949 (Old Testament), that uses a vocabulary of about 1,000 words. It is helpful for new English readers and for slowing down familiar passages.
Why does the WEB say Yahweh instead of LORD?
The World English Bible renders God's name as Yahweh where the King James Version has LORD in capital letters. Both point to the same name, and some readers like the WEB for that reason, while others prefer the traditional form.
Sources
- Preface to the World English Bible, eBible.org WEB is an update of the 1901 American Standard Version, in the public domain, freely copyable; the name is reserved for faithful copies.
- Wikipedia: World English Bible Translation work began in 1994, first draft in 1997, Michael Paul Johnson as editor-in-chief, eBible.org as publisher.
- Wikipedia: Bible in Basic English Edited by S. H. Hooke; New Testament 1941, Old Testament 1949; vocabulary of about 1,000 words; 1965 Cambridge printing and public-domain status.
- Wikipedia: King James Version First published 1611; infobox lists it as perpetually copyrighted in the UK and de facto public domain elsewhere. We read the first part of the article only.
- Life.Church: How to Study the Bible for Beginners in 4 Simple Steps Recommends the NIV and NLT for beginners.
- getBible API and bible-api.com: BBE and KJV verse text BBE wording for the examples, matched between two sources.
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