Frequently Asked Questions About the NIrV

Wherever possible, the NIrV uses the text of the NIV. In cases where words might be difficult to understand, other easier to comprehend words are used or the sentence is rephrased for clarity. Sentence length is also shorter as this is an important factor for new readers or others who struggle with the English language. Throughout, the NIrV was also meticulously assessed and evaluated against the meanings in the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages in which the Bible was written. See verse comparisons of the NIV and NIrV.

In addition to the text itself, NIrV editions include other helpful features for new readers. For example, chapters are separated into shorter sections and titles are included for almost every chapter. These help the reader more easily understand what each chapter or section is about. In addition, in places where a Bible verse quotes from another place in Scripture, the NIrV conveniently references that book’s name, chapter, and verse.

The NIrV is an accurate and complete translation of the Bible. It is not a paraphrase. At the time the Bible was written, God’s people used the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages. The NIrV, as the NIV on which it is based, continually evaluates the accuracy of its English translation by reference to the best and oldest copies of those Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic Biblical manuscripts.

First, the NIrV is the only easy-to-read translation based on the NIV. So it benefits from the continual work of the Committee on Bible Translation (the group responsible for the NIV), which has met every year since the NIV was first produced, and which represents a broad cross-section of the evangelical church. Its members come from a variety of denominations, include representation from several non-US English speaking countries, and include males and females, younger and older members. Moreover, all the members are leaders in the academic world and/or church and hold fast to the divine authority and infallibility of the Scriptures. No other Bible translation has all these characteristics. By basing its translation on the NIV, the NIrV benefits from the depth, breadth, and continuing scholarship of the NIV.

Keeping a Bible translation updated is a continuous process. Older biblical manuscripts and other document discoveries continue to be made and referenced. The understanding of biblical texts continues to improve. There are also changes in the use or meaning of English words over time. (Consider, for example, the changing meaning of “alien” or “booty”). These new understandings require fresh consideration of word choices for clarity of meaning, and accuracy to the biblical text.

In 2011, an update to the NIV was published that incorporated a significant number of these improvements to our understanding and communication of the biblical texts. Because it was important for the NIrV to also benefit from those updates, it also needed to be revised.

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