What is the Berean Standard Bible? History, style and why it is free to share
The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern English translation of the Bible from the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, produced by the teams behind Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible under an advisory committee of scholars. It aims to stay close to the original words while reading naturally, and on April 30, 2023 it was dedicated to the public domain, so anyone can quote, print or share it freely. Its name comes from the Bereans of Acts 17:11, who checked what they heard against Scripture.
The short answer
The BSB is a readable, fairly literal modern translation that anyone can use without permission. It is newer and less familiar in churches than the NIV or ESV, but it has quickly become common in free Bible websites and apps because it is both careful and free.
If you have seen BSB next to a verse online or in an app and wondered what it is, this guide covers where it came from, how it was made, how it reads, and where it fits among other translations.
Where the name comes from
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.Acts 17:11 (BSB)
The Bereans listened eagerly and then examined the Scriptures every day. The translators chose the name because they wanted a text people could test and study at that level.
King James Version
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.The New Testament first appeared in print in 2016 under the name Berean Study Bible, and the full Bible followed. Around 2022 the translation took the name Berean Standard Bible, which avoids confusion with study Bibles full of notes. You will still see both names, and the abbreviation BSB is used for each.
Who made it and how
According to the translators, most of the translation, styling and proofing was done by the Bible Hub and Discovery Bible teams, working under an advisory committee that finalised translation decisions. The committee has included Dr. Grant Osborne (New Testament lead), Dr. Eugene H. Merrill (Old Testament lead), Dr. Gary Hill, Dr. Maury Robertson, Dr. Ulrik Sandborg-Petersen and Dr. Baruch Korman.
Two things set the process apart:
- It was open. The translation tables linking each English word to the Greek or Hebrew were published for public comment, and the team says it considered feedback from pastors, teachers, students and lay readers verse by verse.
- It was translated as one unit. Rather than assigning each book to a different team, a small group worked across the whole Bible, which the translators say helps consistency in parallel passages.
The team is candid that its committee is small compared with major translations, and presents that as a trade-off: fewer costs to recover, which made generous (and eventually unlimited) permissions possible.
Part of a family of translations
The BSB is one tier of a larger Berean Bible project. Alongside it are the Berean Interlinear Bible (English under each Greek or Hebrew word), the Berean Literal Bible (strictly word for word) and the Berean Annotated Bible. The BSB is the tier meant for public reading, study, memorisation and evangelism.
What it is translated from
The Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew Masoretic Text, and the BSB footnotes list the Westminster Leningrad Codex and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, with the Greek Septuagint and other witnesses noted where they matter. For the New Testament, the footnotes document significant differences between the major Greek editions, including the SBL Greek New Testament, the Editio Critica Maior, Westcott and Hort, and the Byzantine textform.
In practice, this means the BSB sits with most modern translations on the handful of verses where manuscripts differ, while showing you in the notes what other traditions read. For how that compares with the King James, see KJV vs BSB.
How it reads
The translators describe the BSB as sitting near the middle of the range between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations, while their literal and interlinear tiers are strictly word for word. In everyday reading it feels closer to the literal end than the NIV, but smoother than the NASB. A few features you will notice:
- Pronouns for God are capitalised (He, His, You), which some readers find helpful and others find old-fashioned.
- LORD in small capitals stands for God’s personal name in the Old Testament, as in most English Bibles.
- Familiar phrasing is kept where it still works, so many well-known verses sound much as you remember them.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,2 Timothy 3:16 (BSB)
God-breathed is a very literal rendering of the Greek theopneustos, where the King James says given by inspiration of God.
King James Version
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7 (BSB)
A good sample of the BSB’s style: close to the Greek (prayer and petition, with thanksgiving) but in plain modern sentences.
King James Version
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Why being in the public domain matters
Most modern translations are copyrighted. Churches, publishers and app makers usually need permission or a licence to quote more than a set number of verses, and some uses are not allowed at all. The Berean team originally offered free licences, then went further: on April 30, 2023 the Berean Bible texts were dedicated to the public domain, and the terms state that all uses are freely permitted.
- Churches can print it in bulletins, project it on screens and record it without asking.
- Translators and ministries can build on it for new languages or audio recordings.
- Apps and websites can include the full text, which is why the BSB now appears in many free Bible tools.
- You can copy, quote and share it with anyone, in any format.
It is also why Versiah includes the BSB, alongside the King James and five other public-domain translations. A study tool that quotes Scripture constantly needs a text it can show in full.
Strengths and honest limits
| Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|
| Clear modern English that stays close to the original | Newer and less familiar than the NIV, ESV or KJV |
| Free to quote, print and share without permission | Fewer printed editions and study Bibles built around it |
| Open process with published translation tables | Smaller translation committee than the major translations |
| Footnotes show significant manuscript differences | Fewer churches read from it on Sunday, so it may not match what you hear |
None of these limits is a problem of faithfulness. They mostly reflect how young the translation is. If your church uses another translation, the BSB makes an excellent second Bible to compare with.
Questions people ask
Is the Berean Standard Bible a good translation?
Yes. It is a careful, readable translation made from the Hebrew and Greek under an advisory committee of scholars. It is newer than the major translations, so it is less familiar, but it compares well for accuracy and clarity.
Is the BSB word for word?
Mostly, but not strictly. The translators place it near the middle of the range between word-for-word and thought-for-thought, and it reads as fairly literal in practice. The Berean Literal Bible is their strictly word-for-word edition.
Is the Berean Standard Bible the same as the Berean Study Bible?
Yes, it is the same translation. It was first published as the Berean Study Bible and later took the name Berean Standard Bible, partly to avoid confusion with study Bibles that include notes.
Is the BSB free to use?
Yes. The Berean Bible texts were dedicated to the public domain on April 30, 2023, so you can quote, print, record or share the BSB without asking permission.
Does the BSB include the Apocrypha?
No. The BSB contains the sixty-six books of the Protestant canon. Catholic readers looking for the deuterocanonical books can use a translation such as the Douay-Rheims.
Is the BSB good for beginners?
Yes. Its modern English is easy to follow, and it is close enough to the original to grow with you as you study more deeply. See how to read the Bible for beginners.
Read next
- KJV vs BSB: how the King James and the Berean Standard Bible really differKJV vs BSB side by side: history, source texts, language and verses that read differently, with both translations shown so you can compare for yourself.
- Which Bible translation is best? A plain guide to choosing the right one for youWord-for-word vs thought-for-thought, KJV to NLT: how English Bible translations differ, a comparison table, and which one to pick for reading, study or memory.
- How to read the Bible for beginners: a plain guide to getting startedNew to the Bible? Where to begin, which translation to pick, how to read one chapter well, how to handle each kind of book, and what to do when you get stuck.
- The 7 best Bible study apps in 2026, comparedThe best Bible study apps of 2026 compared: Logos, Olive Tree, Blue Letter Bible, Versiah, Bible Gateway, BibleProject and YouVersion, from free to scholarly.