Who Is This For?
Best For:
Jewish history study, understanding 19th-century American Judaism, comparison with later Jewish translations.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, those wanting modern English, readers seeking New Testament.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the Leeser
- Authentic Jewish perspective
- Historical importance
- Follows Masoretic text faithfully
- Public domain
- Scholarly accuracy for its time
✗ Limitations to Consider
- 19th-century English style
- Single translator
- Superseded by later translations
- Old Testament only
Overview
The Isaac Leeser Translation was the first Jewish English translation of the Hebrew Bible produced in America. Published in 1853, it served as the authoritative English translation for American Jews until the Jewish Publication Society version appeared in 1917. Leeser sought to provide Jews with a translation free from Christian interpretation.
Want to read the Leeser Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the Leeser
- First American Jewish Bible translation
- Jewish interpretive tradition
- Old Testament only (24 books)
- Public domain
- Historical significance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Isaac Leeser Translation?
The Isaac Leeser Translation was the first Jewish English translation of the Hebrew Bible produced in America. Published in 1853, it served as the authoritative English translation for American Jews until the Jewish Publication Society version appeared in 1917. Leeser sought to provide Jews with a translation free from Christian interpretation.
How can I read the Leeser Bible online?
You can read and search the Isaac Leeser Translation online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the Leeser translation.
When was the Leeser Bible published?
The Isaac Leeser Translation was first published in 1853. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the Leeser Bible?
Jewish history study, understanding 19th-century American Judaism, comparison with later Jewish translations.
How does the Leeser compare to other Bible translations?
The Isaac Leeser Translation (Leeser) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the Leeser Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the Leeser Translation
Isaac Leeser (1806-1868) was a German-born American Orthodox Jewish leader who became one of the most influential Jewish figures in 19th-century America. Serving as hazzan of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, Leeser recognized that many American Jews were reading the King James Version due to a lack of Jewish alternatives.
Leeser spent fifteen years preparing his translation, titled 'The Twenty-Four Books of the Holy Scriptures, Carefully Translated According to the Massoretic Text.' Published in 1853, it was the first English translation of the complete Hebrew Bible by a Jewish scholar in America. The translation aimed to provide an accurate rendering 'after the best Jewish authorities' while making the text accessible to English-speaking Jews.
For over sixty years, the Leeser Bible served as the standard Jewish English translation, being reprinted numerous times until superseded by the 1917 JPS translation.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Isaac Leeser
Translator
German-born American Orthodox Jewish religious leader, scholar, and publisher who served as hazzan of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia. He founded the Jewish press in America and helped establish many Jewish institutions.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, following traditional Jewish interpretation rather than Christian readings.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Leeser's Bible had considerable merit and is useful even to this day. The grammatical niceties of biblical Hebrew frequently came through successfully, and the scholarship was on a consistently adequate level."
— Harry Orlinsky, Notes on the New Translation of the Torah (1969) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Leeser's main fault lay in the style; too much of the Teutonic protruded in the translation, reflecting his German-Jewish background.
— Harry Orlinsky, Notes on the New Translation of the Torah (1969) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1853 Original publication in Philadelphia.
- 1917 Superseded by JPS translation, though Leeser's work continued to be reprinted.
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