Who Is This For?
Best For:
Bible study, understanding translation issues, teachers and students of Scripture, digital ministry projects, and anyone who wants to understand why translators make specific choices.
Not Ideal For:
Simple devotional reading without scholarly apparatus, memorization, or readers who find extensive notes distracting.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the NET
- Massive study notes explain every major decision
- Modern, clear English readable by contemporary audiences
- Transparent translation process - see why choices were made
- Free online and for ministry use
- Excellent scholarship from recognized experts
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Notes can be overwhelming for simple reading
- Less suited for memorization than literal versions
- Dallas Seminary theological perspective
- Print editions are large due to note volume
- Some find the volume of information distracting
Overview
The NET Bible is a groundbreaking translation featuring over 60,000 translators' notes that explain every major translation decision. Designed from the start for internet distribution, it offers unprecedented transparency in showing readers exactly why translators made specific choices - effectively letting readers look over the translator's shoulder.
Want to read the NET Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the NET
- Over 60,000 translators' notes
- Designed for internet distribution
- Four types of notes: text-critical, translators', study, and maps
- Free for non-commercial use
- Unprecedented translation transparency
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New English Translation?
The NET Bible is a groundbreaking translation featuring over 60,000 translators' notes that explain every major translation decision. Designed from the start for internet distribution, it offers unprecedented transparency in showing readers exactly why translators made specific choices - effectively letting readers look over the translator's shoulder.
How can I read the NET Bible online?
You can read and search the New English Translation online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the NET translation.
When was the NET Bible published?
The New English Translation was first published in 2005. It is classified as a Optimal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the NET Bible?
Bible study, understanding translation issues, teachers and students of Scripture, digital ministry projects, and anyone who wants to understand why translators make specific choices.
How does the NET compare to other Bible translations?
The New English Translation (NET) is a Optimal 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 NET Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the NET Translation
The NET Bible originated at the Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Philadelphia in November 1995, when scholars conceived a translation that would be freely available on the internet from the beginning. The name 'NET' serves as a double meaning: New English Translation and Network (internet).
The project was led by professors from Dallas Theological Seminary: W. Hall Harris (General Editor), Daniel B. Wallace (Senior New Testament Editor), and Robert B. Chisholm (Senior Old Testament Editor). Over 25 translators collaborated using the internet - a novel approach in the mid-1990s.
The New Testament went online in October 1998, followed by the Old Testament in 2000 and portions of the Apocrypha in 2002. The First Edition print version was released in August 2005. Major revisions followed in 2009 and 2020.
The translation's distinctive feature is its massive apparatus of notes - over 60,000 of them - in four categories: text-critical notes (discussing manuscript evidence), translators' notes (explaining translation choices), study notes (providing background), and map notes. No other translation offers such complete transparency about the translation process.
Learn More on Wikipedia
Translators
Meet the 3 Key Translators and Contributors
W. Hall Harris
General Editor
Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Coordinated the overall translation project.
Daniel B. Wallace
Senior New Testament Editor
Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Author of Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, a standard seminary textbook. Founder of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts.
Robert B. Chisholm
Senior Old Testament Editor
Professor of Old Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Expert in Hebrew and Old Testament interpretation.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
The New Testament uses a critically constructed Greek text following reasoned eclecticism, similar to but not identical with the Nestle-Aland/UBS text. The Old Testament follows the Masoretic Text with notes on ancient versions where relevant.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Unlike other modern Bibles, this is not a revision of a previous translation but new from the ground up by specialists across the world. The translation notes frequently explain the committee's rationale and discuss alternative readings."
— Anglican Compass, NET Bible Full Notes Edition Review (2019) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
The 'tn' and 'sn' notes cannot be relied upon to inform the reader where scholars differ on important points. When they notice other interpretations, they tend to be dismissive, defensive, and sometimes misleading.
— Michael Marlowe, Review of the NET Bible (2006) [source]
Revision History
View 5 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1998 New Testament first published online.
- 2000 Old Testament added online.
- 2005 First Edition print Bible released.
- 2009 Second edition with revisions.
- 2020 Major update with substantial revisions to both text and notes.
Compare Translations
See how the NET compares to other English Bible translations.
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