Who Is This For?
Best For:
Translation history study, 19th-century American religious scholarship, textual criticism history.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, those wanting modern English, devotional use.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the Noyes
- Scholarly accuracy
- Early critical text usage
- No sectarian bias despite translator's background
- Public domain
- Copious scholarly notes
✗ Limitations to Consider
- 19th-century English
- Single translator
- Not complete Bible (scattered volumes)
- Limited availability
Overview
The George Noyes Bible comprises translations by George Rapall Noyes, a Unitarian minister and Hebrew professor at Harvard. His translations of various Old Testament books appeared from 1827-1869, culminating in a New Testament translated from Tischendorf's Greek text published posthumously in 1869.
Want to read the Noyes Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the Noyes
- Harvard scholar's work
- Based on Tischendorf's critical text
- Academic objectivity
- Public domain
- Historical importance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the George Noyes Bible?
The George Noyes Bible comprises translations by George Rapall Noyes, a Unitarian minister and Hebrew professor at Harvard. His translations of various Old Testament books appeared from 1827-1869, culminating in a New Testament translated from Tischendorf's Greek text published posthumously in 1869.
How can I read the Noyes Bible online?
You can read and search the George Noyes Bible online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the Noyes translation.
When was the Noyes Bible published?
The George Noyes Bible was first published in 1869. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the Noyes Bible?
Translation history study, 19th-century American religious scholarship, textual criticism history.
How does the Noyes compare to other Bible translations?
The George Noyes Bible (Noyes) 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 Noyes Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the Noyes Translation
George Rapall Noyes (1798-1868) was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard in 1818. After serving as a Unitarian pastor in Petersham, he became Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Dexter Lecturer on Biblical Literature at Harvard from 1840 until his death.
Noyes devoted many years to translating the Bible, producing individual volumes: Job (1827), the Prophets (3 volumes), Psalms, and Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles (1846). His New Testament, translated from Tischendorf's Greek text, was published by the American Unitarian Association in 1869, shortly after his death—he had corrected the final page proofs just days before passing.
Despite his Unitarian background, scholars note that Noyes' translations show no obvious theological bias, focusing on scholarly accuracy rather than promoting sectarian views.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
George Rapall Noyes
Translator
American Unitarian minister and scholar, Hancock Professor of Hebrew at Harvard. He was an eminent Greek and Hebrew scholar known for his careful, scholarly translations.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Old Testament from Hebrew Masoretic Text. New Testament translated from Tischendorf's critical Greek text.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Noyes was a distinguished Unitarian scholar and Harvard professor whose translations aimed to present the biblical text in clear, accurate English free from sectarian bias."
— Harvard Divinity School, George Rapall Noyes (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Noyes's Unitarian perspective influenced certain translation choices, particularly in passages traditionally understood as referring to Christ's divinity.
— Orthodox Critics, Unitarian Translations (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1827 Job translation published.
- 1869 New Testament published posthumously.
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