Who Is This For?
Best For:
Historical interest, studying KJV vocabulary changes, appreciating early American biblical scholarship.
Not Ideal For:
Those wanting modern English, serious Bible study, or contemporary worship.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the WBS
- Updated KJV vocabulary for 19th-century readers
- Historical importance as early American Bible revision
- Work of a linguistic genius
- Documented vocabulary changes since 1611
- Public domain - freely available
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Now dated - 1833 language is itself archaic
- Limited adoption even in Webster's lifetime
- Euphemisms reflect Victorian rather than biblical sensibilities
- Linguistic not textual revision
- Superseded by modern translations
Overview
Noah Webster, the famous lexicographer who created Webster's Dictionary, spent years carefully revising the King James Version to update archaic words, correct grammatical issues, and remove language he considered indelicate - while preserving the dignity and accuracy of the original translation.
Want to read the WBS Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the WBS
- Updated archaic KJV vocabulary
- Corrected grammatical inconsistencies
- Reflected Victorian language sensibilities
- Work of America's greatest lexicographer
- Public domain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Webster's Bible?
Noah Webster, the famous lexicographer who created Webster's Dictionary, spent years carefully revising the King James Version to update archaic words, correct grammatical issues, and remove language he considered indelicate - while preserving the dignity and accuracy of the original translation.
How can I read the WBS Bible online?
You can read and search the Webster's Bible online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the WBS translation.
When was the WBS Bible published?
The Webster's Bible was first published in 1833. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the WBS Bible?
Historical interest, studying KJV vocabulary changes, appreciating early American biblical scholarship.
How does the WBS compare to other Bible translations?
The Webster's Bible (WBS) 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 WBS Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the WBS Translation
Noah Webster (1758-1843) is best known as the father of American English through his dictionaries and spelling books. Less well known is his Bible revision, which he considered among his most important works.
After completing his landmark American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), Webster turned to Scripture. He spent years studying the KJV, identifying words that had changed meaning, correcting grammatical inconsistencies, and replacing what he considered crude or vulgar terms with more refined alternatives.
Webster's Bible was published in 1833 with a lengthy preface explaining his principles. He made over 150 changes to reflect shifts in word meaning since 1611 (for example, changing 'let' to 'hinder' where appropriate, since 'let' had reversed meaning). He also updated pronouns and verb forms for consistency and replaced terms like 'stink' with 'putrid' and 'womb' with more delicate alternatives.
Though Webster's revision never replaced the KJV in popular use, it represents an important early American attempt to make the Bible more accessible while respecting its authority.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Noah Webster
Sole reviser
American lexicographer and educator (1758-1843). Creator of Webster's Dictionary, the Blue Back Speller, and foundational figure in American English. His Bible revision occupied his later years.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Webster worked from the King James Version, which itself was based on the Textus Receptus and Masoretic Text. His changes were linguistic rather than textual - he did not consult Greek or Hebrew to alter the KJV's underlying translation.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Noah Webster's revision updated archaic language, replaced obsolete words with modern equivalents, and corrected grammatical errors in the KJV—the first major American revision of the Bible."
— Wikipedia, Webster's Revision (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Webster's changes were conservative and his Bible never achieved wide popularity, being overshadowed by subsequent translations with more substantial revisions.
— Bible Encyclopedias, Webster's Bible Assessment (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 1 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1833 Original publication by Noah Webster.
Compare Translations
See how the WBS compares to other English Bible translations.
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