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See how the King James Version, Joseph Smith Translation, Book of Mormon, NIV, ESV, original Hebrew, and original Greek render the same passage. Discover what changes between translations and why those differences matter for understanding scripture.
Every Bible translation is an act of interpretation. When scholars translate the Hebrew Old Testament or the Greek New Testament into English, they make thousands of decisions about how to render each word, phrase, and sentence. No two translations make exactly the same choices, which is why comparing translations is one of the most powerful tools available for understanding what the original text actually says. Where translations agree, you can have high confidence in the English rendering; where they differ, you have found a place worth studying more deeply.
For Latter-day Saints, translation comparison holds special significance because the Restoration provides unique textual witnesses that most Bible study tools ignore. The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) offers inspired corrections and additions to the biblical text that often resolve ambiguities or restore lost meaning. The Book of Mormon contains extensive quotations from Isaiah and other biblical passages that sometimes differ from the KJV in ways that align with ancient manuscript evidence. Placing these Restoration texts alongside standard translations creates a comparison experience found nowhere else.
Latter-Day Daily's Translation Compare tool presents passages organized into three categories: Isaiah passages (where the Book of Mormon and KJV often diverge in illuminating ways), JST corrections (where Joseph Smith's inspired revisions clarify the biblical text), and theological passages (where translation choices carry significant doctrinal implications). Each passage can include up to seven parallel renderings: KJV, JST, Book of Mormon, NIV, ESV, the original Hebrew, and the original Greek.
Each comparison includes highlighted differences showing exactly where the translations diverge, along with an analysis explaining why the differences exist and what they mean for understanding the passage. Whether you are preparing a lesson, resolving a doctrinal question, or simply want to see what the original Hebrew or Greek says behind a familiar English verse, this tool makes the comparison immediate and accessible without requiring you to own multiple Bible editions or know the original languages.
Filter passages by category -- Isaiah comparisons, JST corrections, or theological passages -- to find the type of translation difference you want to study.
Each passage displays multiple translations in color-coded columns: gold for KJV, green for JST, blue for Book of Mormon, purple for Greek, amber for Hebrew, and distinct colors for NIV and ESV.
Expand each passage to see highlighted differences between translations and a detailed analysis explaining why the renderings differ and what the differences mean.
Compare up to seven renderings of the same passage: KJV, JST, Book of Mormon, NIV, ESV, original Hebrew, and original Greek.
See Joseph Smith's inspired corrections alongside the KJV text, with analysis of what each JST change adds or clarifies.
Where the Book of Mormon quotes or parallels a biblical passage, see the BoM text alongside other translations for direct comparison.
Every passage includes highlighted differences and an expert analysis explaining why translations diverge and what the variations reveal about the original text.
The KJV differs from other translations because it was produced in 1611 using the best Hebrew and Greek manuscripts available at the time, along with the translation philosophy of that era. Modern translations like the NIV and ESV draw on additional ancient manuscripts discovered since 1611 and use contemporary English. Translation philosophy also varies: the KJV follows a more literal word-for-word approach, while the NIV favors thought-for-thought clarity.
The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is an inspired revision of the King James Bible that Joseph Smith began in 1830 and worked on until his death in 1844. It includes corrections, restorations, and expansions of the biblical text made under divine inspiration. The JST is not a new translation from Hebrew or Greek but rather a prophetic restoration of plain and precious truths that were lost or corrupted over the centuries. Selected JST passages are included in LDS editions of the Bible as footnotes and an appendix.
The Book of Mormon quotes extensively from Isaiah, and many of these passages contain differences from the KJV text. Some differences appear to preserve an older textual tradition that predates the Masoretic standardization of the Hebrew text. Others clarify ambiguous passages or add phrases that enrich the meaning. The Translation Compare tool places these Book of Mormon Isaiah passages directly alongside the KJV and other translations so you can study every difference in context.
No single translation can claim to be 'most accurate' in every respect, because accuracy depends on the translation philosophy employed. Word-for-word translations (like the KJV and ESV) preserve the original sentence structure but can be harder to read. Thought-for-thought translations (like the NIV) communicate meaning more clearly but involve more interpretive judgment. Comparing multiple translations gives you the best understanding of any passage, which is exactly what this tool facilitates.
Yes. For many passages the Translation Compare tool includes the original Hebrew text (for Old Testament passages) and the original Greek text (for New Testament passages) alongside the English translations. This lets you see exactly what the source text says and how each English translation chose to render it, without needing to know Hebrew or Greek yourself.
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