Revised Standard Version

Bible

Also known as: RSV

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July 13, 2026

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The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a revision of the American Standard Version of the Bible, first published in 1946 and 1952. It was created by 32 scholars from various universities and theological seminaries, with one Jewish scholar participating. The RSV aimed to be a version for both private and public worship, incorporating modern language while retaining some traditional forms for devotional or literary significance.12

A later translation, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), was published in 1989. It built upon the RSV and the King James Version, incorporating advancements in biblical scholarship, linguistic understanding, and archaeological discoveries, including the Dead Sea Scrolls. The NRSV is known for its scholarship, accuracy, and accessibility, and is widely used in academic settings. However, it has faced some criticism for its use of gender-inclusive language and its reliance on historical and archaeological methods for interpretation.3

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biblical literature
The Revised Standard Version
The American Standard Version was an expression of sensitivity to the needs of the American public. At about the same time that it was produced, several individual and unofficial translations into modern speech made from 1885 on gained popularity, their appeal reinforced…
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The American Standard Version was an expression of sensitivity to the needs of the American public. At about the same time that it was produced, several individual and unofficial translations into modern speech made from 1885 on gained popularity, their appeal reinforced…
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Edgar J. Goodspeed
…and a contributor to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
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…and a contributor to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
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textual criticism
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible (1952) and the New English Bible (1970) both incorporate readings of the Old Testament unknown before 1947, the year in which early biblical manuscripts—the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls—were discovered in the caves of Qumrān.
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The Revised Standard Version of the Bible (1952) and the New English Bible (1970) both incorporate readings of the Old Testament unknown before 1947, the year in which early biblical manuscripts—the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls—were discovered in the caves of Qumrān.
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National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
…of the English Bible (the Revised Standard Version, 1952; and the New Revised Standard Version, 1989); the publication of religious education, evangelism, and family-life materials; and the promotion of religious and moral values in broadcasting. The council also encourages collaboration with overseas churches in the use of mass media. It…
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…of the English Bible (the Revised Standard Version, 1952; and the New Revised Standard Version, 1989); the publication of religious education, evangelism, and family-life materials; and the promotion of religious and moral values in broadcasting. The council also encourages collaboration with overseas churches in the use of mass media. It…
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biblical literature
Textual criticism
…reliable; the translators of the Revised Standard Version (1952) and the New English Bible (1970) have continued to use the Masoretic text as their Old Testament basis.
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…reliable; the translators of the Revised Standard Version (1952) and the New English Bible (1970) have continued to use the Masoretic text as their Old Testament basis.
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