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NJB

New Jerusalem Bible

Darton, Longman & Todd / Doubleday

First published 1985

TranslationNJB
PublisherDarton, Longman & Todd / Doubleday
First Published1985
Canon Proximity8.0 / 10 — High
NJB
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New Jerusalem Bible

The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a thorough revision of the Jerusalem Bible (1966), published in 1985. Unlike its predecessor, the NJB was translated more directly and independently from the original Hebrew and Greek, rather than leaning on the French version. It retains 'Yahweh' for the divine name, includes extensive scholarly footnotes, and uses gender-inclusive language where contextually warranted.

History & Background

Edited by Dom Henry Wansbrough, OSB, the NJB corrects the JB's dependence on the French by returning more directly to the original languages. It also incorporates new manuscript evidence and scholarly advances. The NJB was approved for use in the Church of England as well as by the Catholic Church. It is the most widely used Catholic Bible outside the United States and the parent text of the Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB, 2019 — already in the database).

Canon Proximity Rating

Canon Proximity8.0 / 10 — High

Full Catholic canon (73 books). Approved by both Catholic and Church of England authorities. The standard Catholic Bible outside the US before the RNJB.

Rating Scale

9–10: Formally equivalent, 66 books
7–8: Dynamic equiv., 66 books
5–6: Includes Apocrypha
1–4: Major departures / additions