The Christian Standard Bible optimizes both accuracy and readability, making it ideal as a preaching text and for your church members to read on their own and to share with others.
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Special Introductory Pricing
We have worked diligently with our retail partners to offer special pricing to churches on bulk quantities of CSB Pew Bibles and CSB Outreach Bibles. This discount program is available for a limited time; contact or visit your favorite Bible retailer for information.
Pastor’s Guide to Choosing the CSB
Download informational slides so you can share the CSB with your church.
Original Translation Team
More than one hundred scholars from seventeen denominations participated in the translation and review of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, first published as a complete text in 2004. See full list of scholars.
VERSE COMPARISON CHART
View key Bible passages side-by-side to compare the CSB to the HCSB, NIV, ESV, NLT, and KJV. These illustrate the changes from the HCSB to the CSB in the context of other leading Bible translations and are made with gratitude for each translation.
Genesis 39:9b
Explanation: The usage of “great” has changed over the years; for most people, particularly those unfamiliar with Bible language, “great” means “really good.”
CSB
So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?
Judges 9:5
Explanation: Improves clarity. Also, English idiom does not require the reflexive “himself” when one hides.
CSB
He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid.
2 Samuel 15:22
Explanation: Often the Hebrew word taph refers not to little children specifically, but to dependents in general. This clarifies that fighting-age men were not marching with little children.
CSB
“March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him.
Psalm 1:1
Explanation: Preserves the poetic symbols of “walk,” “stand,” and “sit.” “Happy” is a better translation of the Hebrew
in this context. Also, the English idiom of “standing in someone’s way” could be misunderstood.
CSB
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Psalm 14:1
Explanation: The use of the apostrophe catches the sneering character of the person who says “There’s no God” rather than give the impression that the person is giving a philosophical position on the existence of God.
CSB
The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.
Psalm 56:4
Explanation: Improves on HCSB, which not only is inappropriately gender specific, but also does not bring out the force of the Hebrew.
CSB
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 62:9
Explanation: Removes unnecessarily gender-specific language and clarifies the meaning of the second line.
CSB
Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor. (With a Lit note: “they go up more than”)
Amos 4:6
Explanation: “Cleanness of teeth” is a Hebrew idiom meaning hunger, not good dental hygiene; CSB’s rendering gives clarity for a modern audience.
CSB
I gave you absolutely nothing to eat in all your cities, a shortage of food in all your communities, yet you did not return to me. This is the Lord’s declaration.
John 3:16
Explanation: “In this way” is the correct translation of the Greek houtos, a word that indicates more of the manner in which God loved the world rather than the extent to which he loved it; “one and only Son” is a more accurate translation of the Greek monogenes.
CSB
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:21
Explanation: Reveals that the intended audience is both males and females, while retaining the individual and personal sense of these statements (avoiding use of the plural “them”).
CSB
The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.
Romans 3:25
Explanation: God’s mercy seat cannot be separated from the notion of God’s wrath being satisfied. Romans 1–3 confirms this conclusion, for human sin provokes the revelation of God’s wrath (1:18), and the righteous judgment of God involves his wrath (2:5; 3:5–6). The idea of propitiation isn’t absent because the mercy seat is the place where sins are wiped away and God’s wrath is appeased. Paul isn’t merely saying that the cross of Christ is where sins are forgiven in using the term mercy seat; he teaches us that this is the place God is propitiated and our sins are wiped away. Indeed, “mercy seat” arguably highlights the fuller biblical-theological thread of sacrifice and atonement than the alternative words.
CSB
God presented him as the mercy seat of his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
Romans 3:28
Explanation: Shows improvement over unnecessarily-specific gender usage.
CSB
For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 6:10
Explanation: Shows improved clarity.
CSB
For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
Romans 8:29
Explanation: Shows improvement over unnecessarily-specific gender usage.
CSB
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
1 Corinthians 7:1
Explanation: “Touching a woman” was a euphemism for sexual relations. Recent research indicates that it did not refer to sex in general, but rather it specified a particular type of sex: sex for pleasure with women other than one’s wife. “Touching” someone was what might be called casual sex; it was also unilateral and sometimes abusive.
CSB
Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
1 Timothy 2:12
Explanation: “Assume authority” and “silent” are both overtranslations of the original in this context.
CSB
I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet.
1 Peter 5:8
Explanation: “Be serious” sounds rather flippant in today’s idiom; this rendering avoids that connotation.
CSB
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
Revelation 3:20
Explanation: “See!” is an exclamation that calls attention to a situation. Since the second sentence is introduced with “anyone,” the word “him” that follows is clearly inclusive, and it is not necessary to use “they” or “you.”
CSB
See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Copyright Information
Explanation:
CSB
Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.