Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Old and New Testaments in a recent translation.

The HCSB does not want to be boxed into the categories of either "formal equivalence" (word-for-word, e.g. KJV, ASV, NASB, ESV, etc.) or "dynamic equivalence" (thought-for-thought, e.g. NIV, NLT, CEV). Instead they come up with a new category: "optimal equivalence," which they claim recognizes that form cannot be separated from meaning and thus is an attempt to make the best sense of both words and thought, but in practice seems to just mean that they generally try to translate "literally," and will give notes with the literal when so idiomatic that they have used different expressions.

Holman Christian is a publishing company; as far as I am aware this is the only translation that takes show more the name of a publisher and that's quite telling. Why does it need to exist? Despite the introduction the jury is out on that topic: it's not like there haven't been decent recent translations or revisions (see: NASB, ESV) or a lack of versions attempting to clarify meaning (see: CEV, The Voice). Holman Christian now has its own Bible to publish, so there you go.

Nevertheless there are many times when the translation philosophy succeeds and can provide some clarity by bucking the trend. The use of Yahweh for the Divine Name is a positive; the fact that they still use LORD plenty of times is just inconsistent and confusing. The work is certainly a translation and is not translationese, and does capture the essential aspect of the text in a comprehensible way to someone in the 21ste century.

And then it will go and render Psalm 51:5 in an even more "dynamic" way than the NIV.

Despite the fact that it would seem to be a publisher's ploy for profit Holman has been generous with the HCSB, providing it free for programs like e-Sword and in this free Kindle edition. The reason for its existence is an open question; why its translators felt the need to come up with a new category ("optimal equivalence") which functionally is not much different from what can be seen in more translated FE versions like the ESV and in the less interpretive DE versions like the NIV and the CEB (despite the unwarranted NIV hate) seems unnecessary and perhaps a bit presumptuous. But since it's here it's worth a look-see; I still prefer the ESV as maintaining the best translation balance, see value in the ASV, NASB, and NRSV as study resources, and would put the HCSB with the NIV as good versions to read to expand one's way of understanding how the text should be rendered without having as many of the inferential pitfalls that come with the "interpretive" end of the DE spectrum (although for mature students there's a time and place for that as well).

Mild recommendation. show less

The first time I remember hearing about the HCSB translation was in John Macarthur's book: 'SLAVE: The hidden truth about your identity in Christ', in which this translation is used because it translates 'doulos' literally as 'slave' rather than the less accurate translation of 'servant' or 'bondservant'. That made me curious to take a better look at the translation. This translation uses "Optimal Equivalence" as the translation method which they consider to be a careful cross between formal equivalence an dynamic/functional equivalence. Also, the translators do not give in to gender neutrality, as they mention in their 'introduction': "…the translators have not changed 'him' to 'you' or to 'them,' neither have they avoided other show more masculine words such as 'father' or 'son' by translating them in generic terms…"

There were some specific things that I looked for, in particular the usage of other translations of the Old Testament for textual criticism. In Genesis 4:8 instead of the verse reading , "And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field…"( ASV) it relies upon the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint, Syriac and Vulgate and reads, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field…" Including that statement there is added clarity, and, though not in the Masoretic text, it has numerous supports in other available texts. They support their translation choices/sources with footnotes explaining where the variants are taken from and also to give alternate readings that are not found in the Masoretic text of the OT. I did appreciate that, unlike the NIV, at Isaiah 7:14 where it says "the virgin will conceive…" they do not have a footnote saying "or young woman". But I didn't like that, unlike the NIV, in Psalm 40 where they follow the Masoretic wording of "my ears you have opened" they don't include a footnote mentioning that other ancient translations like the LXX read "body you have prepared for me".

It reads in a sort of cross between modern English and a more literal style, though I think it is leaning more towards a literal translation which I appreciate. But overall, I think I like the translation. Oh, I also liked how they converted measurements into feet, inches, miles…etc. It makes it easier to picture.

And now, as for the external/material things, the binding of this version was silky smooth, and I like the simple yet decorative cover. On the inside the font is nice and large and easily readable, even the footnotes are a nice size. This Bible has a topical concordance at the back and at the beginning a summary of God's plan for salvation in which I particularly liked some of their wording for instance, "First, God says we must repent. The word 'repent' means a change of direction. This means when we turn to God, we are turning away from sin and giving up on the attempt to make ourselves right before God."

Many thanks to B&H publishers for sending me a free copy of this Bible to review!(My review did not have to be favorable) show less

I looked for the smallest Bible I could find at a Borders, and this was it. Well, it's certainly small enough to qualify as "compact". As for "large print", the body of the text is readable; however, the cross-reference footnotes after each chapter and the regular explanatory footnotes at the bottom of the page are microscopic. I admit part of the problem is me. I'm 64 years old and, like most everyone else my age, close reading is beginning to be a challenge

I wish Holman had made the footnote font the same size as the font of the body of the text, even if they had to add a quarter inch or so to both height and width. It would still have been a compact Bible.

I don't normally "rate" Bible, considering them all to be five stars. However, show more I've given this one four. show less

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Start date: August 27, 2025
End date: November 4, 2025

The Holman Christian Standard Bible is no longer in print. It has been replaced with the Christian Standard Bible. Unfortunately. I found this one at a thrift shop at a great price. It is single column, black letter. It is genuine leather.

I appreciated the quality of this one--particularly for the price I thrifted it. While single column is not my favorite or best, this one was for the most readable--I speak in personal terms for my vision.

It had been YEARS since I read in the HCSB. I remembered why I enjoyed it. I do wish it had never been "updated" and replaced with the CSB.

Since this is a translation readers show more may not be familiar with, I thought I'd share some passages.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

Psalm 100

Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Acknowledge that Yahweh is God.
He made us, and we are His —
His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal;
His faithfulness endures through all generations.

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.
Life was in Him,
and that life was the light of men.
That light shines in the darkness,
yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 3:16-21

“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. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

“This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

John 14:1-6

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. show less

Perfect size to carry with me, small but I can still read the words! I like this translation, too, and the helps at the back are great.

I really love this translation, however the pages are a bit on the thinner side. I would love to see an Ultra Trim Reference Single Column Bible

Momma's Bible