The New King James Version (NKJV)

In 1975, more than two-hundred years since the King James Version's last update, the boldest and most extensive revision in the history of modern Bible publishing began. With a 130-person team of Greek, Hebrew, and English scholars, editors, church leaders, and Christian laity Thomas Nelson Publishers sought to preserve the accuracy and poetry of the King James Version, but in a language that the everyday person could understand. In 1979 the NKJV New Testament was finished, releasing only the Book of Psalms in 1980. In 1982, the New King James Version was released in its entirety, seven years after its commission, making it the fifth major revision to the beloved King James Version.

The NKJV preserves the authority and accuracy, as well as the rhythm and beauty, of the original King James Version while making it understandable to current readers.

Beautiful

The NKJV preserves the traditional literary quality of the King James Version. As the latest revision of the time-honored 1611 Bible, it deliberately seeks to maintain the sound, language, and rhythm that lovers of the Bible have come to expect, while modernizing when necessary to prevent misunderstanding.

Trustworthy

The NKJV translates from the traditional texts of the Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, and it has footnotes wherever variations are found in critical texts that would affect the wording of the English translation. The translation method is "complete equivalence," which is sometimes known as formal equivalence. It gives the meaning clearly in natural English while maintaining as much of the wording and grammar of the original languages as possible.

Today

The NKJV is written in today's language for today's reader. All of the accuracy and beauty in the world wouldn't mean much if it couldn't be understood. To achieve maximum clarity, the NKJV uses modern English that is dignified but natural.

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NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Brown Leathersoft, Comfort Print

Max Lucado

Regular Price $79.99

Our Price $47.99

The NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible is designed to encourage believers along their journey with the Lord. Max Lucado's warm, conversational style ensures that the marginal notes, short articles, and various study tools meet you where you are, providing encouragement and insight. This Bible will strengthen you as you follow the included reading plan and incorporate this Bible into your daily devotional life. The 30-day study guide will help you jumpstart this practice. This Bible will help you as a believer, and with Pastor Lucado's gentle yet powerful notes, it's a beautiful gift for your non-believing friends and family who could use some encouragement with Scripture.

Features include:

Fully redesigned and expanded Bible from Max Lucado (based on the Life Lessons
Bible)
98 new "People of the Word" articles encourage believers through the lessons learned by people throughout the Bible
691 "For Your Journey" marginal notes mix masterful storytelling with biblical context to lead you into a deeper walk with the Lord
115 "Jesus Through the Bible," and "Growing in Christ" articles provide both inspiration and practical lessons to build you up
30-day personal or group Bible study enriches your knowledge of the Bible
"God Cares for You" and "Growing Up Spiritually" verses are subject-specific and provide another resource in your study of the Bible
"Where to turn when . . . " Scripture reference list means you can always find a biblical answer to the challenges you face
Dotted margin space for journaling or taking notes
Bible book introductions contain a brief outline of the book and an introduction written by Max Lucado
Bible reading plan
Full-color maps
Clear and readable NKJV Comfort Print^(R)9-point type size

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NKJV Adventure Bible, Tiger Hardcover with Magnetic Closure, Full Color

Regular Price $34.99

Our Price $20.99

Take your kids on an adventure through God's Word with the #1 Bible for kids

The NKJV Adventure Bible(R) will get kids excited about reading the Scriptures Kids will be captivated with the full-color features that make reading the Bible and memorizing their favorite verses engaging and fun. Along the way they will meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, they will grow closer in their relationship with God.

Features include:

Complete text of the New King James Version (NKJV)
Full-color design throughout - makes learning about the people, places, and culture of the Bible even more engaging
Life in Bible Times--Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days
Words to Treasure--Highlights great verses to memorize
Did You Know?--Interesting facts help you understand God's Word and the life of faith
People in Bible Times--Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible
Live It --Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life
Twenty special pages--Focus on topics such as famous people of the Bible, highlights of the life of Jesus, how to pray, and the love passage for kids, all with a jungle safari theme
Book introductions with useful facts about each book of the Bible
Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words
Color map section to help locate places in the Bible
Uniquely-designed cover with a magnetic flap closure to protect the Bible's pages
9-point type size

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NKJV Abide Bible, Stone Leathersoft, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print

Regular Price $79.99

Our Price $47.99

"Abide in Me." John 15:4

Do you yearn for life-giving, intimate communion with God? The Abide Bible is designed to help you experience the peace, hope, and growth that comes from encountering the voice and presence of God in Scripture. Every feature in Abide is designed to teach and develop Scripture-engagement habits that help you know the power and spiritual nourishment of abiding in Christ.

Created in partnership with Bible Gateway and the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, The Abide Bible's features include articles, book introductions, and practical Scripture engagement prompts based on five ways of engaging deeply with the Bible:

Praying Scripture Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.
Picture It Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.
Journaling Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God's voice as you ponder.
Engage Through Art Consider a classic piece of art--photograph, sculpture, painting--and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.
Contemplate Follow the church's longstanding practice of reading, meditating on, praying, and contemplating a passage of Scripture in order to experience God's presence through the words of the Bible.

Features include:

Line-matched, single-column Scripture text
Thomas Nelson's exclusive NKJV Comfort Print(R) 9-point type size
Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk
Two satin ribbon markers

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NKJV Thompson Chain - Reference Bible - Hardcover

Regular Price $54.99

Our Price $32.99

An easy-to-learn, easy-to-use tool for in-depth Bible study

With a patented reference system beloved and acclaimed for more than five generations, the NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is unparalleled in its ability to enrich personal devotions, topical study, and sermon preparation. This easy-to-learn, easy-to-use system enables you to see the breadth of Scripture's teachings on thousands of topics. With over 100,000 references listed in the Bible's margins, covering over 8,000 topics, the chain-reference system is an ideal tool for a comprehensive and exhaustive topical study. You can also expand your Bible study with even more tools, including biographical sketches, an archeological supplement, and outlines of each book of the Bible. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible allows Scripture to interpret itself without commentaries.

Features:

Full text of the New King James Version (NKJV)
Easy-to-understand, patented Chain-Reference System with over 100,000 references in the margins
References cover over 8,000 topics, each with its own pilot number for exhaustive topical study
Complete alphabetical and numerical indices listing all 8,000 topics with corresponding pilot numbers and Bible references for comprehensive topical study
Bible study aids such as biographical sketches of the most prominent people in the Bible, an archeological supplement, glossary, concordance, Bible harmonies, and outlines of each book of the Bible
Key Verses and Key Thoughts provide basic information you can use to develop your own study
Verse Analysis shows the topics and themes of every verse and provides easy reference to other verses with the same topics or themes
16-page full-color map section
Words of Christ in red
Satin ribbon marker
Presentation page for gift-giving
Gold gilded page edges
Leathersoft cover lies flat when open
8.3-point type size

NKJV in Comparison to Other Translations

Verse

NKJV

KJV

MEV

ESV

Gen. 4:1

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the Lord."

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived, gave birth to Cain and said, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord."

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord."

1 Pet. 1:1-2

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the refugees scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Rom. 10:9

[T]hat if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

[B]ecause, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Endorsements

"People often ask me why I use the New King James translation of the Bible. First and foremost, it's because I like an exact equivalency translation—one that is meticulous with the text of the original languages. This is not to say that other translations or paraphrases of the Bible don't present the truth; they do. It is to say that in my study, when I want to grow in the Word of God and know I'm reading it exactly the way it came out of the Bible, the New King James Version is the translation I choose."

Dr. Jack W. Hayford (Founder and President, The King's University)

"The idea of revising or updating the beloved King James Bible isn't a shocking, new idea at all. The current edition is the fifth revision of 1769. In the New King James Version, the 1611 Bible has been systematically-and prayerfully-analyzed and revised word-by-word under stringent guidelines to ensure that the original meaning of God's Word is preserved in understandable language."

Dr. James D. Price (Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, Chattanooga, Tennessee)

"I'm fond of the New King James Version and decided to use this translation for the START! Bible because it's easy for new believers to understand. I've been preaching from the NKJV for years. It holds to the poetic and accurate qualities of the King James Version, but yet it uses modern words that give a clear understanding of God's Word."

Greg Laurie (Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship)

"When writing articles and insights offering guidance for couples to accompany the Bible, it was our hope to maintain the poetry and beauty found in the King James Version Bible and a clarity understood in today's language. The New King James Version allowed just that. This accurate and faithful translation can inspire couples to let God become a stirring presence in their marriage and allow them to experience a richness that only He can bring."

Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the New King James Version?
The goal of the New King James Version is to preserve and improve the King James Version, restoring its originally intended meaning.
Who were the translators and scholars for the New King James Project?
A 130-person team, including Greek, Hebrew, and English scholars, editors, church leaders, and Christian laity, was commissioned to work on the project. Each pledged commitment to the basic aims of the project, signing a statement of faith declaring a belief that the Scriptures in their entirety are the inspired Word of God, free from error in their original autographs. The process was very similar to the one which produced the beloved 1611 King James Version, but today's technology allowed for higher levels of accuracy and easier communication among the scholars.
Is the New King James geared to a particular denominational interest?
No. One goal was to produce, once again, a King James Version worthy of universal trust and acceptance as the text for all English-speaking Christians. The international team who worked on this version was made up of conservative scholars, editors, and laity representing a broad cross-section of Bible-oriented Christianity.
How does the New King James Bible version compare with other modern translations?
Based on the more recently discovered texts, some modern translations omit some of the phrases and verses found in the original King James Version. The scholars of the New King James Version retained every verse of the original King James. Significant textual variations are footnoted, showing the source of every variant reading.
Were any scholarly checks built into the translation process to guard against possible error?
Yes. Scholars were assigned specific Old and New Testament books based on their areas of expertise. They submitted their work to the Executive Editors for the Old and New Testaments, who next gave it to the English Editor to be checked for grammatical accuracy, literary beauty, and effective communication of content. Throughout the entire editing process, the work was regularly reviewed by the clergy and lay advisers on the British Oversight Committee and the North American Overview Committee. The final exhaustive process was carried out by a separate Executive Review Committee for each Testament.
How long did the revision take? How much did a project of this magnitude cost?
Altogether it took seven years to produce the complete New King James Version. (Coincidentally, the original 1611 translation also took seven years to complete.) The New King James Version represents an investment of over $4.5 million. All of those costs have been paid by Thomas Nelson Publishers.