Tabor’s Bible Version Rankings

From his post here.

There are three main approaches–but I [Tabor] am not interested here in Paraphrase–sometimes included as a fourth. It has its place, but not for careful study, which I think all of us are most interested in.

1. Formal equivalence — “Word-for-word” when possible. Prioritizes structure and vocabulary of the source text.
2. Dynamic equivalence — “Thought-for-thought.” Prioritizes conveying the meaning of the text in natural modern English.
3. Functional or meaning-based — An even freer version of dynamic equivalence; seeks to communicate the sense clearly but may depart from structure.
4. Paraphrase — A rewording or retelling; not a translation in the strict linguistic sense.

Below is where the major English versions typically fall on that spectrum.

Most Literal (Formal Equivalence)

1. – New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2. – English Standard Version (ESV)
3. – King James Version (KJV)
4. – New King James Version (NKJV)
5. – Revised Standard Version (RSV)
6. – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV / NRSVue)
7. – Lexham English Bible (LEB)
8. – Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (JPS 1917 and NJPS)

Moderately Literal (between formal and dynamic)

1. – Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
2. – New American Bible (NAB)
3. – New English Translation (NET)
4. – Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5. – Modern English Version (MEV)
6. – Revised English Bible (REB)
7. – New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)
8. – Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Dynamic Equivalence (Thought-for-Thought)

1. – New International Version (NIV)
2. – New Living Translation (NLT)
3. – Good News Translation (GNT / Today’s English Version)
4. – Contemporary English Version (CEV)