The Problem with Translations

The Bible has become big business, and there is a lot of money to be made in proprietary translations. This means the Bible is not as accessible as you might think. If you want to use a modern English translation for study, teaching, digital projects, or creative works, you are often severely limited by restrictive copyrights. These limitations create barriers for those who want to freely share, adapt, or distribute the Bible in meaningful ways.

Examples of Restrictive Bible Translations

Expand the rows below to see the restrictive copyrights of popular translations

  • Owner: Crossway

    • Restrictions:

      • Limited Quotation: Up to 500 verses or less than 25% of a work without permission.

      • Commercial Use: Requires licensing for any products for sale.

      • Digital Distribution: Using the ESV in apps, websites, or e-books requires special approval.

      • Modification Prohibited: No adapting or paraphrasing the text.

    • Owner: Biblica, Inc. (licensed by Zondervan and Hodder & Stoughton)

    • Restrictions:

      • Strict Quotation Limits: Limited to 500 verses or 25% of a work without a license.

      • Commercial Licensing: Selling any product with the NIV requires a license.

      • Digital Use Restrictions: Requires permission for use in apps, websites, or other digital platforms.

      • No Adaptations: Paraphrasing or modifying the text is prohibited.

    • Owner: Tyndale House Publishers

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Permission required for more than 500 verses.

      • Commercial Licensing: Necessary for any product intended for sale.

      • Digital Restrictions: Requires approval for apps, websites, or digital tools.

      • Modification Prohibited: Text cannot be adapted or simplified.

    • Owner: Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)

    • Restrictions:

      • Limited Quotation: Permission required beyond 500 verses.

      • Commercial Licensing: Licensing necessary for commercial use.

      • Digital Restrictions: Apps and websites need special approval.

      • No Alterations: Paraphrasing or modifying the text is prohibited.

    • Owner: The Lockman Foundation

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Capped at 500 verses or 25% of a work without a license.

      • Commercial Use: Selling products with the NASB requires licensing.

      • Digital Use: Requires permission for apps, websites, or e-books.

      • No Adaptations: The text cannot be modified.

    • Owner: Holman Bible Publishers (B&H Publishing)

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Limited to 1,000 verses without permission.

      • Commercial Licensing: Required for products intended for sale.

      • Digital Use: Distribution in digital platforms requires special approval.

      • No Modifications: Text cannot be adapted or simplified.

    • Owner: National Council of Churches

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Limited to 500 verses without special permission.

      • Commercial Licensing: Any commercial use requires a formal license.

      • Digital Distribution: Permission required for apps, websites, and e-books.

      • No Alterations: The text cannot be modified or paraphrased.

    • Owner: American Bible Society

    • Restrictions:

      • Limited Quotation: Permission required for quoting more than 500 verses.

      • Commercial Use: Licensing required for any product for sale.

      • Digital Restrictions: Requires special approval for apps and websites.

      • No Modifications: Text must remain unaltered.

    • Owner: NavPress Publishing

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Limited to 500 verses without permission.

      • Commercial Licensing: Licensing required for products intended for sale.

      • Digital Use: Permission needed for digital distribution.

      • Modification Prohibited: No adapting or altering of the text.

    • Owner: The Lockman Foundation

    • Restrictions:

      • Quotation Limits: Limited to 500 verses or 25% of a work without permission.

      • Commercial Licensing: Required for products for sale.

      • Digital Restrictions: Requires special approval for digital use.

      • No Adaptations: No modifying or simplifying the text.

Impact of These Restrictions

These proprietary restrictions create significant barriers for:

  1. Teachers and Preachers:

    • Limited in creating and distributing sermon notes, study guides, and educational materials.

  2. App Developers and Innovators:

    • Hindered in developing innovative Bible apps, websites, and digital tools.

  3. Content Creators:

    • Constrained in using Bible verses for books, videos, podcasts, and creative projects.

  4. Global Ministries:

    • Facing complex licensing processes and fees when distributing Bibles worldwide.

  5. Simplified and Adapted Texts:

    • Restricted in creating simplified versions for children, non-native speakers, and those with limited literacy.

These restrictions turn the Bible — which should be freely accessible — into a controlled product, limiting its potential for outreach, education, and innovation.

The Problem with the Public Domain

The public domain may seem like the answer to the problem of restrictive copyrights, but works in the public domain have two distinct problems of their own.

First, most Bibles in the public domain (KJV & ASV) are in the public domain because they are so old. This means that the language is outdated and not ideal for modern Bible study.

Second, the Bible versions that are newer and in the public domain (BSB & WEB) do not safeguard the perpetual openness of their translation to be freely adapted and shared in the future. This means someone could take their translation from the public domain, modify it, and then copyright their adaptation, introducing new restrictions that limit future access. This isn’t a theory, it has happened over and over.

As an example of the failure of public domain — consider the ASV. It’s in the public domain, but it doesn’t have a clause that all derivative works must also be open, so whenever it is updated by a corporation it becomes proprietary again and others cannot freely use the updated version.

The following Bible translations have all been updated from the ASV (public domain), and each of them has a new copyright that restricts the use of their updated version:

  • Revised Standard Version (RSV) was an update of the ASV that was copyrighted and restricted in use.

  • New American Standard Bible (NASB) was an update of the ASV that was copyrighted and restricted in use.

  • Amplified Bible (AMP) was an update of the ASV that was copyrighted and restricted in use.

  • English Standard Version (ESV) was an update of the RSV which was an update of the ASV that was copyrighted and restricted in use.

It’s great that the ASV is in the public domain, but the problem is that there is nothing to ensure that updates to the ASV also remain in the public domain.

The Open Source Bible: A Crucial Change

The Open Source Bible is published in a way that is similar to the public domain, but with one key difference: its licensing. By adopting a Creative Commons SA-BY license (instead of public domain), the Open Source Bible ensures that:

  1. Perpetual Freedom:

    • Any adaptations or modifications must also remain open-source, ensuring future versions remain free and accessible. No future Bible that uses OSB as a source can ever have a restrictive copyright. This is known as copyleft (as opposed to copyright). For thousands of years into the future, if the OSB is a part of the heritage of a translation then it will be free and open, like the OSB is.

  2. Freedom to Adapt and Share:

    • Similar to the public domain, you are free to copy, modify, distribute, and sell the Bible without restrictive permissions.

This is not Just a Translation — It’s a Movement

The Open Source Bible addresses the challenges posed by restrictive licensing, and the challenges of public domain works, by adopting an open-source model. This approach ensures that God’s Word remains accessible, adaptable, and shareable for generations to come.

By embracing and supporting the Open Source Bible, you are helping to safeguard the future of Scripture, ensuring that its message can continue to inspire, teach, and transform lives without barriers. This is more than a publishing initiative — it’s a movement to keep the Word of God free, open, and accessible to everyone, forever.

How to Practically Support the Open Source Bible

Supporting the Open Source Bible (OSB) is as simple as making it a part of your daily life and work. Use it in your personal Bible study to deepen your understanding of Scripture, and introduce it to your church community for sermons, study groups, and teaching materials. If you are a developer, writer, or content creator, consider using the OSB as the foundation for your apps, websites, books, or educational resources. By choosing the OSB for your projects and innovations, you are helping to build its reputation and make it more widely known. The more the OSB becomes the default translation in the English-speaking world, the more we safeguard the future of God’s Word against restrictive controls. Every time you use, share, or promote the OSB, you are actively supporting its mission to keep the Bible free, open, and accessible for generations to come.