new english bible
C1Formal, Academic, Religious
Definition
Meaning
A major 20th-century translation of the Bible into modern English, produced by British Protestant churches.
Specifically refers to the translation published in 1970 (NT 1961), known for its literary quality and idiomatic British English. It was succeeded by the Revised English Bible (1989). It is a proper noun, the name of a specific published work.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalised as a title. Refers to the complete translation project or its published volumes. Not a generic term for any new English translation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The NEB was a British-led project and is far more commonly referenced in UK religious/academic contexts. In the US, translations like the NIV or NRSV are more prevalent.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes a scholarly, literary, and ecumenical (inter-denominational) effort. In the US, it may be seen as a less familiar, British alternative.
Frequency
High frequency in UK religious studies; low frequency in general American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Proper Noun] + (verb: publish, read, quote, revise)the + New English Bible + (noun: translation, edition, committee)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"As the New English Bible puts it..." (used to introduce a quotation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might occur in publishing contexts.
Academic
Common in theology, religious studies, and translation studies.
Everyday
Low frequency, mainly among church-going or educated individuals.
Technical
Specific to biblical scholarship and translation history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- the NEB translation
- an NEB commentary
American English
- an NEB-style translation
- a passage from the NEB text
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is the New English Bible. It is a book.
- Our church sometimes uses the New English Bible for readings.
- The New English Bible, first published in 1970, aimed to use contemporary idiomatic English.
- Scholars praised the New English Bible for its literary flair, though some criticised its departure from traditional terminology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: NEW (modern) ENGLISH (language) BIBLE (the book) = the modern English Bible translation from Britain.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE: bridging ancient texts and modern readers.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводится дословно как 'Новая Английская Библия' для общего обозначения. Это имя собственное. Для общей фразы 'новая английская Библия' можно сказать 'a new English-language Bible'.
- Не путать с другими переводами, такими как 'Good News Bible' или 'New International Version'.
Common Mistakes
- Using lower case ('new english bible').
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'I bought a new english bible').
- Confusing it with the 'New Testament' (which is only one part of it).
Practice
Quiz
What is the New English Bible?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a distinct edition, it has largely been superseded by the Revised English Bible (1989), but copies are still available.
It was translated by a team of British scholars from various Protestant denominations, overseen by a joint committee.
It is a Protestant translation, but it included the Deuterocanonical books (Apocrypha) in some editions.
The NEB uses 20th-century modern English and is a thought-for-thought translation, while the KJV uses 17th-century Early Modern English and is a more literal translation.