The Making of the NET Bible

The NET Bible Project

The NET Bible (New English Translation) is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. It is being completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who are working directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD-Rom. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others.

What's New with the First Edition vs, Beta 2

There are now 60,932 translator's notes, up from 60,237 - There is no other Bible anywhere with translator's notes like those in the NET BIBLE. They are so much more than traditional study notes.
There were thousands of changes from Beta 2, some small and some very significant. The Old testament (OT) received almost all of the total changes and are found in both the text and notes.
Some of the OT books received major updates to improve the quality of the translation. There were changes to improve the elegance so many people enjoy, especially in the poetry books. (The New Testament (NT) remained unchanged effectively.)
There were additional maps added to the Map Section
The materials of construction of the NET Bible were upgraded to include
- The Burgundy leather was upgraded to the same premium bonded leather as the Black and British Tan. The color is stunning!
- A new custom top-grain genuine leather was added to the collection and was especially made just for the NET Bible. It is called NET Cordova Tan in the tradtion of the NET British Tan but with a beautiful grain unique to this leather.
- Smyth-sewn bindings are used throughout the whole collection. This is far superior to glued bindings and should provide a lifetime of use.
The text found in the First Edition will be "locked down" for a minimum of 5 years so it can be memorized, used extensively in published works, and quoted without concerns about the translation being changed.