The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) offers Catholics
a faithful and accessible translation of Sacred Scripture informed by
modern biblical scholarship and prepared for the life of the Church in
the United States.
Released in 2011, the NABRE combines a thoroughly revised Old Testament
and Psalms with the revised New Testament first published in 1986.
Explore TAN Books' NABRE editions for personal reading, prayer, study,
catechesis, and family use.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the NABRE Bible
The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is an approved Catholic translation of Sacred Scripture prepared for Catholics in the United States. Released in 2011, it represents the culmination of decades of translation and revision undertaken by Catholic biblical scholars, bishops, editors, and theologians.
The NABRE includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament, including the Psalms, together with the revised New Testament first published in 1986. Its translators sought to combine fidelity to the biblical source texts with clear contemporary English and the insights of modern Catholic biblical scholarship.
With extensive introductions, explanatory notes, and cross-references, the NABRE is particularly well suited to Catholics seeking to read and study Scripture with greater understanding while remaining firmly within the life and teaching of the Church.
What is the NABRE Bible?
NABRE stands for New American Bible, Revised Edition. It is a Catholic translation of the Bible prepared under the sponsorship of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and approved for use by Catholics.
Published in 2011, the NABRE brought together a newly revised Old Testament and Psalms with the revised New Testament that had been published in 1986.
How is the NABRE different from the original New American Bible?
The original New American Bible was published in 1970. In the decades that followed, portions of the translation were revisited as biblical scholarship, manuscript study, linguistics, and understanding of the ancient world continued to develop.
The New Testament was revised in 1986. The Old Testament was then extensively revised, with a further revision of the Psalms, resulting in the publication of the complete New American Bible, Revised Edition in 2011.
Who translated the NABRE?
The NABRE was the work of Catholic biblical scholars, editors, revisers, theologians, and bishops working over many years under ecclesiastical oversight.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the 2011 edition was the culmination of nearly twenty years of work involving approximately one hundred scholars and theologians.
What texts was the NABRE translated from?
The NABRE is translated from the biblical source languages rather than from another English translation. Its translators worked from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts while drawing upon advances in textual criticism, linguistics, archaeology, and biblical scholarship.
This approach seeks to communicate the meaning of the inspired texts accurately while rendering them in clear contemporary American English.
Is the NABRE an approved Catholic Bible?
Yes. The New American Bible, Revised Edition is an approved Catholic translation of Sacred Scripture and is listed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops among approved Bible translations.
It is widely used for personal Scripture reading, Catholic Bible study, catechesis, theological study, and devotional reading.
Is the NABRE the same Bible used at Mass?
Not exactly. The NABRE and the Scripture readings Catholics hear at Mass in the United States belong to the same New American Bible translation tradition, so many passages will sound familiar.
However, the Lectionary used at Mass contains its own approved liturgical form of the biblical text. The complete NABRE published for personal reading and study should therefore not be understood as identical in every passage to the text proclaimed in the current Lectionary.
Is the NABRE good for Bible study?
Yes. Study is one of the NABRE's particular strengths. Its editions commonly include extensive book introductions, explanatory notes, cross-references, and other materials that help readers understand the historical, literary, and theological context of Scripture.
Its contemporary English also makes the biblical text accessible for individual study, parish Bible studies, classrooms, and family reading.
Does the NABRE contain all 73 books of the Catholic Bible?
Yes. The NABRE contains the complete Catholic canon of Sacred Scripture: 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament.
This includes the deuterocanonical books and passages recognized as Sacred Scripture by the Catholic Church.
What is the difference between the NABRE and the Douay-Rheims Bible?
Both are Catholic translations of the complete Bible, but they come from different periods and translation traditions.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is the historic English Catholic translation rooted principally in the Latin Vulgate and is known for its traditional and elevated English. The NABRE is a modern translation made from the biblical source languages and incorporates the findings of contemporary biblical scholarship.
Catholics who prefer traditional language and close continuity with the Latin Vulgate often choose the Douay-Rheims, while those seeking contemporary English and extensive scholarly study material may prefer the NABRE.
Which NABRE Bible should I choose?
The best NABRE edition depends upon how you plan to use it.
For daily reading: choose an edition with a comfortable type size, clear page layout, and durable binding.
For Bible study: look for an edition with extensive notes, cross-references, maps, and book introductions.
For prayer and devotional reading: consider a durable edition that is comfortable to hold and designed for frequent use.
For travel: a compact NABRE offers the complete Catholic Bible in a more portable format.
For gifting: choose a premium or beautifully bound edition intended to remain in use for many years.
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