Darby Holy Bible

This translation of the Old Testament has been derived from a study of the common Hebrew text, and represents at the same time a collation of the late J. N. Darby’s German and French Versions, he having himself revised the first few books within a short time of his decease. Those who use this English translation may accordingly expect to find incorporated with it whatever is of special value in the above-mentioned Versions, particularly the French, where the common English Bible is defective.

The purpose of this translation is not to offer to the man of letters a learned work, but rather to provide the simple and unlearned reader with as exact a translation as possible. To this end, all available helps have been used. The work is not a revision of the Bible in common use. The style of the Authorised Version [KJV] has been retained as far as possible within the purpose of the translation.

Poetical parts are distinguished from the rest by a metrical arrangement to which those are accustomed who use Paragraph Bibles. However, this has been abandoned in the Prophets where the poetical form is often complicated.

Elohim will in the text appear only in the name Jehovah Elohim; moreover, when Elohim following immediately on Jehovah has a grammatical adjunct, its place will be taken by the English word “God.” For the meaning of Jehovah, Yahweh or Yehveh, see Exodus 3:14,15; Isaiah 40:28; for Jah, see Exodus 25:2. Ordinary spelling of proper names has been adhered to, subject to numerous and necessary corrections. Italics indicate emphasis.

In the first edition of the New Testament, the translator used the Textus Receptus. But the Textus Receptus was itself often changed in the text of the work. He decided to adopt its reading, not attempt to make a text of his own. His object was a more correct translation: only there was no use in translating what all intelligent critics held to be a mistake in the copy.

Since the first edition, various new helps became available. However, there has been little change in the actual translating. There have been changes involving clarity, inaccuracies, and uniformity.

Genesis 1: 1, 2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

John 1: 1 – 3
In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things received being through him , and without him not one [thing] received being which has received being.

The following comparative studies include this version:

1. Burden and Yoke to Be Removed
2. Entering His Rest
3. From Eternity or From Ancient Times?
4. Fringe on the Borders of a Garment
5. God So Loved the World
6. Horses from Egypt and Kue
7. Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat
8. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
9. Reference to the Trinity
10. Sabbaths and Sundown
11. Scripture Inspired by God
12. Sides of the Court of the Tabernacle
13. Speech Problem of Moses
14. That Which Will Happen Before the End
15. Those Who Work Iniquity
16. Tragedy at Beth-Shemesh
17. Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures