The ASV and the RV are both English Bible translations from the late nineteenth century, and the short answer is that the American Standard Version (ASV) is essentially the American edition of the English Revised Version (RV). The RV came first, in 1881 and 1885, produced by a British committee revising the King James Version. The ASV followed in 1901, carrying most of the same readings but adding American spelling preferences and several alternate renderings the British committee had rejected. Readers who want a literal, older-style English text with a traditional feel will find either one suitable, while those who want a smoother modern reading will likely look elsewhere.
Background
The Revised Version was the work of a large committee of British and Irish scholars who began meeting in 1870 with the goal of updating the King James Version in light of better Greek manuscripts and two and a half centuries of advances in biblical scholarship. The New Testament appeared in 1881 and the complete Bible in 1885. The committee had American members who were invited to take part, and their suggestions that the committee found unacceptable were gathered into a separate American edition.
That American edition became the American Standard Version, published in 1901 under the authority of the American committee. It kept the RV text as its foundation but changed some wording, restored the traditional use of the divine name in certain places, and offered a larger set of marginal alternatives. Both were regarded for decades as sober, scholarly updates to the King James tradition, and the ASV in particular remained in use among those who valued its literal approach.
Translation Method
Both the ASV and the RV follow an essentially formal, word-for-word approach, sometimes called “essentially literal.” The aim is to stay close to the grammar, word order and vocabulary of the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, so that a reader can often trace a single Greek term through the text. This makes the ASV useful for close study, for comparing passages across the Bible, and for noticing how a phrase is built in the source languages.
The trade-off is that a strictly literal rendering can sound stiff or unusual in English. Sentences may run long, and some idioms that a modern reader would find natural in a thought-for-thought translation remain awkward. The ASV and RV do not paraphrase to smooth these edges, so the reading experience rewards patience and a willingness to slow down over each clause.
Reading Level and Style
The language of both versions is archaic by modern standards. Second-person forms such as “thou” and “thee” are used in a few places, and many verbs carry older endings. Readers accustomed to the King James Version will find the rhythm familiar, though the ASV and RV generally avoid the most ornate phrasings of 1611 in favor of plainer wording where the Greek was plain.
For a reader with a high school education who is not used to older English, the text can take real effort. Many people who read it regularly describe a gradual adjustment, after which the cadence becomes comfortable and the careful word choices start to stand out. Those reading aloud in a group or studying with a commentary will generally find it easier than those reading alone on a phone.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
Both the ASV and the RV keep the familiar structure of this opening line, with the shepherd image stated directly and the pronoun for God kept in its traditional form. The wording is very close to the King James text, which shows how much of the older tradition the revisers chose to preserve. A reader comparing the two will notice that the differences are small and mostly a matter of spelling and minor word choice, which is one reason the ASV is often treated as a near twin of the RV.
Who Should Use It
The ASV suits readers who want a faithful, literal English text with a long history and a sober tone. It works well for word studies, for comparing the Greek or Hebrew as you read, and for anyone who finds modern paraphrase too loose. Its limits are the archaic style, the lack of recent manuscript discoveries, and the fact that many of its readings reflect scholarship from more than a century ago.
The RV is most useful for readers interested in the original British revision and its place in English Bible history. It is equally literal and carries the same older language, so it shares the ASV’s strengths and limits. For most people choosing between the two, the decision comes down to whether the American spelling and alternate readings of the ASV appeal to them, and whether a text from the 1880s feels like the right companion for study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASV the same as the RV?
The ASV is based directly on the RV and keeps most of its wording. The American committee made changes in spelling, restored the divine name in some places, and added alternate readings the British committee had declined to include.
Which is better for Bible study, the ASV or the RV?
Both are formal, word-for-word translations, so neither is clearly superior for study. Many students choose the ASV because it contains more marginal notes and the American alternatives, which can help when comparing renderings.
Are the ASV and RV still widely read today?
They are read mainly by people who value the literal approach and the older English tradition, rather than by the general public. Newer translations based on recent manuscript research are far more common in churches and classrooms.
