Revised New Korean Standard Version

Definition and Meaning

The Revised New Korean Standard Version (RNKSV; Korean Saebeonyeok, "New Translation") is a Korean Bible translation published by the Korean Bible Society. When it first appeared, it was titled the New Korean Standard Version (Pyojun Saebeonyeok, literally "Standard New Translation"); after revision, it came to be called simply Saebeonyeok. It contains the sixty-six books of the Old Testament and the New Testament. In contrast to the Gaeyeok (Revised Version) family of Bibles, which retains archaic phrasing, it emphasizes conveying the meaning of the original texts in Korean that modern readers can easily understand.

The difference between the two translations is evident in Psalm 23:1. The New Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok Gaejeong) renders the verse in an archaic register that names God as Yeohowa ("Jehovah"), corresponding roughly to the KJV's "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." The RNKSV renders it in contemporary Korean as, roughly, "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing." The RNKSV generally renders the divine name as Ju or Junim ("Lord"), and it also updates sentence endings to reflect present-day speech.

Historical Background

For many years, Korean Protestants used the 1961 edition of the Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok Hangeul) as their standard Bible. In 1977 the Catholic Church and Protestants jointly published the Common Translation, but it never came into wide use in Protestant worship. The Korean Bible Society therefore prepared a separate modern-language translation for Protestant readers, one that would be faithful to the original texts while remaining easy to read, and published it in 1993 as the New Korean Standard Version. The translation and its style were subsequently refined, and a revised edition appeared in 2001.

Use in Korean Churches

Most Korean churches use the New Korean Revised Version as the official text for Sunday worship. The RNKSV is used mainly as a supplementary Bible.

• Preaching and devotions: In their sermons, many pastors read the New Korean Revised Version text and then read the RNKSV as well to help explain its meaning. Some quiet time devotional materials also print the RNKSV text alongside other versions.
• Teaching new believers and youth: It is frequently used in Bible study for new believers, young people, and newcomers to the church who are unfamiliar with archaic phrasing.
• Denominational differences: Denominations differ in how they designate an official Bible and in the extent to which they have adopted the RNKSV. Some churches use it alongside the official text in worship, while others recommend it only for personal reading. Some conservative churches and church members are reluctant to use it in worship because of its unfamiliar expressions or the way it renders the divine name.