More than 10.5 million copies of the NIrV have been distributed worldwide since the full Bible was first published in 1996.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 26, 2026) — Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Biblica, a global Bible ministry, are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), the Bible translation created to help readers of all ages and abilities encounter Scripture with confidence. Since the full NIrV Bible was first published in 1996, more than 10.5 million copies have been distributed around the world.
The NIrV was born out of a desire to reach more people with God’s Word, thus creating a Bible built on the trusted scholarship of the New International Version (NIV) but using simpler vocabulary and shorter sentence structure—without sacrificing accuracy to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Translators worked hard to shape the NIrV to a third-grade reading level, making it one of the most accessible translations of the English Bible available today.
Key distinctives of the NIrV include:
- Readability: The NIrV is written at a third-grade reading level, with shorter sentences and simpler grammar.
- Understandability: More familiar words and phrasing enhance reading comprehension for the early reader and those learning English as a second language.
- Compatibility: The NIrV is built from the NIV, the most widely read and trusted English Bible translation in the world.
- Reliability & Trustworthiness: This translation is the result of a multi-denominational effort by over 30 Bible translators and literary experts, assuring Scriptural integrity and stylistic excellence. Throughout the translation, each verse has been meticulously evaluated in light of the meaning of the original languages. Still today, the NIrV is maintained by a group of biblical scholars and children’s language experts, ensuring the NIrV benefits from the same advancements in biblical scholarship and changes in the English language as the NIV while opening up the translation of the Bible to a wider reading public.
Over the past 30 years, the NIrV has become a trusted resource. Today it is used in churches and children’s ministries, Christian schools, homeschool families, ESL programs, special-needs ministries, family devotions, and prison ministry—anywhere someone is looking for a faithful Bible they can more easily read and understand. Royalties from the NIrV also support the work of Bible translation and access through Biblica, the copyright owner of the NIrV, which helps people around the world get access to the Bible.
“Thirty years ago, we set out to prove that an easy-to-read Bible didn’t have to mean an easier version of the truth. Ten and a half million copies later, we’re as committed as ever to making God’s Word accessible to readers and helping them discover that the Bible is for them.” — Melinda Bouma, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Bibles, Zondervan
Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever
The need the NIrV was created to meet has only grown more urgent. The National Literacy Institute found that in 2024–2025, 54 percent of U.S. adults read below a sixth-grade level—compared to 1996, when most adults read at an eighth-grade level. As awareness of literacy challenges grows, so does the importance of helping readers of every age and ability engage with Scripture confidently.
The goal of the NIrV has never been to simplify God’s message—it has been to remove the barriers that keep readers from understanding it.
“Biblica is honored to steward the New International Reader’s Version and to see how God has used it over the past 30 years. This translation is the foundation for so much of our ministry—from the Free on the Inside Bible that reaches people in prison, to resources that help children encounter Scripture for the first time. Every copy represents a reader who can now understand God’s Word clearly, in their own words, at their own pace.” — Jonathan Call, Chief Growth Officer, Biblica
Looking Ahead
Thirty years after its first publication, the mission behind the NIrV remains unchanged: helping every reader encounter God’s Word with confidence. As Zondervan and Biblica look to the next 30 years, both organizations remain committed to putting an accurate, understandable Bible into the hands of readers who might otherwise be left out—including children, English language learners, adults learning to read later in life, people with learning disabilities or neurodiversity, and anyone looking for an easy-to-read Bible.
Availability
NIrV Bibles, including the NIrV Adventure Bible for Early Readers, the NIrV Clear Focus Bible, and the NIrV Free on the Inside Bible (developed with Prison Fellowship®), are available at the NIrV Bibles store on Amazon: amazon.com/nirvbiblestore. More information on the translation philosophy, translators, and frequently asked questions about the NIrV is available at thenivbible.com/nirv.
About the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
The New International Reader’s Version is based on the bestselling New International Version and is written for a third-grade reading level—among the lowest reading level of any Bible translation available. Like the NIV, the NIrV achieves great accuracy through equal attention to the original languages and today’s English. For over 30 years, the NIrV has made the Bible understandable for children and anyone who would benefit from easier-to-read language. Every NIrV purchased helps Biblica translate and distribute Scripture to people around the globe. Learn more at thenivbible.com/nirv.
About Zondervan
Zondervan, publisher of the NIV, is a worldwide leader in Christian publishing and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan publishes Bibles in a wide range of translations and formats for readers at every stage of their spiritual journey. Learn more at Zondervan.com.
About Biblica
Biblica, The International Bible Society, is a global Bible ministry that has been providing Scripture in accurate, contemporary translations and formats for more than 200 years. Biblica holds the copyright to the New International Version (NIV) and is committed to translating and freely releasing God’s Word so that people around the world—a billion of whom are still waiting to experience God’s Word in a language and format they understand. Learn more at Biblica.com.
Media Contact:
Serena DeKryger, Manager of Publicity and Reader Engagement, serena.dekryger@harpercollins.com
