Reading the Bible in Japanese and English
Whether you are learning Japanese, raising a bilingual family, or part of a Japanese-speaking church outside Japan, reading Scripture in two languages side by side can open up passages you thought you knew. This guide covers the main translations in each language, the bilingual editions you can buy, free apps that show two versions at once, and the key words to know.
One verse, two languages
John 3:16 in the 口語訳 and the World English Bible, the two translations Sukui quotes.
「神はそのひとり子を賜わったほどに、この世を愛して下さった。それは御子を信じる者がひとりも滅びないで、永遠の命を得るためである。」
ヨハネによる福音書 3:16（口語訳）
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (WEB)
Japanese translations
Japanese churches use several translations. Here are four you are likely to come across.
口語訳 (Kōgoyaku)
Translated into the spoken Japanese of the 1950s, replacing the older literary-style 文語訳. Its copyright has expired in Japan, so it can be quoted freely, which is why Sukui uses it.
新改訳2017 (Shinkaiyaku 2017)
The current edition of the 新改訳, a translation widely used in evangelical churches. It is the Japanese side of the bilingual Bible listed below.
新共同訳 (Shinkyōdōyaku)
Translated jointly by Catholics and Protestants, and used for decades in many churches of both traditions.
聖書協会共同訳 (Seisho Kyōkai Kyōdōyaku)
The successor to the 新共同訳, also a joint Catholic and Protestant translation, with cross-references and notes throughout.
English translations to pair with them
World English Bible (WEB)
A modern update of the American Standard Version (1901), dedicated to the public domain. Sukui quotes it for English Scripture.
English Standard Version (ESV)
An essentially literal modern translation. It is the English side of the 新改訳2017 bilingual Bible.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic English translation. Its older English is beautiful, but it can be hard going if English is not your first language.
Bilingual Bibles in print
バイリンガル聖書 新改訳2017/ESV
The 新改訳2017 and the ESV in parallel columns, with furigana over the kanji, notes, and color maps. Available as a full Bible or as a New Testament only.
Visit →新共同訳 bilingual editions
The 新共同訳 has been published alongside the ESV (the ダイグロット editions) and the Today's English Version, but the Japan Bible Society lists these as out of stock (October 2026). Look for used copies.
Free apps and websites
YouVersion Bible App (bible.com)
Carries several Japanese translations, including the 口語訳, 新共同訳 and 新改訳. Its Parallel mode shows two versions side by side, so you can put a Japanese and an English translation next to each other.
Visit →Sukui
Every devotional and every Foundations lesson here is written in both Japanese and English, quoting the 口語訳 and the WEB. Use the language toggle at the top of any page to read the same page in the other language.
Key words in both languages
A few words you will meet on almost every page. Sukui's own name, 救い, is the Japanese word for salvation.
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 神 | かみ | God |
| 救い | すくい | salvation |
| 恵み | めぐみ | grace |
| 罪 | つみ | sin |
| 悔い改め | くいあらため | repentance |
| 信仰 | しんこう | faith |
| 福音 | ふくいん | gospel |
| 十字架 | じゅうじか | cross |
| 復活 | ふっかつ | resurrection |
| 聖霊 | せいれい | Holy Spirit |
| 祈り | いのり | prayer |
| 教会 | きょうかい | church |
| 永遠の命 | えいえんのいのち | eternal life |
Tips for reading in two languages
- Start with your stronger language. Get the meaning first, then read the same passage in your other language and notice how it says the same thing.
- Pair translations that match. The 新改訳2017 and the ESV were put in one bilingual Bible because they share a similar translation philosophy. With a matched pair, a difference you notice is more likely to come from the languages themselves than from the translators.
- Book names vary. The Psalms are 詩篇 in the 口語訳 and 新改訳 but 詩編 in the 新共同訳 and 聖書協会共同訳. When you search, try both.