View source for Joseph Smith Translation

{{Short description|Biblical revision by Joseph Smith}}
{{religious text primary|date=August 2020}}
{{Bible translation infobox
| image =
| translation_title=Joseph Smith Translation
| full_name=Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures or Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
| abbreviation=IV or JST depending on denomination
| complete_bible_published=1867
| textual_basis=
| translation_type=
| copyright=Public domain
| genesis_1:1-3=Yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest. And the earth was without form, and void; and I caused darkness to come up upon the face of the deep. And my Spirit moved upon the face of the waters, for I am God. And I, God, said, Let there be light, and there was light.
| john_3:16=For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
|}}
[[File:Image from page 30 of "Utah - its people, resources, attractions and institutions" (1915) (14577490889).jpg|thumb|[[Statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith]]]]

{{BibleHistory}}
The '''Joseph Smith Translation''' ('''JST'''), also called the '''Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures''' ('''IV'''), is a revision of the [[Bible]] by [[Joseph Smith]], the founder of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]], who said that the JST/IV was intended to restore what he described as "many important points touching the salvation of men, [that] had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled".<ref>Joseph Smith ([[Joseph Fielding Smith]] ed.), ''[[Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (book)|Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith]]'', 16 February 1832, pp. 10–11. See also the LDS Church's "[[Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)|Eighth Article of Faith]]", which states: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly".</ref> Smith was [[Killing of Joseph Smith|killed]] before he deemed it complete, though most of his work on it was performed about a decade beforehand. The work is the [[King James Version]] of the Bible (KJV) with some significant additions and revisions. It is considered a [[sacred text]] and is part of the [[Biblical canon|canon]] of [[Community of Christ]] (CoC), formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and other Latter Day Saint churches. Selections from the Joseph Smith Translation are also included in the footnotes and the appendix of the Latter-day Saint edition of the LDS-published King James Version of the Bible. The [[LDS edition of the Bible|edition of the Bible]] published by [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) includes selections from the JST in its footnotes and appendix. It has officially canonized only certain excerpts that appear in the [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]]. These excerpts are the [[Book of Moses]] and [[Joseph Smith–Matthew|Smith's revision of part]] of the [[Gospel of Matthew]].

==Translation==

===The work of revision===
As with Smith's other translations,{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} he reported that he was forced to "study it out in [his] mind"<ref>LDS Doctrine and Covenants 9:8.</ref> as part of the revelatory process.<ref>Flake, Kathleen. [http://www.vanderbilt.edu/divinity/facultynews/Flake%20Translating%20Time.pdf "Translating Time: The Nature and Function of Joseph Smith's Narrative Canon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608043202/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/divinity/facultynews/Flake%20Translating%20Time.pdf |date=2011-06-08 }}, ''Journal of Religion'' 87, no. 4 (October 2007): 497–527. (accessed February 22, 2009).</ref> During the process, Smith occasionally revisited a given passage of scripture at a later time to give it a "plainer translation."<ref>LDS Doctrine and Covenants 128:18.</ref>

[[Philip Barlow]] observes the six basic types of changes:<ref>[[Philip Barlow]], ''Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion.'' New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991.</ref>

:*Long additions that have little or no biblical parallel, such as the [[Book of Moses|visions of Moses and Enoch]], and the passage on [[Melchizedek]]
:*"Common-sense" changes (e.g., Genesis 6:6 "And it repented the Lord that he had made man" is revised in Moses 8:25 to read: "And it repented Noah, and his heart was pained that the Lord had made man". God, being perfect, needs no repentance.)
:*"Interpretive additions", often signaled by the phrase "or in other words," appending to a passage to clarify
:*"Harmonization", reconciled passages that seemed to conflict with other passages
:*"Not easily classifiable", frequently the meaning is changed, often idiosyncratically
:*Grammatical improvements, technical clarifications, and modernization of terms (by far the most common within the JST/IV)

The JST/IV was a work in progress throughout Smith's ministry, the bulk between June 1830 and July 1833. Some parts of the revision ([[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] and the [[four Gospels]]) were completed from beginning to end, including unchanged verses from the KJV; some parts were revised more than once, and others revised one verse at a time. The manuscripts were written, re-written, and in some cases, additional edits were written in the columns, pinned to the paper or otherwise attached. Smith relied on a version of the Bible that included the [[Biblical apocrypha|Apocrypha]], and marked off the Bible as verses were examined (the Apocrypha was not included in the JST).
 
By 1833, Smith said it was sufficiently complete that preparations for publication could begin,{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} though continual lack of time and means{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} prevented it from appearing in its entirety during his lifetime. He continued to make a few revisions and to prepare the manuscript for printing until he was killed in 1844.<ref>[[Robert J. Matthews]], "A Plainer Translation": Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible—A History and Commentary. Provo, Utah: [[Brigham Young University]] Press, 1975, p. 391.</ref> Regarding the completeness of the JST/IV as we have it, Robert Matthews has written:

<blockquote>[T]he manuscript shows that Smith went all the way through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. But it also shows that he did not make all the necessary corrections in one effort. This situation makes it impossible to give a statistical answer to questions about how much of the Translation was completed or how much was not completed. What is evident, however, is that any part of the Translation might have been further touched upon and improved by additional revelation and emendation by Smith.<ref>[[Robert J. Matthews]], "A Plainer Translation": Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible—A History and Commentary. Provo, Utah: [[Brigham Young University]] Press, 1975, p. 215.</ref></blockquote>

=== Omission of the Song of Solomon ===

In his work on the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible, Joseph Smith excluded the Song of Solomon, labeling it as "not inspired writings." This annotation appears in the original JST manuscript dated July 1832 and is unique among the biblical books, indicating Smith's view that the Song lacked divine inspiration. Consequently, the Song of Solomon is absent from the JST. While it remains in the King James Version used by LDS Church, it is seldom referenced in Latter-day Saint teachings.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-15-no-2-2014/reading-song-solomon-latter-day-saint| title=Reading the Song of Solomon as a Latter-day Saint| accessdate=2025-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/magazine-article/did-prophet-joseph-smith-say-anything-concerning-value-various-books-old-testament| title=Did the Prophet Joseph Smith say anything concerning the value of various books of the Old Testament?| accessdate=2025-06-08}}</ref>

===Use of other texts===
{{see also|Sefer haYashar (midrash)#Acceptance by Latter-day Saints}}
Some scholars infer{{clarify|date=August 2020}}<!-- as in "believe it was the case that"? What's the evidence either way?--> that Smith had access to [[Old Testament]] [[pseudepigrapha]] and included insights from these texts in his translation.<ref>
{{cite book
 |first= Peter J. |last= Sorensen
 |year= 2004 |orig-date=September 2003
 |title=Ideas of Ascension and Translation: A study of the literary and cultural mythological tradition of the west
 |publisher= Academica Press
 |place=Washington, DC
 |isbn=978-193090148-3
 |quote= The pseudepigraphic Joseph Smith revision of Genesis contains a delightful digression&nbsp;...
}}
{{ISBN|1930901488}}
</ref>{{Verify source|date=March 2014}}{{better source needed|date=October 2021|reason=Quote does ''not'' validate the claim "some authors infer": On the face of it, Sorensen actually is saying that Smith's translation ''constitutes'' a pseudepigraphic text, not that Smith ''used'' pseudepigrapha. Stmt. needs more ("some") and different sources.}}

In March&nbsp;2017, [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) professor Thomas A. Wayment and his undergraduate research assistant Haley Wilson-Lemmón published a notice in BYU's ''Journal of Undergraduate Research'' suggesting that Smith borrowed heavily from [[Methodism|Methodist]] [[theology|theologian]] [[Adam Clarke|Adam Clarke's]] famous Bible commentary. They contend that "direct parallels between Smith's translation and Adam Clarke's biblical commentary are simply too numerous and explicit to posit happenstance or coincidental overlap." They further posit that this evidence is sufficient to "demonstrate Smith's open reliance upon Clarke" before suggesting [[Sidney Rigdon]] was likely responsible for urging the use of Clarke's source material.<ref name="Wilson & Wayment 2017 BYU JUR">
{{cite journal
 |last1=Wilson  |first1=Haley
 |last2=Wayment |first2=Thomas
 |date=16 March 2017
 |title=A recently recovered source: Rethinking Joseph Smith's bible translation
 |journal=Journal of Undergraduate Research
 |publisher=[[Brigham Young University]]
 |place=Provo, UT
 |url=http://jur.byu.edu/?p=21296
}}
</ref> In a May&nbsp;2018 interview, Wilson-Lemmón indicated that she had provided copies of the research manuscript to the dean of [[BYU Religious Education]]. Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón subsequently provided copies to the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]] and [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] of the LDS Church. This prompted a meeting between Wayment and unidentified [[General authority|church authorities]], after which they "got the green light" to publish.{{refn|name="MormDiscPodHaleyLemmon"|
{{cite AV media
 |last=Reel |first=Bill
 |date=11 May 2018
 |title=Haley Lemmon – The Joseph Smith Translation – revelation or plagiarism?
 |medium=podcast |number=299
 |website=Mormon Discussion Inc. (mormondiscussionpodcast.org)
 |url=https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/2018/05/haley-lemmon-joseph-smith-translation-revelation-plagiarism/
 |access-date=11 May 2018
}}
<br />
The LDS Church acknowledged<ref name=LDS-JST-ackn/> on their website that "{{grey|[as]}} {{grey|[Joseph Smith]}} worked on these changes {{grey|[to the JST]}}, he appears in many instances to have consulted respected commentaries by biblical scholars, studying them out in his mind as a part of the revelatory process."<ref name=LDS-JST-ackn>
{{cite web
 |title=Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
 |publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
 |place=Salt Lake City, UT
 |website=churchofjesuschrist.org
 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smith-translation-of-the-bible?lang=eng
}}
</ref>
}}
Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón's findings were then published in full on June 26, 2020 in ''Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith's Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity'' published through University of Utah Press.<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1=Wayment |first1=Thomas A.
 |last2=Lemmón  |first2=Haley Wilson
 |date=14 July 2020
 |section=A recovered resource: The use of Adam Clarke's bible commentary in Joseph Smith's Bible translation
 |title=Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith's translation projects in the development of Mormon Christianity
 |editor1-last=MacKay    |editor1-first=Michael Hubbard |editor2-last=Ashurst-McGee |editor2-first=Mark        |editor2-link=Mark Ashurst-McGee
 |editor3-last=Hauglid       |editor3-first=Brian M.    |editor3-link=Brian M. Hauglid
 |place=Salt Lake City, UT
 |publisher=University of Utah Press
 |isbn=978-160781743-7
 |pages=262–284
}}
</ref>
Wayment then published another article on the topic in the July 2020 issue of the ''[[Journal of Mormon History]]''.<ref>
{{cite journal
 |last=Wayment |first=Thomas A.
 |date=July 2020
 |title=Joseph Smith, Adam Clarke, and the Making of a Bible Revision
 |journal=[[Journal of Mormon History]]
 |volume=46 |number=3 |pages=1–22
 |doi=10.5406/jmormhist.46.3.0001
 |jstor=10.5406/jmormhist.46.3.0001
 |s2cid=219813091
 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jmormhist.46.3.0001
|url-access=subscription
 }}
</ref> In October&nbsp;2020, Latter-day Saint JST scholar and then-former BYU professor [[Kent P. Jackson]] published a rebuttal to the findings of Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón in [[Interpreter (journal)|''Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship'']].<ref name=Jackson-2020>
{{cite journal
 |last=Jackson |first=Kent P. |author-link=Kent P. Jackson
 |date=2 October 2020
 |title=Some Notes on Joseph Smith and Adam Clarke
 |journal=[[Interpreter (journal)|Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship]]
 |volume=40 |pages=15–60
 |url=https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/some-notes-on-joseph-smith-and-adam-clarke/
}}
</ref> Jackson argues that "none of the examples {{grey|[Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón]}} provide can be traced to Clarke's commentary, and almost all of them can be explained easily by other means...The few overlaps that do exist are vague, superficial, and coincidental...I do not believe there is Adam Clarke-JST connection at all[.]"<ref name=Jackson-2020/>{{rp|style=ama|p= 15}}

==Doctrinal development==
Many of Smith's revisions to the Bible led to significant developments in the doctrines of [[Mormonism]].<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/joseph-smith-translation-jst Guide to the Scriptures: Joseph Smith Translation (JST)].</ref> During the process of translation, when he came across troubling biblical issues, Smith often dictated revelations relevant to himself, his associates, or the church. About half of the revelations in the [[Doctrine and Covenants]] are in some way connected to this translation process, including background on the Apocrypha (LDS [[Doctrine and Covenants|D&C]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/91?lang=eng section 91] CofC D&C 88), the three [[degrees of glory]] (LDS section 76 CofC Section 85), the [[Celestial marriage|eternal nature of marriage]] and [[plural marriage]] (LDS section 132), teachings on [[baptism for the dead]] (LDS section 124 CofC Section 107), and various revelations on [[priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood]] (LDS sections 84, 88, 107 CofC Sections 83, 104).

Overall, 3,410 verses in the printed editions of JST/IV differ in textual construction from the KJV (this uses the verse numbering of the JST/IV as the basis for comparison). Of the total of 1,289 verses changed in the Old Testament, 25 correspond to the additions of Book of Moses chapter 1, and 662 occur in the Book of Genesis.<ref>[[Robert J. Matthews]], "A Plainer Translation": Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible—A History and Commentary. Provo, Utah: [[Brigham Young University]] Press, 1975, p. 424.</ref> Hence, more than half of the changed verses in the JST/IV Old Testament and 20 percent of those in the entire JST/IV Bible are contained in Moses chapter 1 and Genesis, with the most extensive modifications occurring in Genesis chapters 1–24. As a proportion of page count, changes in Genesis occur four times more frequently than in the New Testament and twenty-one times more frequently than in the rest of the Old Testament. The changes in Genesis are not only more numerous, but also more significant in the degree of doctrinal and historical expansion. Jeffrey M. Bradshaw has suggested that one reason for this emphasis may have been "early tutoring in temple-related doctrines received by Joseph Smith as he revised and expanded Genesis 1–24, in conjunction with his later translation of relevant passages in the New Testament and, for example, the stories of Moses and Elijah."<ref>http://www.mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/doctrine_discussion/?id=3140{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Additional evidence suggests that the Book of Moses itself could be seen as a temple text, in the sense discussed by BYU professor John W. Welch.<ref>Welch, John W. ''The Sermon on the Mount in the Light of the Temple''. Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2009.</ref>

== Publication and use by the Community of Christ ==
{{Further|Community of Christ|Comparison of the Community of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints#Bible}}
Smith was killed prior to the publication of the JST/IV. At his death, the manuscripts and documents pertaining to the translation were retained by his widow, [[Emma Smith]], who would not give them to the [[Quorum of the Twelve]], although [[Willard Richards]], apparently acting on behalf of [[Brigham Young]], requested the manuscript from her. Consequently, when Young's followers moved to the [[Salt Lake Valley]], they did so without the new translation of the Bible.

Following Smith's death, [[John Milton Bernhisel]] asked permission of Emma Smith to use the manuscript to copy notes into his own KJV Bible.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Matthews|first1=Robert|title=The Bernhisel Manuscript Copy of Joseph Smith's Inspired Version of the Bible|journal=BYU Studies|date=1971|volume=11|issue=3|url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/bernhisel-manuscript-copy-joseph-smiths-inspired-version-bible|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Bernhisel spent much of the spring of 1845 working on this project. The LDS Church has Bernhisel's Bible in its archives, but it contains less than half of the corrections and is not suitable for publication. For many years the "Bernhisel Bible" was the only JST/IV source for LDS Church members living in the Salt Lake Valley.

In 1866, Emma Smith gave the manuscript into the custody of the [[Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] (RLDS Church), of which she was a member, and her son [[Joseph Smith III]], its [[prophet-president]]. In 1867, the RLDS Church published the first edition of the IV and obtained a copyright for it. The RLDS Church, now known as Community of Christ, publishes the ''Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures'' through the [[Herald House]], its publishing arm. The copyright has expired on the 1867 edition<ref>All works before 1923 are in the public domain due to copyright expiration. See [https://copyright.cornell.edu/publicdomain U.S. Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States] located at Cornell Copyright Information Center</ref> and a bound photo reproduction of that edition is published by a private concern. In 1944, the RLDS Church issued a "new corrected edition" that eliminated some of the errors made in the original 1867 edition.

In 2024, the Community of Christ transferred ownership of the original manuscripts and Bible used in the Joseph Smith Translation to [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] as part of a $192.5 million acquisition of historic sites, documents, and objects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Walch |first=Tad |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Church Announces Purchase of Historic Kirtland Temple, Other Historic Sites and Manuscripts |url=https://www.deseret.com/faith/2024/03/05/church-announces-purchase-of-historic-kirtland-temple-other-historic-sites-and-manuscripts/ |work=Deseret News |postscript=none |access-date=19 March 2024}}.</ref>

Today, [[Herald Publishing House]], Community of Christ's publishing arm, sells both the Inspired Version and the [[NRSV]].<ref name="herald-jst">{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldhouse.org/collections/scripture-study-bible/products/holy-scriptures-inspired-version |title=Holy Scriptures: Inspired Version |publisher=[[Herald Publishing House]]}}</ref><ref name="herald-nrsv">{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldhouse.org/collections/scripture-study-bible/products/holy-bible-new-revised-standard-version-1 |title=Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version |publisher=[[Herald Publishing House]]}}</ref> Community of Christ considers the NRSV to be a "good, recent translation".<ref name="goodrecent">{{cite web |url=http://www.kyincofchrist.com/uploads/5/4/2/5/54252553/sharing-in-community-of-christ-3rd-edition.pdf#page=24 |title=We Proclaim Jesus Christ (§ Questions for Individual and Group Reflection and Discussion) |page=24 |work=Sharing in Community of Christ |edition=3rd |year=2012 |orig-year=2009 |publisher=[[Herald Publishing House]] |place=[[Independence, Missouri]] |quotation=Read John 1:1–14 in the New Revised Standard Version or another good, recent translation.}}</ref>

==Scholarship on JST/IV manuscripts==
Because LDS scholars had not yet had an opportunity to compare the RLDS Church's 1944 IV edition to the original manuscripts, its initial acceptance by LDS Church members was limited.<ref>Sherry, Thomas E. "Changing attitudes toward Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible," in ''Plain and Precious Truths Restored: The Doctrinal and Historical Significance of the Joseph Smith Translation,'' edited by Robert L. Millet and Robert J. Matthews, 187–226. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1995.</ref> Beginning in the 1960s, explorations of the textual foundations of the JST/IV began in earnest with the pioneering work of the CofC scholar Richard P. Howard and the LDS scholar Robert J. Matthews.<ref>Howard, Richard P. ''Restoration Scriptures''. Independence, Missouri: Herald House, 1969.</ref><ref>[[Robert J. Matthews]] ''"A Plainer Translation": Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible—A History and Commentary.'' Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1975.</ref> Matthews's summary of an exhaustive study corroborated the RLDS claims that the 1944 and subsequent editions of JST/IV constituted a faithful rendering of the work of Smith and his scribes—insofar as the manuscripts were then understood. With painstaking effort over a period of eight years, and with the full cooperation of [[Community of Christ]], a facsimile transcription of the original manuscripts of the JST/IV was published in 2004.<ref>[[Scott H. Faulring]], [[Kent P. Jackson]], and [[Robert J. Matthews]], eds. ''Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts.'' Provo, Utah: [[Religious Studies Center]], Brigham Young University, 2004.</ref>

==Viewpoints within the LDS Church==
The LDS Church initially viewed the RLDS-published Inspired Version with suspicion, and favoured the [[Authorized King James Version]] (KJV) over it, although this suspicion "rapidly faded" during the 1970s.<ref name="barlow1989"/> Following polemics by [[J. Reuben Clark]] of the [[First Presidency]] in [[King James Only movement|favour of the KJV]] and the Greek [[Textus Receptus]], the KJV has been firmly established as the approved English-language bible of the LDS Church.<ref name="barlow1989">{{cite journal |url=https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V22N02_21.pdf |title=Why the King James Version?: From the Common to the Official Bible of Mormonism |journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]] |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=19–42 |last=Barlow |first=Philip L. |year=1989 |doi=10.2307/45225756 |jstor=45225756|s2cid=254302472 }}</ref>

Today, the LDS Church describes the creation of the JST/IV as Smith dictating "inspired changes and additions to scribes."<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/joseph-smith-translation-of-the-bible?lang=eng "Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible", churchofjesuschrist.org]</ref> However, the LDS church accepts only a portion of the changes found in the JST/IV as canon. [[Joseph Smith–Matthew]] and the [[Book of Moses]], containing translations and revelatory expansions of Matthew 24 and Genesis 1–7, respectively, are contained in the [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|LDS Pearl of Great Price]]; thus, they are the only portions of the JST/IV that the LDS Church has [[Biblical canon|canonized]] as part of its [[standard works]]. Additionally, over 600<ref>[[Scott H. Faulring]], [[Kent P. Jackson]], and [[Robert J. Matthews]], eds.'' Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts.'' Provo, Utah: [[Religious Studies Center]], Brigham Young University, 2004, p. 39.</ref> of the more doctrinally significant verses from the translation are included as excerpts in the current [[LDS edition of the Bible|LDS Church edition]] of the KJV. This step has ensured an increase in the JST/IV's use and acceptance in the LDS Church today. A 1974 editorial of the LDS Church-owned ''[[Church News]]'' stated:
<blockquote>
"The Inspired Version does not supplant the King James Version as the official Church version of the Bible, but the explanations and changes made by the Prophet Joseph Smith provide enlightenment and useful commentary on many biblical passages."<ref>{{cite magazine |author= Matthews, Robert J. |author-link= Robert J. Matthews |title=Why don't we use the Inspired Version of the Bible in the Church? Would it be helpful to me to read it? |department=Q&A: Questions and Answers |magazine=[[New Era (magazine)|New Era]] |date=April 1977 |pages= 46–47 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1977/04/qa-questions-and-answers}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Regarding the JST/IV, [[Bruce R. McConkie]] (1915–1985) of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] said, "The Joseph Smith Translation, or Inspired Version, is a thousand times over the best Bible now existing on earth".<ref>{{cite journal|author=Skinner, Andrew C.|author-link=Andrew C. Skinner|title=Restored Light on the Savior's Last Week in Mortality|journal=[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]|date=June 1999|pages=21|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1999/06/restored-light-on-the-saviors-last-week-in-mortality|access-date=2008-09-22}}</ref>

Some Mormon scholars argue that the term "translation" was broader in meaning in 1828 than it is today,<ref>Craig Blomberg and [[Stephen E. Robinson]], ''How Wide the Divide?: A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation'' p. 64: "In 1828 the word translation was broader in its meaning than it is now, and the Joseph Smith translation (JST) should be understood to contain additional revelation, alternate readings, prophetic commentary or midrash, harmonization."</ref> and Smith's work was at the time considered a revision of the English text, rather than a translation between languages; one of "ideas rather than language".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Staker |first1=Mark Lyman |title=Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations |date=2009 |publisher=Greg Kofford Bookds |location=Salt Lake City |page=313}}</ref> It is known that Smith had not studied Hebrew or Greek to produce the JST/IV manuscript,<ref>[[H. Michael Marquardt]], ''The rise of Mormonism, 1816–1844'' 2005 p. 326: "Joseph Smith's work is a revision rather than a translation, since church members knew that Joseph Smith had not studied Hebrew or Greek to produce his manuscript."</ref> although Smith did later study Hebrew from 1836 on.<ref>''Journal of Mormon History'', volumes 17–18 1991: "Joseph Smith studied Hebrew under Jewish scholar Joshua Seixas, in the Mormon city of Kirtland, Ohio".</ref>

LDS scholar [[Royal Skousen]] discusses whether one should assume that every change made in the JST/IV constitutes revealed text.<ref>[[Royal Skousen]]. "The earliest textual sources for Joseph Smith's "New Translation" of the King James Bible." ''[[FARMS Review]]'' 17, no. 2 (2005): 456–70.</ref> Besides arguments that can be made from the actual text of the JST/IV, there are questions regarding the reliability and degree of supervision given to the scribes who were involved in transcribing, copying, and preparing the text for publication. Differences are also apparent in the nature of the revision process that took place at different stages of the work. For example, while a significant proportion of the Genesis passages that have been canonized as the [[Book of Moses]] "[look] like a word-for-word revealed text," evidence from a study of two sections in the New Testament that were revised twice indicates that the later "New Testament JST is not being revealed word-for-word, but largely depends upon Joseph Smith's varying responses to the same difficulties in the text."{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Bible|Latter-day Saints}}
* [[Biblical inerrancy]]
* [[LDS edition of the Bible]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* [[Joseph Smith|Smith, J.]] (1970). ''Joseph Smith's "New Translation" of the Bible'' [[Herald Publishing House]]; {{ISBN|0-8309-0032-2}} (all J.S. changes or additions to King James version shown in parallel columns, but not the complete Bible)
* [[Robert J. Matthews|Matthews, R.J.]] (1985). ''"A Plainer Translation:" Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible – a history and commentary''. Provo, UT: [[Brigham Young University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-8425-2237-9}}
* [[Robert L. Millet|Millet, R.L.]] & [[Robert J. Matthews|Matthews, R.J.]] (1995). ''Plain and Precious Truths Restored: The doctrinal and historical significance of the Joseph Smith translation''. [[Bookcraft]]. {{ISBN|0-88494-987-7}}
* [[Scott H. Faulring|Faulring, S.H.]], [[Kent P. Jackson|Jackson, K.P.]], & [[Robert J. Matthews|Matthews, R.J.]] [eds.] (2004). ''Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible: Original manuscripts''. Provo, UT: [[Brigham Young University|BYU]] [[Religious Studies Center]]. {{ISBN|1-59038-328-1}}
* {{cite book
 | author1   = Nyman, Monte S.   | author1-link= Monte S. Nyman
 | author2   = Millet, Robert L. | author2-link= Robert L. Millet
 | year      = 1985
 | title     = The Joseph Smith Translation: The restoration of plain and precious things
 | location  = Provo, UT
 | publisher = [[Brigham Young University]]
 | department= [[Religious Studies Center]]
 | isbn      = 0-88494-562-6
 | series    = Religious Studies Center Monograph Series
 | volume    = 12
 | url       = http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/rsc,35415
 }}

==Further reading==
* Marsh, W. Joseph (2002). ''The Joseph Smith Translation: Precious Truths Restored''. American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications. {{ISBN|1-59156-113-2}} 
* {{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1997/08/the-joseph-smith-translation-plain-and-precious-things-restored?lang=eng |title= The Joseph Smith Translation: "Plain and Precious Things" Restored  |first= David Rolph |last= Seely |date=August 1997 |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] }}

==External links==
* [http://www.centerplace.org/hs/iv/default.htm Full text of the Community of Christ's Inspired Version of the Bible], from centerplace.org
* [https://archive.org/details/holyscriptures00smit Full text of the 1867 edition], from archive.org
* [https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft Full text of the 1867 edition], from archive.org
* [http://www.centerplace.org/hs/iv2kjv/default.htm A Comparison of the Inspired Version Holy Scriptures to the King James Version of the Bible], from centerplace.org
* [https://archive.org/details/threebiblesschol00etzerich The three bibles: scholarship and inspiration compared], from archive.org
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/joseph-smith-translation-jst Joseph Smith Translation explained in LDS Guide to the Scriptures], from churchofjesuschrist.org, the official website of the LDS Church
* [http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/old-testament-revision-1#1 Images of Old Testament revision manuscript] from [[Joseph Smith Papers Project]] website. Originals housed at Community of Christ Library-Archives.

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