What Is the New Translation of the Bible (Joseph Smith Translation)?

LDS Perspective

The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is an inspired revision of the Bible that the Prophet Joseph Smith worked on between 1830 and 1833, which he considered a "branch of [his] calling" as a prophet of God. The work began after Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery sought revelation regarding biblical passages, receiving by revelation an account of visions experienced by Moses that were not found in the Bible. For the next three years, Joseph Smith worked with scribes including Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon to produce this "new translation," using a copy of the King James Version as his starting point rather than original Hebrew or Greek manuscripts. Unlike traditional biblical translations that rely on ancient languages and textual criticism, the Joseph Smith Translation was produced through r

Historical Perspective

The Joseph Smith Translation (JST)—alternatively titled the "Inspired Version," "New Translation," or "Inspired Revision"—represents Joseph Smith's systematic revision of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, commenced in June 1831 under what Smith claimed was divine command. According to Doctrine and Covenants 73:3-4, Smith and his scribe Sidney Rigdon were instructed by revelation to "translate again" the Bible and "continue the work of translation until it be finished." This project continued until 1833, with Smith dictating changes that included grammatical corrections, harmonizations of Gospel accounts, doctrinal alterations supporting unique Mormon theology (such as the nature of God and premortal existence), and substantial additions to Genesis that became the basis for the Boo