Published 2001 by Crossway. A revision of the Revised Standard Version (1952) produced by an international team of over 100 scholars led by Wayne Grudem (general editor) and J. I. Packer (theological editor). The ESV uses "essentially literal" (formal equivalence) translation philosophy — word-for-word where possible, preserving original sentence structure and word order where English syntax allows. Its textual base: the latest critical editions of the Hebrew (BHS) and Greek (NA27/28, UBS4/5) with the Septuagint consulted for OT readings. Major updates released 2007, 2011, and 2016.
The ESV has become the standard English translation for much of conservative Reformed and broader evangelical scholarship since the early 2000s. Four observations. (1) Readable literalness. It aims to be both faithful to the original and readable in contemporary English — a balance many believe it achieves better than the NASB (more wooden) or the NIV (more dynamic). (2) Theological care. The ESV preserves theologically important words and phrases. It translates hilasterion as "propitiation" (Romans 3:25), retaining the Godward aspect of the atonement; it keeps gender-specific language (brothers, man, he) where the original is gender-specific. (3) Ecumenical acceptance. Adopted as the primary translation by Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, 9Marks, Ligonier Ministries, Westminster Seminary, Southern Seminary, and countless Reformed churches. (4) Limitations. Like all translations, the ESV has quirks — a few renderings are contested (Genesis 3:16's "contrary to" has been criticized; Romans 16:7 regarding Junia). Translation is an ongoing labor, not a final achievement. Pair the ESV with the NASB (more wooden but more literal in places) and the LSB (Legacy Standard Bible, a NASB updating) for comparison; pair with the NIV or CSB for readability checks.