THE SHORT ANSWER
The HSV is a revision of the Statenvertaling, intended to make the text more understandable for current readers while retaining the link with the Statenvertaling. Choose between SV and HSV by reading the same passages and seeing which language you understand and recognize.
Familiar language use and intelligibility
The Statenvertaling dates from 1637; the complete HSV was published in 2010. The HSV Foundation describes its work as a revision aimed at maintaining reliability and increasing intelligibility. The precise choices are explained in the foundation's accountability.
Old formulations can be meaningful because you know them from your youth, songs or the church service. That feeling of recognition and understanding a sentence are two different things. Give both a place in your choice without assuming that every reader needs the same thing.
This way you discover which language suits you
Read a short story aloud in both versions. Then close the book for a moment and tell what happened in your own words. What words could you not explain? Then look at a psalm or an excerpt from a letter, because different types of text place different demands on your understanding.
If you are unsure, note which wording appeals to you and which helps you understand the sentence. This is not a competition between translations. Reading a second translation can help you notice new questions in a familiar passage.
Apart from that, look at the format
An SV or HSV can be issued with or without additional explanations and lyrics. A title with “psalms” may indicate a song appendix; the Bible book of Psalms is already part of the complete Bible. Therefore, check the table of contents of the selected edition.
For personal reading you can use a compact HSV edition view. If you want to consult a lot of background information, you can use the HSV-Studiebijbel consider. Our advice: do not automatically choose the largest book, but the amount of help you actually want to use. Before reading together, also discuss which text others have in front of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HSV the same text with a new cover?
No. The HSV is a substantive revision of the Statenvertaling.
Should everyone in a family use the same translation?
No. This can be useful when reading together, but personal preferences may differ.
Topics: Language and translation
Sources and accountability
For information about translations and editions, we consulted these sources on October 13, 2026:
An addition or correction? Let us know.