Bible Translation: NASB

Bible Translation: NASB

What is the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation?

New American Standard Bible, NASB, is prized as the most literal word-for-word English Bible translation. It was originally completed by The Lockman Foundation in La Habra, CA in 1971. The translation ended up getting a refresh in 1995 for clarity, grammar, vocab, and sentence structure updates. It was then updated again in 2020, which we will study at a later time.



In the 1995 update, the translators compared parallel passages in order to update their uses within each specific context. They also modified some paragraphing and punctuation, and added some new manuscript notes. Use of Thee, Thou, Thy, and other archaic and difficult word orders was updated to more modern English.

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Using literal translation principles they based their translation on KJV and ASV. New research and resources that had come available for them to study were also utilized. Hebrew texts used were Rudolph Kittel’s Biblia Hebraica, Dead Sea Scrolls, lexicography, and cognate language. Greek texts used were 26th Edition of Eberhard Nestle’s Novum Testamentum Graece.

Who translated the NASB?

It took ten years for the nearly 20 conservative Bible scholars to complete the original version of 1971. These scholars utilized their combined variety of denominational backgrounds, degrees, theology, and languages. It took three years to complete the revision of 1995.

There was a variety of denominational backgrounds, but all of the scholars believed that the words of scripture were inspired by God and needed to be preserved. They put rigorous review processes in place in order to ensure the final product would be accurate and honoring to the original texts.

Should I use the NASB translation?

They referenced the most recent research of the time and the oldest and most reliable manuscripts available. The original order of words and phrases was translated where it would be acceptable in English. Where it was unacceptable in English they used modern idioms. The literal rendering was included in the margins.

The NASB is an incredibly literal yet modernized English translation. The goal was to honor the original texts while letting the reader be the interpreter. It is used in many popular children’s Bibles and can be helpful to early readers.

Bible Translation: ESV

Bible Translation: ESV

What type of translation is ESV?

The Bible has been translated and revised many times in English. The goal of ESV is to provide an English Bible that corresponds with changes in culture, the English language, definitions, and writing styles. Most importantly, it focuses on keeping up with the increased knowledge of the original texts and relevant cultures to improve the accuracy of the English translation.

The English Standard Version is a word-for-word or literal translation that follows the same translation philosophies of the KJV and ASV while taking into consideration differences between the original languages and English.



What is the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation?

The English Standard Version was published in 2001. The translators used KJV, ASV, RSV, RV, and Tyndale’s NT. They also heavily cross-referenced against the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic to help ensure accuracy and clarity. The translators also wanted to avoid any over-translating or overlooking of any variations.

Sentences, punctuation, and paragraphing were translated so that they flow well in English. The repetitiveness of words like “and”, “but” and “for” were kept intact to avoid diminishing the flow of the scriptures. In areas where gender is specified in the original languages, ESV captures those instances. Previous losses of gender specification were corrected, and specifications, where the original texts did not indicate gender, were removed.


Why was the ESV translated?

Crossway, the copyright owners of the English Standard Version, state in the preface of the printed ESV Bible “faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression.” Crossway wanted to update the language for the new modern-age reader while keeping to the accuracy and honoring the dignity of the well-loved and trusted translations before it.

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Should I use the ESV translation?

The translators took great care in how they approached important terms such as names for God and naming Christ. Words that have completely different meanings now than they did when the original texts were written, capitalizations of deity pronouns, and the term “behold” were a focus for the translators.

The goal was to honor the original languages and meanings and translate them into the most accurate modern English. Accuracy and flow certainly seem to be the biggest focus with the ESV. This makes it a well-loved translation for its modern readability with accuracy and literalness.

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