Bible translation
New American Standard Bible (NASB): history, style and where to read it
The New American Standard Bible is widely regarded as the most literal of the major modern English Bibles. Produced by the Lockman Foundation, it first appeared in 1971 as a revision of the American Standard Version, was updated in 1995, and refreshed again in 2020. In The Living Bread you can read both the NASB 1995 and the NASB 2020 inside the app.
At a glance
| Full name | New American Standard Bible |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NASB |
| First published | 1971 (updated 1995 and 2020) |
| Publisher or sponsor | The Lockman Foundation |
| Language | English |
| Translation philosophy | Word for word |
| How it reads | Precise, a little formal |
| In The Living Bread | In the app |
Who made the NASB and when
The Lockman Foundation, a nonprofit in La Habra, California, set out in the late 1950s to keep the careful literalism of the American Standard Version of 1901 while updating its English and its textual basis. The New Testament came first in 1963 and the whole Bible in 1971. A thorough revision in 1995 smoothed the English and adopted newer scholarship on the Hebrew and Greek texts.
The 2020 edition is a further update by the same foundation. It aims to keep the literal character while adjusting vocabulary and sentence flow, and in many places it replaces dated expressions with ordinary English. Because both editions are in circulation, readers often say which one they mean, as in NASB 1995 or NASB 2020.
How the NASB translates
The NASB is a formal equivalence translation: it tries to give one English word for each original word and to preserve grammar, including verb tense. It marks words that must be added for English sense with italics in its printed editions. This is the philosophy that makes it a favorite for people who want to see what the original actually says.
Readability and typical use
It is accurate but can read stiffly, because English sentence rhythm is sometimes sacrificed to keep the original structure. Long sentences in Paul's letters stay long. Many readers value that when studying and find it heavy for casual reading.
Strengths
Close to the Greek and Hebrew, consistent in how it renders key terms, and a trusted partner for word studies, teaching preparation and comparing translations. Its lineage from the ASV gives it a long scholarly pedigree.
Cautions, stated fairly
Literal does not always mean clearer. A word for word rendering can sound odd in English or hide an idiom the original readers understood at once. Read it next to a thought for thought version when a phrase seems puzzling.
Familiar renderings, in our own words
In the 1995 edition older wording such as the word behold remains, which gives it a slightly traditional air, while the 2020 edition tends toward everyday vocabulary. Readers comparing the two will see the foundation trading a little tradition for a little ease, without giving up its literal commitments.
Who should choose the NASB
Choose the NASB when you are studying a passage closely, teaching, or checking another translation's choices.
Where to read the New American Standard Bible in The Living Bread
In the app The NASB is a copyrighted translation of The Lockman Foundation, so The Living Bread offers it inside the app under a license obtained through the YouVersion Platform. NASB 1995 and NASB 2020 are in the app. Open the Bible reader in the app and pick it from the version list; it is shown live, with its copyright line, and never stored by us.
Because of that license, this website, our AI answers and our MCP server do not quote the NASB, and it is left out of audio, share images and offline copies. For a translation to read right on the website, the public domain King James Version, Berean Standard Bible and World English Bible are always free. Compare every translation before you choose.
Related translations
- English Standard Version (ESV)Word for word (essentially literal). Literary, dignified.
- King James Version (KJV)Word for word. Early Modern English; majestic but older.
- New International Version (NIV)Balanced. Clear, everyday English.
- Christian Standard Bible (CSB)Balanced (optimal equivalence). Clear, modern, readable.
- Berean Standard Bible (BSB)Balanced, leaning literal. Modern, clear.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the NASB the most literal Bible?
- It is commonly described as one of the most literal mainstream English translations, along with the ESV. Whether a translation is the most literal depends on how you measure, and no English translation is a perfect mirror of Hebrew and Greek.
- What is the difference between the NASB 1995 and the NASB 2020?
- The 2020 edition is a revision that updates vocabulary and sentence flow while keeping the same literal philosophy. The 1995 text is more traditional in wording. Both are available in the app.
- Can I read the NASB online free?
- In The Living Bread the NASB is read inside the app through a license, with its copyright line shown. For a free public domain word for word reading on this site, the American Standard Version on which the NASB was built is on our shelf.
The Word became flesh
The NASB is one of many faithful ways into the same story. Whichever translation you choose, the point of Scripture is the One it gives you: Jesus Christ, who said that we are to love one another as he loved us. Read a little each day, read it with someone, and ask him to open the page.
Open the Bible readerGet the appAsk the BodyJesus Christ is Lord.
