Discover Scripture in one of the most accurate modern Bible translations. The NASB stays close to the original Hebrew and Greek for serious study and devotion.
“"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."”
— Jeremiah 29:11
The New American Standard Bible has been the gold standard for literal Bible translation since its original publication in 1963. Produced by the Lockman Foundation — a nonprofit Christian ministry with a singular focus on accurate Scripture translation — the NASB uses formal equivalence translation philosophy: rendering each word of the original Hebrew and Greek as precisely as possible into English.
The NASB 2020 is the most current revision, updating the language of the 1995 edition for greater clarity while maintaining the commitment to literal accuracy. It is widely used in seminaries, by biblical scholars, in expository preaching, and by serious Bible students who want to work closely with the text.
For those who want to understand what the biblical authors actually wrote — word by word, as close to the original as English allows — the NASB remains the benchmark. When pastors and scholars need to analyze a passage in detail, the NASB is frequently where they start.
The NASB is chosen by those who want maximum fidelity to the original texts. When Paul uses a specific Greek word in Philippians 4:7, the NASB will render it precisely — even if the resulting English is slightly more formal than everyday speech. This precision is invaluable for:
Both are literal translations, but the NASB is generally considered more strictly word-for-word. The ESV is slightly more idiomatic and is often described as more literary. Both excel for close study.
The NIV uses dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought), making it more readable but less literal than the NASB. For devotional reading, the NIV may flow more naturally; for precision, the NASB.
The KJV uses Early Modern English and was translated in 1611. The NASB uses modern English but maintains similar literalness. For contemporary precision, the NASB 2020 is more accessible.
The NLT prioritizes readability (thought-for-thought); the NASB prioritizes accuracy (word-for-word). Many readers use both: NLT for reading, NASB for studying the same passage.
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is one of the most literal modern English Bible translations, first published in 1963 by the Lockman Foundation and most recently updated in 2020 (NASB 2020). It uses formal equivalence (word-for-word) translation philosophy, staying as close as possible to the original Hebrew and Greek while remaining readable in English. The NASB is widely considered the most accurate modern Bible translation available and is the preferred translation for serious biblical study and word-for-word analysis.
The NASB is consistently rated among the most literal and accurate translations of the Bible into English. It uses formal equivalence — translating each word as closely as possible to the original Hebrew and Greek — which makes it particularly valuable for verse-by-verse study and word analysis. The 2020 revision updated the language for greater clarity while maintaining the same commitment to accuracy. For word studies, expository preaching, and close textual analysis, the NASB is the preferred choice of many biblical scholars and seminary professors.
Both the NASB and ESV are literal (formal equivalence) translations aimed at accuracy, but they differ in emphasis. The NASB is generally considered more strictly literal — it preserves even awkward constructions from the Greek and Hebrew to stay close to the original. The ESV is slightly more idiomatic English while still being very literal, making it somewhat more readable. Many scholars describe the ESV as the "literary" literal translation and the NASB as the "study" literal translation. Both are excellent for serious Bible study.
The NASB is excellent for daily reading, particularly for those who want to stay close to the original texts. The 2020 update improved readability significantly compared to older editions. Many serious Bible students use the NASB as their primary Bible for its precision. Those who prefer a more fluid reading experience sometimes pair the NASB with the NLT — reading the NLT for comprehension and the NASB for precision. For daily devotional reading that engages with the text closely, the NASB 2020 is a strong choice.
NASB stands for New American Standard Bible. It was produced by the Lockman Foundation, a nonprofit Christian ministry based in California. The original NASB was published in 1963, with a major update in 1995 (NASB95) and the most recent comprehensive revision in 2020 (NASB 2020). The Lockman Foundation chose "New American Standard" to reflect both its American English target audience and its standing in the tradition of the American Standard Version (1901), which was itself a revision of the Revised Version (1885).