Here are some examples: The weakness of relying on Lewis’s critique of the NASB is that while we could easily check places where the NASB was poor and the ESV was better, I really have no way of knowing all the instances where the ESV is inferior to the NASB, or where both translations are weak. The goal is to translate the idea or thought in the original language to a corresponding thought in English. After some comparison, I decided to make the switch. Some examples: There are several instances where the NASB translation is very poor, but the ESV is accurate. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society. There are many evangelicals who swear by the accuracy of the NASB … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Please post comments of your own findings below.) Some think, but not all, that some of the Old Testament passages are a little “wooden”, so literally “word for word”, that they are hard to read. The ESV is popular, among other reasons, because it is translated in a “current literary English.” Or, to put it another way, the ESV is understandable and sounds like current English literature. I found the article and some of the comments to be very useful. What made the New American Standard so popular? 4 And God saw that the light was good. However, based on these initial findings, it seems to me that the ESV has a clear edge over the NASB in accuracy and readability. There are several instances in which the NASB is less literal than the ESV. When I entered the ministry in 1987, I preached exclusively from the NASB. The chief difference is that the ESV translators attempted to emulate the literary beauty and rhythm of the King James Version (KJV) and Revised Standard Version (RSV), while the NASB translators focused more on strict literalism. Acts 2:22-23 ESV: v.22: Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs… NIV 1984, NIV 2011, ESV, or NASB? Hi Karen, there hasn’t been any change to the NAS translation since 1995. The NASB dropped the archaic term “seed”, but often uses “descendant” or “descendants,” neither of which are collective nouns like “seed.” The ESV almost always uses “offspring,” which is a collective noun. Since they are the eternal Word of God, the Holy Scriptures speak with fresh … This method is often referred to as a literal or word for word translation. The NASB touts itself as the most literal translation, ESV commends itself on its "legacy" to the KJV and to Tyndale, but seems to me it was thrown together quickly, in a short period of time, had glaring mistakes, was revised, and makes me wonder if another revision of the text is coming, and causes me thus to avoid getting this version at this time. Search for a formal translation: NASB vs ESV vs NRSV In the future, I will be blogging on formal equivalent translations doing a comparison of how it renders specific scriptural passages. Unlocking the Truth – 2 Thessalonians (Episode 6), Unlocking the Truth – 2 Thessalonians (Episode 5), Unlocking the Truth – 2 Thessalonians (Episode 4), Unlocking the Truth – 2 Thessalonians (Episode 3). For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The truth of the matter is, what at first appears to be very small differences can be very big issues to many believers. Bible Version Comparison (NASB, ESV, NKJV, KJV) Purpose: To compare (what I believe to be) the best modern-language literal English Bible versions. For many years I have used the NASB and its 1995 updated edition. English Bible students have always wanted to know exactly what the text said so they could be the ones to determine for themselves the meaning. Both the ESV and the NAS will serve you well. Some are fact based, and some are preference based: NASB (New American Standard Bible) Lockman Foundation… HCSB." Until the twentieth century the philosophy of Bible translation was to translate the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words of the Bible into the closest possible equivalent in English. It is more accurate than the NIV but not as rigid as the NASB. NASB is a little closer to "literal" as far as things like word order than ESV, but there are a couple words here and there where I found ESV was actually translated slightly more consistently (the Hebrew words for veil vs curtain in Exodus for example). Top Posters. However, the title is a little misleading because we cannot effectively translate exactly word for word from the Biblical languages into English without the end result being unreadable. I purposely googled NASB vs ESV because I’m unhappy with NIV’s most recent revision. We do not share your personal details with anyone. Joined: May 12, 2004 Messages: 11,139 Likes Received: 0. The New American Standard Bible (NASB), first published in 1971 by the Lockman Foundation, was translated “with the conviction that the words of Scripture, as originally penned in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, were inspired by God. Continued from previous column. Here are just a few examples: The ESV’s primary goal was to use smoother English than the NASB while retaining the literal meaning of the text. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. As such, its emphasis is on “word-for-word” correspondence, at the same time taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. The NASB meets that need. ESV. Here is my review  explaining why. And they do. In the end the version you choose to study from is a personal choice. The word of God changes cultures, tribes, cities, countries, and even individual lives. In the future, I will be blogging on formal equivalent translations doing a comparison of how it renders specific scriptural passages. However, for the English speaking world, both the ESV and NASB are excellent translations directly from the original languages. 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1 English Standard Version (ESV) The Creation of the World. The purposes of the updates have been to increase accuracy, clarity, and readability. His words are powerful, sharp, penetrating, and very dangerous. (2002) Wheaton, IL: Crossway. The ESV uses the literal Hebrew “Azazel” for “scapegoat” in. (1995). Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original.”The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. In particular, I have used Jack Lewis’s The English Bible: From the KJV to the NIV (Baker, 1982), for a great deal of my research. Both the ESV and the NASB are on the literal end of the translation spectrum. I have a New American Standard Bible, do I need to switch to an English Standard Version? The NASB, ESV, and NRSV are all very good, and currently, I refer to all three in by comparisons. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase a Bible that will actually train you to study for yourself. It seems clear that the translation philosophy, and goals of the NASB 2020 team are inconsistent with those of previous NASB translation teams. But once you open it and begin to study it there is nothing more powerful in the whole world. COVID-19 Update | Ontario is under a state of emergency and a stay at home lockdown is in effect. When it was felt that the word-for-word literalness was unacceptable to the modern reader, a change was made in the direction of a more current English idiom. The purpose of this translation is to be more literal than the New International Version (NIV) – particularly the recent “gender neutral” edition – and to be more readable than the updated New American Standard Bible (NASB). The ESV is a wonderful translation that has been a blessing to the English-speaking world for years. In this article, we will be differentiating the ESV vs NASB Bible translation. This is the last of this comparison series between the NASB, ESV and NRSV. I had decided in December to read the NASB translation in my 2014 reading program. From the preface of the ESV: “The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. Call 1.877.234.2030 or email info@preceptministries.ca Acts 2:22-23. So its a perfect fit for comparison. I have been giving some consideration to changing to version of the Bible from which I preach on Sundays. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Message. The comparison between formal translations of the Tyndale tradition continues with Acts chapter 2. Bibles like The Message and The Living Bible are much more on the dynamic equivalent side of the scale. The ESV, like other formal equivalent versions (RSV, NASB, NKJV, NRSV), is a good supplement to versions that use normal English, but is not suitable as a standard Bible for the church. This is commonly referred to as a thought for thought translation or a paraphrase. The ESV seems more likely to me to stick around than the NASB, even though it’s newer. The result […] (2001). For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by Marcia, May 26, 2005. What is the difference anyway? And they worked at being as literal as possible. You may also be interested in my more recent post: "NASB vs. ESV vs. The name decided on was The English Standard Version (ESV). And scholars often place the New International Version in the middle of the scale. The NASB has always been popular with serious Bible students because the translators tried to “render the grammar and terminology” of the original languages into English. Every aspect of vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and meaning was carefully reviewed during each update. The NASB translates the same word as “wings” and “covering” in. The 2020 effort is a lost opportunity. There is nothing especially powerful about a Bible lying on a table. In other words the translator’s aim was to be as literal as possible and still be readable. NLT 2. Is one better than the other? This is not meant to be a thorough comparison and is an on-going, collaborative study. Looking for a study or online workshop to attend? Based on very random research, here are some criticisms of the ESV: It would be very helpful if someone with the linguistic and critical skills could measure the ESV against the Hebrew and Greek text rather than just comparing it to the NASB. However, the things that we discuss in the ESV … Which […] In the mid-twentieth century the idea of a dynamic equivalent was introduced. The Bible is literally the word of God. The NASB meets that need. Please enter your username or email address. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. John 3:16 New International Version (NIV). Many people say that there is not much difference in the Bible translations, and that it doesn’t matter which one you use as long as you are a believer in Christ. Along with the help of several young people where I preach, I used Lewis’s chapter on the 1977 NASB as a framework for comparing the ESV and updated NASB. The NKJV, NIV, KJV and ESV are also good. Just wondering if there is any difference between this version of the NASB and the previous printed version of the NASB study bibles? From the Preface of the NAS:“Modern English Usage: The attempt has been made to render the grammar and terminology in contemporary English. It translates the two Greek terms that refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts as one phrase. NIV. Psalm 88:18 – “My acquaintances are in darkness” (NASB) vs. “my companions have become darkness” (ESV) Psalm 78:33 – “So He brought their days to an end in futility” (NASB) vs. “So he made their days vanish like a breath” (ESV) NASB. This is the last of this comparison series between the NASB, ESV and NRSV. But before we talk about the ESV versus the NAS we need to share a little background. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. I left the ESV behind for the CSB. If this is true it is because the translators opted for readability over literalness in some passages whereas the NAS usually chose literalness over readability. Formal equivalence comparison #4: NASB vs ESV vs NRSV - Acts 2 March 30, 2008 The comparison between formal translations of the Tyndale tradition continues with Acts chapter 2. Notice a few examples: The ESV is not entirely consistent, but does seem to exceed the NASB in this regard. When I first was introduced to the ESV, I was very impressed by it. In the winter of 2004/2005 I was debating switching from the New American Standard Bible to the English Standard Version. From the preface of the ESV:“The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. The ESV has its roots in the discussions that took place back in 1997 at the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado regarding the controversy over the proposed inclusive-language revisions to the NIV. “After completion in 1971, the NASB was updated in 1977, 1995, and most recently in 2020, according to the best scholarship available at the time. Our shipping department remains open so we can continue to serve you. I had grown up using the NASB and hadn’t ever been very fond of the NIV. However, it was time for me to get a new Bible last year and I did something crazy. Why ESV? In the instances where this has been done, the more literal rendering has been indicated in the notes.”New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. My personal favorite is the NASB because it is the most literal word-for-word translation in the English language and it accurately translates from the best available manuscripts. There is no one translation that will ever be universally accepted as the perfect translation. You should know that Zondervan publishes the NIV so you will notice a distinct slant in that direction.Translation Comparison Chart. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. This includes the big six-volume ESV Reader’s Bible. What about the English Standard Version? When Precept Ministries offered the New Inductive Study Bible in the NAS and ESV those were the questions a lot of our friends were asking. I really do want to read a scripture translation that is in keeping with original manuscripts. The goal of a Bible translation is to help the reader understand the text that he or she is reading. It wasn’t until the 20th Century that Bible scholars decided to take the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek and translate it into […] Lost your password? The NASB italicizes added words; the ESV does not. Jul 17, 2013 | Bible Students, Bible Studies | 2 comments. What are the differences between ESV and NAS? Romans 3:25. We have our New Inductive Study Bible available in both NAS and ESV. Here are a list of comparisons I have made between the two translations. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. No Bible is of any value if you do not open it and read it. Dismiss. NET Bible vs. NASB and ESV. I’d throw 1 Corinthians 6:9 as a criticism of the ESV. A friend asked me why I like the NASB over the ESV. After several months, I haven’t looked back. This is because the ESV too often fails the test of “standard English.” It sounds modern. The NASB, ESV, and NRSV are all very good, and currently, I refer to all three in by comparisons. So now we have in the marketplace two rival revisions of the RSV—the NRSV and the ESV—both claiming to be legitimate successors. Translations like the King James Version, American Standard, New American Standard, and English Standard are on the more literal side of the spectrum. Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Next > Marcia Active Member. My sense is that the ESV has fewer notes about textual variation than the NASB or NIV. The goal of a Bible translation is obviously to help the reader understand the text. particularly the recent “gender neutral” edition – and to be more readable than the updated, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. My Bible College professors had drilled into my head that it was the most literal and accurate English translation. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The issue is will you study the one you have? But recently I have been comparing the NASB with the ESV, and I would like to share the fruits of my research with you. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Discussing versions for personal bible study. for how people actually write or speak. In 2001 Crossway released a new translation, the English Standard Version (ESV). Most scholars rank the NAS as a bit more literal word for word translation. Some examples: There are dozens of times where the NASB adds a word to the text that the ESV does not. The primary result of my study has been this: approximately two-thirds of Lewis’s criticisms of the NASB have been corrected by the ESV, while virtually none have been corrected by the updated NASB. Many scholars and students, but certainly not all, think the ESV is smoother and easier to read. If you’re interested in knowing which is the #1 Selling Bible and which is the most read see my post: The #1 Read Bible vs The Bestselling Bible. As such, I expected that the ESV Bibles published last year would reflect the “contrary to” translation. The ESV comes in multiple innovative editions, like the journaling Bible and the various single-column Bibles, some of which are drop-dead gorgeous.The NASB had a single-column reader’s Bible I saw once, but it appears no longer to be available. For one thing, the ESV is the most popular version among conservative evangelicals. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. Since I do not possess the linguistic or critical skills needed to evaluate translations, I have primarily relied on the reviews of others. The following is a link is to an interesting chart from Zondervan Publishing giving you a comparison of the major English translations. 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