NASB
Word-for-WordTranslation profile
New American Standard Bible
NASB
How it translates, how hard it is to read, where it came from, and what makes it distinctive.
Now showing Guided. How it translates, how hard it is to read, where it came from, and what makes it distinctive.
This is an educational comparison guide — not a Bible reader, and not a quiz that picks a best Bible. You can change this anytime.
The short version
NASB stays closer to the wording and structure of the original languages.
These sentences use the listed method, reading-grade, lineage, and notable-facts fields. They are not a ranking.
Translation approach
NASB stays closer to the wording and structure of the original languages. This guide lists this as Word-for-Word.
Reading difficulty
More complex sentence structure. This guide lists grade 11.
What makes it distinctive
If the literal definition for an expression was determined to be unclear for contemporary readers, an equivalent modern expression was used.
How it translates
Translation approach: . NASB stays closer to the wording and structure of the original languages.
Scholars translate each word based upon the word usage at the time of the writing. No translation is actually “word for word,” but the intent is to come as close as possible. This method is also called formal equivalence.
Reading level
More complex sentence structure. This guide lists grade 11. Reading level does not measure accuracy.
Where it came from
This guide does not list an English Bible lineage for this translation.
First listed 1971, revised in 1995.
Text and source listings
Old Testament: Rudolf Kittel's ,
New Testament: Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece
What makes it distinctive
A translation’s story
Why this translation exists
1
Before it
This guide does not list an earlier English Bible in this translation’s lineage field.
2
Why it was created
To remove antiquated phrases and words, and to add modern punctuation.
3
How it translates
Word-for-Word. Scholars translate each word based upon the word usage at the time of the writing. No translation is actually “word for word,” but the intent is to come as close as possible. This method is also called formal equivalence.
4
Who / what it was designed for
If the literal definition for an expression was determined to be unclear for contemporary readers, an equivalent modern expression was used. The more literal expression is described more fully in the footnotes. Used by adults for serious Bible study.
5
Where it sits
Word-for-Word · Grade 11 · First released 1971 (Modern English).
See it in action
Compare with translations that offer a useful contrast — not a ranking.
GNT
Different translation approach
NIrV
Different reading grade
KJV
Older and newer English
Sample verses
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.