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NASB 1977 vs. 1995 edition

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Amy.G

New Member
This is for my brothers who are the resident experts in Bible versions. :)


I just purchased a Key Word Study Bible in the NASB (thanks to a 40% off coupon from Lifeway that was burning a whole in my pocket :laugh: )

I'm really enjoying the NASB, but found out it is the 1977 edition. I keep hearing that the 1995 is better and easier to read. The edition I have isn't difficult to read, at least I don't think so, so I was just wondering what the differences are between the 2 editions. I have noticed the Psalms and prayers are in old english, which surprisingly, I really like.

Thanks for the input. :thumbs:
 
S

Snitzelhoff

New Member
The big difference I've noticed, besides the occasional word here and there, is that the 1977 edition has anything directed toward God in Elizabethan style English. I go to a school whose standard is the NASB, and students, teachers, and books employ a combination of the two editions. I don't raeally have trouble reading either one.

Michael
 
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Amy.G

New Member
franklinmonroe said:
Does it not state the main differences in a Forward or Preface in the front of your new Bible?
Click to expand...
No. It says the Psalms and prayers to God are in the old english but it makes no reference to the 1995 edition.
 
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franklinmonroe

Active Member
Amy, the Lockman Foundation claims that "in perfecting the updated NASB, more than 20 translators spent nearly three years scrutinizing the NASB in order to modernize and maintain it in accordance with the most recent research on the oldest and best manuscripts. Thus, some passages have been updated for even greater fidelity to the original manuscripts."

It seems that in the 1995 version the passages with Old English "thee's" and "thou's" etc. have been updated to 'contemporary' English, and words and phrases that could be misunderstood due to changes in their meaning during those 20 years were revised to current English standards. Verses with difficult word order or vocabulary were retranslated to sound 'smoother'. Many sentences in Greek begin with "And" (kai) which always seems awkward in literal English translations (not just the NASB), so many of those verses were changed to "but" and "then" etc. depending upon context.

I have the older NASB.
 
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Amy.G

New Member
It sounds like there's really not a lot of differences. I do like the old english in the psalms.

Thanks for your help! :)
 
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