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Is the New American Standard Bible as "wooden" as some claim that it is?

37818

Well-Known Member
No. I do not think so. But is generally more literal than others. Where the translators know they departed from the literal, they often put the literal in the margen. Earily on I came to dislike the NASB as good as it is. (My main dislike is over the use of the Greek NT Critical Text.) Why it is better than the other translations, the translators placed the translators added words, not in the Greek or Hebrew text using italics.
 

Conan

Well-Known Member
There does seem to be a need for a NASByz, where the NASB Translators would use the Byzantine Majority Text.
A Literal current NASB that of course uses the Critical Text.
A Literal additional NASByz that uses the Majority Text.
 

Just_Ahead

Active Member
The description "wooden" may refer more to the NASB 1977, than the later NASB 1995.

Here on Baptist Board there have been many thread discussions on the NASB 1977 versus NASB 1995. You can read the long and short of some of those discussions at this Google search results.

No doubt, the publication of the NASB 2020 will stir even more discussions.

*****

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) editions were published by the Lockman Foundation (1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995).

The NASB tradition goes back to the American Standard Version (ASV) published by Thomas Nelson and Sons (1901).

*****

You can follow the differences between the KJV, ASV, and NASB on Bible Gateway.
 

Deacon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Try reading long passages of the NASB out loud.
It can be difficult to communicate at times, not knowing where a thought begins or ends.

Same goes for the ESV but it has the cadence of the Tyndale line on its side.

Rob
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
Try reading long passages of the NASB out loud.
It can be difficult to communicate at times, not knowing where a thought begins or ends.

Same goes for the ESV but it has the cadence of the Tyndale line on its side.

Rob

Hmmmm ... I think I'm beginning to see what you mean about reading the NASB aloud.

When I'm reading it to myself, I don't find that I have any difficulties, at all.

However, for certain passages at least, you do seem to have a point.

And I thank you for the suggestion!
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
The description "wooden" may refer more to the NASB 1977, than the later NASB 1995.

Here on Baptist Board there have been many thread discussions on the NASB 1977 versus NASB 1995. You can read the long and short of some of those discussions at this Google search results.

No doubt, the publication of the NASB 2020 will stir even more discussions.

*****

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) editions were published by the Lockman Foundation (1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995).

The NASB tradition goes back to the American Standard Version (ASV) published by Thomas Nelson and Sons (1901).

*****

You can follow the differences between the KJV, ASV, and NASB on Bible Gateway.

Well, I certainly see what you mean about the NASB 77, and the updated NASB 95.

I'm certain the 77 NASB is outstanding for word study, for instance, but I certainly couldn't see myself simply reading it!
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
No. I do not think so. But is generally more literal than others. Where the translators know they departed from the literal, they often put the literal in the margen. Earily on I came to dislike the NASB as good as it is. (My main dislike is over the use of the Greek NT Critical Text.) Why it is better than the other translations, the translators placed the translators added words, not in the Greek or Hebrew text using italics.

Yes, I can certainly appreciate the use of italicized words, as well.
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
I still prefer reading and studying the NASB (as opposed to the ESV).

However, I do admit that there are passages here and there that are less than ideal if one is reading the Bible aloud to others.
 

McCree79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Is the New American Standard Bible as "wooden" as some claim that it is?

(Personally, I don't find that to be the case!)
The NASB does seem bland in some verse compared to the KJV. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is just more straight forward. The NASB95 and NASB77 are both fantastic translations that may lack the "poetic" feel of the KJV and even the ESV, but it is really accurate.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The NASB does seem bland in some verse compared to the KJV. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is just more straight forward. The NASB95 and NASB77 are both fantastic translations that may lack the "poetic" feel of the KJV and even the ESV, but it is really accurate.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Which is why I am afraid the new revision will be losing some of that accuracy in order to be more PC correct and smoother flowing!
 

McCree79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Which is why I am afraid the new revision will be losing some of that accuracy in order to be more PC correct and smoother flowing!
I don't know why they would do that. The NIV and NLT own that market.

*Are they really deciding that competing for readers against the ESV and NKJV is too hard and that they think they will have better luck agaisnt the NIV and NLT?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don't know why they would do that. The NIV and NLT own that market.

*Are they really deciding that competing for readers against the ESV and NKJV is too hard and that they think they will have better luck agaisnt the NIV and NLT?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
They should make and market it as being the formal translation for those of us not into gender readings!
 

alexander284

Well-Known Member
I don't know why they would do that. The NIV and NLT own that market.

*Are they really deciding that competing for readers against the ESV and NKJV is too hard and that they think they will have better luck agaisnt the NIV and NLT?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Good point! I imagine their are many reasons for the update.
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Good point! I imagine their are many reasons for the update.
if you really explore this issue, would find that there would be few reasons for most updates/revisions to be done, unless it concerns updating English grammar . There has not been such a big change is say the CT from 26 to now 28th edition to really warrant a so called new translation.
 

Just_Ahead

Active Member
if you really explore this issue, would find that there would be few reasons for most updates/revisions to be done, unless it concerns updating English grammar . There has not been such a big change is say the CT from 26 to now 28th edition to really warrant a so called new translation.

It would be interesting to know what percent of new Biblical updates/revisions are due to scholarship, and what percent are due to the publishing business.

:Unsure
 
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