New American Standard Version

Abbreviation:  NAS
Released:1977
Contents:Old Testament, New Testament
Source Used:Lockman Foundation (1977)
Location:Tyndale House, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The purposes were, first, to adhere as closely as possible to the original languages of the Holy Scripture and, secondly, to make the translation in a fluent and readable style according to current English usage.

The King James Version is the basis for the English Revised Version (New Testament, 1881; Old Testament, 1885). The American Standard Version (1901) is the American counterpart. The American Standard Version is the basis for the New American Standard Version, started in 1959. There was an attempt to preserve the qualities of scholarship and accuracy of the American Standard Version. Decisions about English renderings were made by a team of educators and pastors. A review and an evaluation were made by other Hebrew and Greek scholars.

The aids used were as follows: the latest edition of Biblia Hebraica; recent light from lexicography, cognate languages, and Dead Sea Scrolls; and the twenty-third edition of Novum Testamentum Graece. "Elohim" was translated to God; "Adonai" to Lord; and "YHWH" to Lord usually, but to God when it appears with "Adonai."

Footnotes are used only for clarification. Thou, thee, and thy are used only when addressing Deity. Personal pronouns for Deity are capitalized. In the New Testament, small capitals are used to indicate quotations from the Old Testament or allusions to Old Testament texts.


Sample Verses

Genesis 1: 1, 2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

John 1: 1 - 3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.


Comparisons

The following comparative studies include this version:

  1. Additions and Omissions in the Synoptic Gospels
  2. Entering His Rest
  3. Epistle of James
  4. From Eternity or From Ancient Times?
  5. Fringe on the Borders of a Garment
  6. God So Loved the World
  7. Hebrew Synoptic Gospels
  8. Horses from Egypt and Kue
  9. Israelites and Baal-Peor
  10. Letters of Paul
  11. Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat
  12. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
  13. Sabbaths and Sundown
  14. Scripture Inspired by God
  15. Sides of the Court of the Tabernacle
  16. Some Variations in the Book of Acts
  17. Song of Solomon
  18. Story of the Adultress
  19. Those Who Work Iniquity
  20. Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures