In January of 2020, the leaders of The Lockman Foundation and Three Sixteen Publishing met with John MacArthur and Abner Chou to explore the idea of an update to the NASB. The vision was twofold: update some of the language of the NASB, while preserving the accuracy and trustworthiness of the translation for generations to come.
The result is the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB). Produced by a team of scholars from The Master’s Seminary and University, they worked directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to update the text of the NASB. If no update was necessary, then it was left as is. In that way, the LSB preserves and honors the legacy of the NASB.
What did the Author intend?
A translation is like a window – it allows you to see through to the other side. While many Bible renderings focus on the reader’s point of view, the Legacy Standard Bible began by asking a decidedly different question — what did the Author intend?
The Legacy Standard Bible is a translation that—at its core—seeks to be a window into the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. By translating individual words as consistently as possible within their various nuances, it allows the reader to discern what God originally wrote and know the author’s intent. In this way, the LSB seeks to be a refinement upon the NASB, while simultaneously preserving its faithful legacy.
A New Level of Precision
The LSB advances the aim of the NASB. It brings out textual connections through consistent translation of words, highlights literary artistry like alliteration, and tightens grammatical structure. With this new level of precision, the Bible reader is able to see more of what is happening in the original text than ever before.
Internationally Tested
English is a global language. We knew we needed a global team to test the readability of the text. The LSB was reviewed by a team of 70+ scholars, pastors, and every-day NASB readers from around the world. This ensures readers from all walks of life can easily engage and interact with the text.
Beloved by Millions of People Every Day
Expository preachers and Bible teachers including John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Charles Stanley, Kay Arthur, and thousands of others have used the NASB because of its faithfulness to what the Author originally intended. Their influence has led millions of Christian men and women to use the NASB in their personal, daily reading. The LSB carries on that tradition by seeking to apply even more precision to its literal qualities.
"It is the best English translation I have ever read." —John MacArthur
Round Table Discussion, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VijyyaLwEHA
Round Table Discussion, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KJ2hEuoMI
Round Table Discussion, Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9jrQzI6VSE
NT use of the OT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYMhEHAx2eU
From what I have heard from the above videos as to their translation practices, I am extremely impressed. I commend these men for their efforts and I have made this translation my primary Bible of use when studying.
I highly recommend the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) for reading and studying.
With that said, I do have some concerns:
Legacy Standard Bible Flaw #1: Daniel 9:24-27
Legacy Standard Bible Flaw #2: Unicorns
Legacy Standard Bible Flaw #3: Shepherds and Apostles