A Critique of the NASB - The ever changing "literal" NASB - Why the New American Standard Bible Should be Rejected
Using the word "Literal" as a trick to get readers to accepts WRONG and Innacurate Words in their Bibles
The ever changing "literal" NASB
The ever changing "literal" NASB
There are a multitude of examples found in the New American Standard Version where it is far less "literal" than the King James Version or, for that matter, the previous Revised Version of 1881 and the American Standard Version of 1901.
The following is a very incomplete list of some of the examples I have found in my personal studies over the past few years. This list could easily be three times as long, but these few should be sufficient to refute the oft repeated claim that the NASB is the most literal of the modern versions.
The NASB gospel of John came out in 1960. The complete New Testament in 1963, and the whole Bible in 1971. Since then the NASB has come out with five different editions (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and the Updated 1995). Each of these editions differs from the others in both it's English translations of many verses and some even differ in the underlying Greek texts of the New Testament.
Brother Laurence M. Vance has written a book called Double Jeopardy, in which he documents word for word the changes made in the 1995 NASB as compared to the previous 1977 NASB. The 1995 NASB now has almost 7000 fewer words in it than did the previous 1977 edition.
The NASB often rejects the Hebrew readings, but they never tell you this in their footnotes. You have to consult other versions like the RSV, ESV, and NIV to verify this. Many examples of the NASB not following the Hebrew texts are found here:
Documentation of Errors in Modern Versions - Part 1
Documentation of Errors in Modern Versions - Part 2
The NASB is also based on different Greek texts than are such versions as the Geneva Bible, Tyndale, Young's and the NKJV. These different texts omit, change or add some 5000 words to the traditional New Testament text.
For a very easy to follow chart showing some of these omissions, see this site. Please look at both parts.
http://av1611.com/kjbp/charts/themagicmarker.html
And see this article about the so called "oldest and best" manuscripts upon which many modern versions like the NASB, NIV, RSV and ESV are based.
The character of Sinaiticus and Vaticanus texts
Part One - SOME examples of how the NASB continues to change from year to year.
Luke 10:41-42 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful about many things, BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
"but one thing is needful" is the majority reading of all texts including P45, P75 and Alexandrinus, but a curious thing happens when we look at both Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. Instead of saying "but one thing is needful", these two "oldest and best" read: "but few things are needful, the one". ONLY the NASB from 1960 to 1977 and the Amplified version read: "BUT ONLY A FEW THINGS ARE NECESSARY, REALLY ONLY ONE, for Mary has chosen the good part."
Not even the RV, ASV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV, ISV read as does the NASB from 1963 through 7 revisions to 1977. Ah, but then in 1995 the NASB scholars decided to go back to the other reading of "but one thing is needful" and so now the 1995 NASB Update reads like all the others. Likewise the older Nestle-Aland texts used to read: "but FEW THINGS are needful, THE ONE", but now have once again changed their NA critical texts to read as does the King James Bible. But wait! It gets worse. Now that the latest Nestle-Aland critical texts have gone back to the KJB reading, the brand new 2005 Today's NIV has instead reverted back to the previous Nestle-Aland text and now reads: "FEW THINGS ARE NEEDED - REALLY ONLY ONE". It just gets better and better, doesn't it?!?
1 Peter 5:2 - KJB "Feed the flock of God which is among you, TAKING THE OVERSIGHT THEREOF". The phrase "taking the oversight thereof" is omitted by the NASB editions of 1963, 68, 71, 72, 73, 75 but put back in the 1977 edition. The RSV also omits it because it is not in Sinaiticus or Vaticanus, but the phrase is included in the NIV, RV, ASV, NRSV and the ESV because it is in the Majority, A, and P72. The older Nestles text omitted the phrase, but now the UBS text puts it back in brackets, and the newer NASBs from 1977 and 1995 now include the reading along with the Holman, ESV and NIV. So, the older NASB's lack these inspired words, but the newer ones now once again include them. By the way, Vaticanus, one of the "oldest and best" upon which most modern versions like the NASB are based, omits the entire next verse: "Neither as being lord's over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." Vaticanus omits the entire verse, though it is found in all the others, including Sinaiticus, and this time the modern versions follow the Sinaiticus reading and include the whole verse. Nice of them to do, don't you think?
Amos 3:2 "You only HAVE I KNOWN of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."
"You only HAVE I KNOWN" is the reading of the RV, ASV, RSV, ESV, Holman Standard, NKJV, Darby, Young's, Geneva Bible and the Jewish translations. The word "to know" is # 3045, and means to know, as is Genesis 4:1 "And Adam knew his wife Eve"; Genesis 22:12 "Now I know that thou fearest God"; and Jeremiah 1:5 "before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee."
However the NASB of 1972 said: "You ONLY HAVE ME of all the families of the earth." Then in 1977 the NASB changed to read like the NIV:'"You only HAVE I CHOSEN among all the families of the earth." Both readings are wrong.
Revelation 14:4 "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they ARE VIRGINS." So read all Greek texts, and the RV, ASV, NKJV and ESV. However, the NASB of 1972 says: "for they are CELIBATES", and then footnotes that it literally says "virgins". A person may be celibate but not necessarily a virgin. Then the NASB 1977 changed this to read: "they HAVE KEPT THEMSELVES CHASTE." Neither rendering is "literal" or even accurate.
Proverbs 30:3 The King James Bible as well as the RV, ASV, NKJV and the NIV say: "I neither learned wisdom, NOR have the knowledge of the holy.
The NASB of 1972 says: "And I have not learned wisdom, BUT I HAVE knowledge of the Holy One." - The exact opposite meaning. Then in 1977 the NASB changed this to read: "Neither have I learned wisdom, NOR do I have the knowledge of the Holy One."
Proverbs 30:26 in the King James Bible reads: "The CONIES are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks." A coney is a type of rabbit, and conies or coneys is the reading found in the RV, ASV, Geneva Bible, Young's, and even in the NIV.
However the NASB 1972-1977 editions say: "The BADGERS are not mighty FOLK; Yet they make their houses in the rocks." Then in 1995 the NASB once again changed their texts to now read: "The SHEPHANIM are not a mighty PEOPLE, Yet they make their houses in the rocks."
Isaiah 21:8 in the King James Bible reads: " Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth." Then verse 8 reads: "And he cried, A LION : My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen: and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground."
It is very clear that the Hebrew Masoretic text says A LION. "a lion" is the reading found in the 1917, 1936 Jewish translations, the Geneva Bible, Young's, Darby, the RV, the ASV, Third Millenium Bible, the KJV 21, and the Catholic Douay version. The NKJV reads A Lion, but has a footnote telling us the Dead Sea Scrolls read "The Observer".
The NIV reads: "And THE LOOKOUT shouted, Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower." The NIV rejects the Hebrew text which reads "a lion", and imports a variant reading from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The new English Standard Version, follows the RSV with "Then HE WHO SAW cried out..." with a footnote telling us this reading comes from the Syriac and the Dead Sea Scrolls, but the Hebrew says A Lion.
In the 1972 NASB edition we read: "Then THE SENTRY called LIKE A LION, O Lord, I stand continually..." Here the NASB 72 put both readings in. They added "The Sentry", which is not found in the Hebrew Masoretic text nor in the RV or ASV, but comes from the DSS., but they also kept the word Lion. But then in the1995 NASB they now have: "Then the LOOKOUT cried, O Lord, I stand..." Now the NASB scholars changed Sentry to Lookout, and this time omitted the word Lion.
Isaiah 26:3 in the King James Bible reads: "Thou wilt keep HIM in perfect peace, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE, because HE trusts in thee."
This is also the reading found in the RV, ASV, the Jewish translations, NKJV, Darby, the RSV and the ESV, to name a few. But, the 1971 NASB reads very differently with: "Thou wilt keep THE NATION OF STEADFAST PURPOSE in perfect peace, because IT trusts in Thee." Then in 1972 the NASB changed this to now read: "THE STEADFAST OF MIND Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because HE trusts in Thee." The 1995 NASB reads the same as the 1972 but it has now replaced the "Thou" and "Thee" with the generic "You" in both places.
Ezra 8:5 and 8:10 NASB 95, NIV, ESV, RSV, Holman all add to the Hebrew Scriptures.
In Ezra chapter eight we read of the genealogy of those who went up with Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. In Ezra 8:5 we read: "Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males."
This is the reading of the Hebrew text, as well as the Geneva Bible, the RV, ASV, Young's, Darby, Douay, the Spanish Reina Valera, and the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, and 1998. It WAS also the reading of the NASB in their 1972 and 1977 editions.
However, the new NASB of 1995 now reads as do the RSV, ESV, NIV, the newer Catholic versions like the Jerusalem Bible and the St. Joseph NAB, and the Holman Standard. These versions say: "Of the descendants OF ZATTU, Shechaniah son of Jahaziel.." Then in a footnote the NIV, ESV and Holman tell us that the name ZATTU comes from SOME LXX copies, but that the Hebrew does not have this added name.
The same thing occurs in Ezra 8:10. Here the King James Bible as well as the Hebrew text and Jewish translations (1917 -1998), and the RV, ASV, Young's, Darby, Douay of 1950, and Spanish versions all read: "And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 males." This WAS the reading too of the NASB of 1972 and 1977.
But once again, the 1995 NASB has changed its Old Testament text and it now reads along with the RSV, ESV, NIV, the newer Catholic versions, and the Holman Standard: "Of the descendants of BANI, Shelomith son of Josiphiah..." Then in the NIV, ESV and Holman footnote (the NASB doesn't tell us that they changed the text), we read that the name of BANI comes from SOME LXX copies (they do not all read the same), but that the Hebrew does not have the name BANI in the text.
I Samuel 13:1 reads in the King James Bible:"Saul reigned ONE YEAR; and when he had reigned TWO YEARS over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel...and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent." This is the reading of the KJB, the NKJV, Miles Coverdale 1535, Bishop's Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible of 1599, Daniel Webster's translation of 1833, Lamsa's translation of the Syriac Peshitta, the Spanish Reina Valera of 1602 and 1960, the Italian Diodati version, the KJV 21st century version and the Third Millenium Bible.
There are several bible versions like Darby's, the RSV, NRSV, ESV, and the New Scofield KJV, which actually read: "Saul was ____years old when he began to reign; and he reigned_____and two years over Israel." Then in a footnote they tell us "the number is lacking in Hebrew" and "two is not the entire number. Something has dropped out."
The ASV of 1901, which is the predecessor of the NASB, says: "Saul was (FORTY) years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned TWO years over Israel..." Then in a footnote it tells us "The number is lacking in the Hebrew text, and is supplied conjecturally."
When we finally get to the NASB and the NIV we really get confused. The NASB of 1972 and 1977 reads: "Saul was THIRTY years old when he began to reign, and he reigned THIRTY TWO years over Israel." But the 1995 edition of the NASB has changed the 32 years to now read 42 years. The NIV says: "Saul was THIRTY years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel FORTY TWO years." So was Saul 30 or 40, and did he reign 2 years as the ASV tells us, or 32 as some NASBs have it, or the 42 of the NIV?
For a more complete examination of this passage showing that the King James reading is correct, please see this link -
Have some of God's inspired words been lost ?
Job 6:2 - "O that my grief were throughly weighed, and my CALAMITY laid in the balances together!". So read the RV, ASV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NKJV and many others. However the NASB's of 1972-1977 said INIQUITY instead of 'calamity', which totally changes the meaning of the text. But wait. Now the 1995 NASB edition has come out and it has gone back to reading CALAMITY.
Job 19:25-26 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; And though after my skin worms destroy this body, YET IN MY FLESH shall I see God."
"Yet IN MY FLESH shall I see God" is the reading found in the Geneva Bible, the NKJV, the Revised Version and even the NIV. This wonderful verse speaks of the resurrection of the body. However the NASB of 1972 and 1973 reads: "Even after my skin IS FLAYED, yet WITHOUT MY FLESH, I shall see God."
Then in 1977 the NASB once again changed their English text to now read: "Even after my skin is DESTROYED, Yet FROM MY FLESH I shall see God." So, is it "without my flesh" or "from my flesh"?
Matthew 17:14-15 in the King James Bible we read: "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for HE IS A LUNATICK, and sore vexed..."
This man's son was possessed of a devil, which caused the lad's mental illness. Jesus then casts out the devil and the boy is cured in that very hour. The word correctly translated as LUNATICK is the Greek word from which we get the word "moon" or "luna". Thus in English we have the lunar cycle. Lunatick means literally "moon-struck", and has to do with mental illness or madness. It is not the physical affliction of epilepsy.
Bible versions that correctly translate this word as Lunatick are the Vulgate in 425 A.D, Wycliffe 1395, Coverdale 1535, Bishop's Bible 1568, Geneva Bible 1599, Wesley's translation 1755, Webster's 1833, the Douay-Rheims, Rotherham's Emphasized bible 1902, Darby, Young's, the KJV 21, Third Millenium Bible, and Green's Modern KJV.
The NASB is interesting in that from 1960 to 1973 it translated this word as "for he is AN EPILEPTIC", with a footnote telling us that the word literally means moonstruck. But then in 1977 and again in the 1995 Update, the NASB now reads "he is a LUNATIC".
Matthew 21:28-31 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said I WILL NOT; BUT AFTERWARD HE REPENTED, AND WENT. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I GO, SIR; AND WENT NOT. Whether of the twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, THE FIRST."
This is the reading found in the Majority of all texts including Sinaiticus and is the reading not only of the KJB but also of the RV, ASV, RSV, ESV, NIV, NKJV. However the case with the NASB is quite interesting. From 1963 through 1977, a period of 7 revisions, the NASB followed the Vaticanus manuscript which reverses these two sons.
From 1960 through 1977 the NASB read: "he came to the first and said, Son go work in the vineyard. And he answered and said, I WILL SIR, AND HE DID NOT GO. And he came to the second and said the same thing. But he answered and said, I WILL NOT, YET AFTERWARD HE REGRETTED IT AND WENT. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, THE LATTER."
But then in 1995 the NASB reversed themselves again from the previous NASBs and changed their readings back to match that of all the other versions both before and after the King James Bible. The NASB 1995 now reads like the King James Bible always did.
Luke 24:36 says: “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.” So read the RV, ASV, NKJV and the NIV. However the NASB from 1963 to 1977 omitted these words, and have a footnote which says: “SOME ancient mss. insert”. SOME? Is the word “some” a fair description of “all except one”? In 1995 "some" NASBs again added "and said unto them, Peace be unto you", and "some" did not! The 1995 copy I have does not have them, but another Christian told me the one he has does include the words. Consistency is not the NASB's strongpoint.
Luke 24:40 is a very interesting example. “And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.” This entire verse is omitted in the NASBs from 1960 to 1973, and by the RSV. But it is in the RV, ASV, NIV, and the NRSV. The NASB of 1977, and the 95 update have again included this verse they previously left out, but now they have it in brackets, thus casting doubt on its authenticity.
Luke 24:51. “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, AND CARRIED UP INTO HEAVEN.” These last 5 words, “and carried up into heaven” are found in the NIV, the Revised Version, the ASV and the NRSV. But they are omitted by the RSV and the NASBs from 1960 to 1977. But wait, now the 1995 edition of the new and improved NASB has put them back in for us. So, were the previous NASBs not the inspired words of God, but now in 1995 it is?
In Luke 24:52 the reaction of the disciples at seeing our risen Lord ascend into heaven was that “they WORSHIPPED HIM AND, returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” Here again the NASBs from 1960 - 1977 omitted the words WORSHIPPED HIM AND, and merely have: “And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” The RSV also omits this phrase, but the NRSV puts it back in and so does the 1995 NASB.
In Luke 22:37 the King James Bible and many others correctly read "And he was reckoned among the transgressors." However the NASBs from 1963 to at least 1972 read: "And HE WAS CLASSED AMONG THE CRIMINALS." However once again in 1977 and again in 1995 the NASB was changed to now read: "He was numbered with the transgressors." The meaning is essentially the same, but it should be clear that this is not just a printing error that was later corrected, but a deliberate change in translation.
Part Two - SOME examples of how the NASB is not at all a literal translation.
Matthew 1:25 Speaking of Joseph and Mary - "AND KNEW HER NOT till she had brought forth HER FIRSTBORN son: and he called his name JESUS."
Greek -kai ouk eginwsken auteen. "Knew her not" is not archaic and obviously means to know in an intimate, sexual manner. It is also the reading of the RV, ASV, NKJV, but the NASB, NIV say: "and KEPT HER A VIRGIN." The only word they got right is "her". God knows how to say "kept" and "virgin" but He didn't say this here.
Luke 15:20 "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran, and FELL ON HIS NECK, and kissed him."
The Greek texts clearly and literally read "and fell on his neck", and so too do such Bible translations as Wycliffe 1395, Tyndale 1525, Coverdale 1535, Bishops' bible 1568, Geneva 1599, the RV 1881, ASV 1901, NKJV, Darby, Young's, and the Spanish Reina Valera. See such other references to the literal "fell on his neck" in Genesis 45:14; 46:29 and Acts 20:37.
However the "literal" NASB was the first to follow the liberal RSV and says "embraced him", the NIV follows the NRSV with "threw his arms around him", and the Holman Standard says: "threw his arms around his neck", and then footnotes that the literal Greek reads "fell on his neck". D. Wallace's NET totally paraphrases it as "hugged his son" and then footnotes that the literal reading is that found in the King James Bible.
1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore, GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND, be sober..."Greek - dio anazwsamenoi tas osfuas tes dianoias humon - also reading of the RV, ASV, Tyndale, Geneva, and NKJV.
NASB - "Gird your minds for action" - omits "loins" and adds "action". The NIV is worse with "prepare your minds for action".
2 Peter 2:5 "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, THE EIGHTH person (Greek - ogdoon 8th)a preacher of righteousness.." RV,ASV = KJB. NASB - "preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, WITH SEVEN OTHERS"
1 Corinthians 4:15 "for in Christ Jesus I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU through the gospel." ASV, RV = KJB Greek - ego humas egennesa. NASB - "I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER"
Acts 2:30 tells us of David: "knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of THE FRUIT OF HIS LOINS, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne" The Greek here is all texts is "of the fruit of his loins" (ek karpou tees osphuos autou) and so read the KJB, RV, ASV,Lamsa, Darby, Douay, Third Millenium Bible, Green's literal translation, Young's, Tyndale and Geneva Bibles. However the NASB and NIV join the RSV, and ESV in completely paraphrasing this as "ONE OF HIS DESCENDANTS".
1 Corinthians 8:4 "We know that an idol is nothing in the world." Greek - oidamen hoti ouden eidwlon en kosmw. Even the NIV, NKJV agree with the KJB but the NASB says: "we know that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN IDOL in the world." I'm sure the Catholic church is glad to hear this.
1 Corinthians 10:18 "behold Israel AFTER THE FLESH". RV, ASV = KJB Greek - kata sarka. NASB - "Look at THE NATION Israel."
2 Corinthians 6:11 "our mouth IS OPENED UNTO YOU." Greek - to stoma hemwn anewge pros humas RV, ASV = KJB. NASB - "our mouth HAS SPOKEN FREELY to you"
2 Corinthians 8:7 "and in YOUR love to US". RV, ASV equal KJB. NASB - "in the love WE INSPIRED in you"
2 Corinthians 11:29 "who is OFFENDED and I BURN NOT?" Greek - tis skandalizetai kai ouk puroumai. RV, ASV = KJB. NASB - "Who IS LED INTO SIN WITHOUT MY INTENSE CONCERN?"
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Jesus Christ is in you, EXCEPT YE BE REPROBATES" Greek - ei meeti adokimoi este. RV, ASV, Geneva, Douay = KJB. NASB "unless indeed YOU FAIL THE TEST."
Colossians 2:17 "Which are a shadow of things to come; but THE BODY (to soma) is of Christ." RV, ASV = KJB. NASB, NKJV - "the SUBSTANCE is of Christ."
Colossians 3:22 "servants, obey your masters ACCORDING TO THE FLESH...not with EYESERVICE" Greek - kata sarka...mee en ophthalmodouleiais. RV, ASV = KJB. NASB - "masters ON EARTH...not with EXTERNAL service."
Colossians 4:5 "REDEEMING the TIME". Greek - ton kaipon exagorazomenoi. RV, ASV = KJB. NASB - "MAKING THE MOST OF the OPPORTUNITY."
Exodus 4:13 "Send, I pray thee, BY THE HAND of him whom thou wilt send." The NASB, along with the RSV, NIV omits "by the hand", though found in the RV, ASV, NKJV.
Exodus 5:21 "ye have made OUR SAVOUR TO BE ABHORRED". So reads the Hebrew and the RV, ASV, but the NASB says: "made US ODIOUS", and then footnotes the literal meaning of "savor".
Exodus 6:4 "the land OF THEIR PILGRIMAGE, wherein they were strangers." So reads the Hebrew, the RV, ASV, NKJV, but the NASB along with the RSV, ESV, NIV omits these words.
Exodus 6:12 and 30 - "how then shall Pharoah hear me, WHO AM OF UNCIRCUMCISED LIPS?" So reads the Hebrew as well as the RV, ASV, NKJV, RSV, ESV, Douay, Darby, Young's, Geneva, etc. but the NASB says: "for I AM UNSKILLED IN SPEECH", while the NIV has "I speak with faltering lips".
Exodus 20:10 "nor thy stranger that is WITHIN THY GATES". So reads the Hebrew, the RV, ASV, NKJV, RSV, ESV, and even the NIV. But the NASB has "sojouner WHO IS WITH YOU" - thus omitting the literal word "gates".
Exodus 28:3 "And thou shalt speak unto all that are WISE HEARTED, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom..."
The Hebrew text literally reads "wise hearted" and so do the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, the RV, ASV, Youngs, Darby, Douay, Geneva and Spanish versions. However the NASB along with the NKJV, NIV, Holman, RSV, ESV etc. read: "speak to all the GIFTED ARTISANS" (Skillful persons, skilled men"). A man may be a gifted artisan, but not wise hearted. Likewise a man may be wise hearted but not a gifted artisan. The meaning is not the same, and the NASB, NKJV, NIV are not at all literal. The same thing is done in Exodus 31:6; 35:10, 25; and 36:1,2,4, 8.
Exodus 32:9 "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a STIFFNECKED people."
There are two Hebrew words here - "stiff" and "neck" and so read the RV, ASV, NKJV and even the NIV. However the NASB reads: "an OBSTINATE people". The phrase "stiffnecked people" is found 8 times in the O.T. and only once in the N.T. in Acts 7:51. But in the NASB it occurs zero times in the O.T. but once in Acts 7:51. This connection between the O.T. references and the N.T. is obscured in the NASB because they did not translate it literally.
Numbers 11:6 "our soul is dried away" - Goofy and incorrect translation in the NASB, NIV, and Holman Standard
In Numbers chapter six we read of the children of Israel complaining about the constant diet of the heavenly manna and their desire to eat flesh. "and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now OUR SOUL IS DRIED AWAY: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."
It is obvious that the children of Israel were crying out for new, more and better food. This is again confirmed in verse 13 where Moses complains: "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat." And again in verse 18 where God says to them: "and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat?"
John Gill comments: "But now our soul is dried away…?Meaning their bodies, which, for want of flesh food, they pretended had no moisture in them, or they were half starved, and in wasting and consuming circumstances."
John Wesley tersely comments: "soul Dried away - Is withered and pines away; which possibly might be true, through envy and discontent, and inordinate appetite."
Agreeing with the literal Hebrew text and correctly translating it as: "OUR SOUL IS DRIED AWAY" are the following Bible versions: Wycliffe 1395, the Geneva Bible, Bishops' Bible, Coverdale, the Revised Version, American Standard Version, the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, Darby, Young, Douay, Rotherham's Emphasized bible, Hebrew Names Bible, Spanish Reina Valera, and the Third Millenium Bible. Even Daniel Wallace's NET version says: "WE are dried up" with a footnote that the literal Hebrew is "soul" and not "we".
The NKJV paraphrases a bit with "our WHOLE BEING is dried up", but at least it is not nearly as bad as the NASB, NIV and Holman. The RSV, NRSV, and ESV miss the mark with: "our STRENGTH is dried up", but the totally off-the-wall NASB, NIV and Holman all say: "WE HAVE LOST OUR APPETITE", then the NASB informs us in their footnote that the literal reading is "our soul is dried up".
The absurdity of the NASB, NIV, Holman reading is that the children of Israel certainly HAD NOT LOST THEIR APPETITE, but were instead HUNGRY for new, more and different food that that plain ol' manna.
Numbers 14:9 "...neither fear ye the people of the land; FOR THEY ARE BREAD FOR US; their defence is departed from them..."
So read the RV, ASV, NKJV, Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, Youngs, Geneva, and even the RSV, and ESV. However the NASB says: "THEY SHALL BE OUR PREY".
Judges 11:35 "for I HAVE OPENED MY MOUTH unto the LORD, and I cannot go back." This is the literal reading and that of the RV, ASV, Geneva, and Jewish translations. However the NASB and the NKJV say "I have given my word"
Judges 15:8 "And he smote them HIP AND THIGH with a great slaughter" So read the RV, ASV, NKJV, Geneva and the Jewish translations. The NASB paraphrases this as "he struck them RUTHLESSLY"
Ezra 9:2 - "so that the holy SEED have mingled themselves with the people of those lands." The literal Hebrew reading here is "holy SEED" and so read the RV, ASV, NKJV, Young's, the Jewish translations and even the NRSV. However the RSV, NASB, NIV, ESV read: "the holy RACE". The Holman Standard says "the holy PEOPLE" and then footnotes that the Hebrew literally reads "seed". The true Bible does not teach that there are different "races" of men, some holy and others not holy. For a further development of how the modern versions teach racism see the article here: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/race.html
Psalm 10:6,10, and 13. The KJV as well as the Hebrew texts and the RV, ASV all tell us in these three verses "He hath said IN HIS HEART", yet the NASB paraphrases all three as "He says TO HIMSELF".
Psalm 22:14 "my heart is like wax; it is melted IN THE MIDST OF MY BOWELS". So read the Hebrew texts and the RV, Geneva, Darby, Youngs and Douay. But the NASB, NKJV, NIV have changed this to "within me".
Psalm 27:4 "to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to ENQUIRE in his temple." So read the RV, ASV and NKJV, but the NASB says: "and to MEDITATE in his temple", then footnotes that literally the Hebrew reads "inquire". To inquire is to ask and seek answers. To "meditate" changes the meaning of the verse.
Psalm 30:12 "To the end that my GLORY may sing praise to thee". So read the RV, ASV, Darby and the Jewish translations, but the NASB says "my SOUL" instead of "my glory". The RSV also says "soul" but then footnotes that the literal Hebrew is "glory". Tbe NASB is consistently inconsistent. Again, in Psalm 57:8 we read: "Awake up, my GLORY; awake psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early." "Awake up, my GLORY" is what the Hebrew says, as well as the RV, ASV, NKJV and this time the NASB too. (The NIV still wrongly says "my SOUL"), but then again in Psalm 108:1 we read the literal Hebrew "I will sing and give praise, even with my GLORY". So read the RV, ASV, NKJV, but the NASB once again goes back to the false reading of "my SOUL."
Psalm 31:10 "my BONES are consumed". Literal Hebrew and the RV, ASV, NKJV and even the NIV, but the NASB has: "my BODY is wasted away". The NASB does the same thing in Psalm 32:3.
Psalm 35:19 "neither let them wink WITH THE EYE that hate me without a cause". Literal Hebrew and the RV, ASV, NKJV and even the NIV, but the NASB paraphrases this as "wink MALICIOUSLY".
Psalm 146:3 "Put not your trust in princes, nor in THE SON OF MAN, in whom there is no help."
"Son of Man" is 1121 (ben) 120 (Adam), and is correctly translated as "son of man" in the KJB, RV, ASV, NKJV, Geneva, RSV, ESV, 1917, 1936 Jewish translations. However the NASB, NIV both say "put not your trust in princes nor IN MORTAL MAN". A quick look at the NASB concordance shows they have translated # 1121 as "son" 4,321 times, and as "mortal" only once, and that is here.
Isaiah 46:8 - "Remember this, and SHEW YOURSELVES MEN: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors." The verb correctly translated as "shew yourselves men" is # 377 eesh, and comes directly from the word for "men" #366. So read the RV, ASV, NKJV, Darby, Youngs, Greens, Rotherham's Emphasized Bible and the Hebrew Names Bible to name a few. However the NASB says: "AND BE ASSURED", following the liberal RSV that has "and consider", while the NIV has "fix it in mind". To make things interesting, the Holman Standard says "AND BE BRAVE" while the New English Bible 1970 says: "YOU REBELS".
Isaiah 48:1 - "Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the WATERS of Judah...". So reads the literal Hebrew text as well as the RV, ASV, Geneva Bible, Youngs, Douay, the Jewish translations and even the new ESV. However the RSV and NASB read: "out of the LOINS of Judah". The NIV has "the LINE of Judah". The Holman Standard says "which DESCENDED FROM Judah" and then in a footnote tells us the literal Hebrew reading is "waters of Judah".
Matthew 27:19 "for I have suffered many things THIS DAY in a dream because of him" (seemeron - day) RV, ASV, KJB. But the NASB "LAST NIGHT"
Matthew 24:28 "there will the EAGLES be gathered together" (aetos) RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - THE VULTURES - yet the NASB translates this same word as "eagle" in Revelation 4:7; 8:13, and 12:14.
Matthew 12:40 "three days and three nights in THE WHALE'S BELLY" - RV, ASV, KJB. Greek ketos- a whale. NASB - "THE SEA MONSTER"
Acts 2:43 "And fear came upon every soul" (egeneto de pasn psuxn fobos) Revised Version, ASV, NKJV, Geneva, Tyndale = KJB. NASB "And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe" - total paraphrase.
Acts 7:25 "For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God BY HIS HAND would deliver them" oti o qeoV dia ceiroV autou "by his hand" is the reading of the KJB, RV, ASV, NKJV, RSV, ESV. But the NASB joins the NIV and says: "THROUGH HIM".
Acts 15:2 "Paul and Barnabas had NO SMALL dissension and disputation with them". "no small" (ouk oligees) is the literal reading of the KJB, RV, ASV, NKJV, RSV, ESV, but the NASB says "had GREAT dissension", while the NIV reads: "had SHARP dispute". Now, God knows how to say "no small" and He knows how to say "great" (megalee), and here He clearly says "no small" dissension.
Mark 7:22 Here the Lord is telling us what evil things come out of the heart of man and defile him. Among these things listed are: "wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy..."
All Greek texts read the same here with "an evil eye" (Ofthalmos poneros). This is literally what the text says and so read the KJB, NKJV, RV, ASV, Young's, Darby, Geneva and several others. However beginning with the RSV, and now in the NASB, NIV, ESV, they have changed this to "ENVY".
An evil eye is not the same thing as envy. There are many passages in both testaments that speak of an evil eye, and in none of them is it referring to envy. According to Webster's dictionary, an evil eye is a glance held to be capable of inflicting harm or injury because of the malice of the person looking. The primary motive of an evil eye is malice, not envy.
Here is just one of the many uses of this phrase - "an evil eye". Deuteronomy 15:9 "Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and THINE EYE BE EVIL against thy poor brother, and thou givest him not..." The NASB got it right in Deut. 15:9, but not in several other passages. The intent is malice, not envy. Not only have the NASB, NIV, ESV, RSV paraphrased the words "evil eye" in Mark 7:22 as "envy", but have missed the intended meaning.
Again in Proverbs 23:6 the same Hebrew words are used saying: "Eat thou not the bread of him that hath AN EVIL EYE..." So read the RV, ASV and the Jewish translations, but the NASB says: "Do not eat the bread of A SELFISH MAN..." Yet, the NASB margin notes that the literal reading is "an evil eye".
Mark 13:22 "And except that the Lord had shortened those days, NO FLESH (sarks) should be saved." All texts read "flesh" and so do the RV, ASV, NKJV, Tyndale, Geneva, etc. However the NASB says: "No LIFE would have been saved", while the NIV has "No ONE", and the ESV has "no HUMAN BEING would be saved." All three are paraphrases.
Mark 14:44 "Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he; take him, and lead him away SAFELY." SAFELY is asphalws, and is so rendered by the RV, ASV, NKJV, Youngs, and even the RSV. However the NASB, NIV, ESV have paraphrased this as "lead him away UNDER GUARD."
Ezekiel 19:7 "He KNEW their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities."
"He KNEW" is the reading of the Hebrew texts, and that of the RV, ASV, 1917 JPS, Geneva, Darby, Youngs, and the NKJV. However the NIV say "He BROKE DOWN their strongholds" and then footnotes that this is from a Targum (an interpretation) but that the Hebrew reads "he knew". The NASB says "he DESTROYED their fortified towers", and the ESV says: "he SEIZED their WIDOWS"!! The NASB follows an interpretation and not the literal Hebrew text.
Ezekiel 20:5, 6, 15, 23 and 28: "In the day when I chose Israel, and LIFTED UP MY HAND unto the seed of the house of Jacob...I LIFTED UP MY HAND unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God."
The literal Hebrew reading is "I lifted up my hand" and so read the RV, ASV, Geneva, Youngs, Darby and many others, but the NASB, along with the RSV, paraphrases this as "I SWORE". The verb "to swear" is a different Hebrew word.
Ezekiel 20:26 "all that OPENETH THE WOMB" is the literal Hebrew reading and that of the RV, ASV, Geneva, Darby, Young, but the NASB along with the NKJV, NIV, RSV, ESV all paraphrase this as "THE FIRSTBORN". The Hebrew word for "firstborn" is an entirely different word.
Luke 15:20 "...his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and FELL ON HIS NECK." Greek - epepesen epi ton traxeelon autou. So read the RV, ASV, NKJV, Tyndale, Geneva, and Young's. See Gen. 45:14; 46:29, and Acts 20:37. However the NASB totally paraphrases this as "and EMBRACED HIM."
Proverbs 3:4 "So shalt thou find favour and GOOD UNDERSTANDING" - RV, ASV, KJB, but the NASB has "you will find favor and GOOD REPUTE"
Proverbs 3:8 "It shall be health to thy NAVEL" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "YOUR BODY"
3:27 "when it is in the power of thine HAND" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB OMITS.
8:16 "all the judges OF THE EARTH" - RV, ASV, KJB, NKJV, NIV, RSV, Darby, Young, Geneva Bible and the 1917 and 1936 Jewish translations. NASB - "all who judge RIGHTLY"
11:17 "but he that is cruel troubleth HIS OWN FLESH" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "does HIMSELF harm"
11:21 "THOUGH HAND JOIN IN HAND, the wicked shall not be unpunished." RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "ASSUREDLY the evil man will not go unpunished."
14:23 "but the TALK OF THE LIPS tendeth only to penury" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - but MERE TALK"
15:23 "A man hath joy by the answer of HIS MOUTH" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "a man has joy in AN APT answer."
15:31 "THE EAR that heareth the reproof of life..." - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "HE that hears..."
16:26 "for his MOUTH craveth it of him" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "HIS HUNGER"
17:8 "A gift is a PRECIOUS STONE (2 distinct Hebrew words) in the eyes of him that hath it." - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "A bribe is A CHARM..."
22:9 "He that hath A BOUNTIFUL EYE shall be blessed." - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "He who IS GENEROUS..."
22:21 "that thou mightest answer WORDS OF TRUTH to THEM that send unto thee?" - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "that you may CORRECTLY answer TO HIM who sent you?"
23:6 "Eat not thou the bread of him that hath AN EVIL EYE..." - RV, ASV, KJB. NASB - "the bread of A SELFISH MAN"
Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth THE COUNTENANCE of his FRIEND."
So reads the Hebrew text as well as the RV, ASV, 1917, Geneva, Youngs, Darby, and the NKJV. However the NASB, RSV, NIV, and Holman all omit the word "countenance" (face) and change friend to "another". The NASB reads: "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 28:17 "A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person SHALL FLEE TO THE PIT; let no man stay him." So read the RV, ASV, the Jewish translations, the NKJV, Young. But the NASB joins the RSV, ESV, NIV and says: "WILL BE A FUGITIVE UNTIL DEATH". The ESV notes that the Hebrew literally reads "pit". The word does not mean "death".
Proverbs 28:25 "...but he that putteth his trust in the LORD SHALL BE MADE FAT." So read the RV, ASV, Geneva, Young. The NASB, NIV, NKJV change this to "WILL PROSPER". Generally the same meaning, but not the literal Hebrew as found in the KJB.
Proverbs 31:16 "WITH THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS she planteth a vineyard" is the literal Hebrew and the reading of the RV, ASV, RSV, ESV, Geneva, Youngs, and the Jewish translations 1917, 1936, But the NASB says: "FROM HER EARNINGS..."
Proverbs 31:17 "SHE GIRDETH HER LOINS with strength" is the literal Hebrew and in the RV, ASV, Jewish translations 1917, 1936 and even the RSV, but the NASB says: "she girds HERSELF".
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For those who object to this article
I understand that If I object to this article, that I need to take certain steps:
1. I need to clearly understand for myself what is the specific basis of my objection
2. I need to remember that other people cannot read my mind and may not understand what I have a problem with, and I will need to be patient in explaining my objection.
3. I need to examine my own motives and decide what is pushing me or motivating me to respond about this article. If there is an issue of lack of accuracy, then I do need to bring this up.
But if the issue is that the article is accurate, then I need to understand how I should be responding to the parts that I already know and understand are true.
4. I need to be wise, so that I do not use my own lack of knowledge, as the basis for objecting too fast. There are many questions and much documentation that can be provided to those who may object. If I have a problem I can ask for this documentation, but I need to be sure and ask myself just what I am placing my SECURITY in, as a fellow Christian.
5. does the article upset me because it may be TRUE, and I am disturbed because I am finding that I have put my security in a Version of the Bible that either is NOT accurate or that was NOT accurately translated ?
6. does this mean that I may be in spiritual danger, and that I need to do much more research personally, for myself, and stop taking the word of some Pastors or leaders who are simply telling me NOT to worry about these issues, but to be warm and filled and go back to sleep ?
7. Do I need to undertand that even though some of these Pastors who "bless" all versions may have good intentions, that they may not have the gift of Biblical Discernment, and therefore they may not understand either their own need to do a great deal of personal research on this matter, so that they do not endanger the Congregation and individual Church members that they have been entrusted with ?
8. Is the church that I am going to either part of a denomination that now is Liberal or has turned its back on God or historic Christianity, or part of a group that is endorsing Unbliblical or Anti-Historic Practices such as Word of Faith or selling the Gospel by Trends such as using Church Consultants that are far more committed to Church NUMBER growth, and NOT the individual Spiritual Maturity of the Christians that are ALREADY there ?
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The Real Question is what are you going to do with the information that was presented in this article.
Is the Information True ?
Is the Information Accurate ?
Is the Information documented ?
Do I - before God - have a responsibility if I am a Christian to accept and act on the information in this article ?
Am I comfortable in the knowledge, that some leaders under the guise of clarifying the text of the Bible, are actually changing that text, and changing MY understanding of what God wants to share with me through His Holy Word, the Old Testament and the New Testament ?
Do I understand that these "small" changes number from the hundreds to the THOUSANDS depending on which Modern Versions I use, and that these changes serve to cut away the clarity and the specific understanding found in the Greek New Testament, that these new modern versions are preventing me from understanding ?
Do I understand that most of these new Modern Versions were not developed because there was a genuine need, but because the teams of Bible Translators were Hired by PUBLISHING companies who are eager to make a profit on the Word of God, which remains the Number ONE bestseller every week of every year, and that these Publishers decided to cash in ?
Do I understand that the problem was that if these Bible Adjusters and Correctors did NOT make the changes that they chose to, that they would not be able to claim copyright protection, and therefore they would not be able to make a financial Profit from their new versions ?
Do I understand that there are Spiritual Forces that want to prevent me from having GREATER spiritual understanding about God, but that God himself is always in MORE of a hurry than I am, for Me to get to know HIM ?
Do I realize what my personal state of preparation will be, within me, when Islam becomes the Dominant Religion in the United States, as it is already in Europe, and how I will personally be required to defend my Faith, by argument and persuasion, using knowledge of the Bible and of History and of Christianity, and that God will rightly hold me accountable because I am claiming to be His Child and a personal follower of Jesus Christ ?
In view of these facts, should I try to set aside more time for the study of the Word of God, and more time for the study of History and the true history of the Christian Church, and to learn about how other Christians in the past, actually learned to have and to gain GREAT spiritual strength ?
If no one reaches out to help prepare me for the coming challenges, whose job is it STILL for me to be prepared to answer these challenges and questions ?
FREE Ebooks for your encouragement, consideration and learning (PDF) Page can be found here: http://www.exorthodoxforchrist.com/free_ebooks_instant_downloads_pdf.htm
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
II Timothy 2: 15
Study to show thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
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