The Sources Used for the NASB Bible
As of 2011, there are a plethora of modern English translations of the Bible. This variety has been fueled by advances in archaeology and new insights into life in ancient times, manuscript discoveries and the perceived need to keep pace with the evolution of the English language. Many scholars and laymen consider the New American Standard version, or NASB, first published in 1971 and updated in 1995, to be among the greatest Biblical translations due to its more literal adherence to the original texts.
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Biblia Hebraica
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NASB translators relied heavily upon the renowned work by Rudolph Kittel, the "Biblia Hebraica." Kittel was a German scholar known for his expertise related to the Old Testament. He lived between 1853 and 1929. The translation work provided via Biblia Hebraica represents what is his most recognized contribution to Biblical scholarship and interpretation. It is used as a textbook and reference source in many Bible schools.
Dead Sea Scrolls
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The NASB translators utilized the Dead Sea Scrolls. These documents were discovered in 11 caves near the site of Khirbet Qumran on the shores of the Dead Sea. The discoveries took place between the years 1947 and 1956. Thousands of fragments and portions of ancient Jewish documents and Biblical texts were discovered. These discoveries greatly enhanced scholars' understanding of how the Bible was transmitted and provided more ancient witnesses much closer to the original texts of the Bible.
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Masoretic Text
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The NASB translators also referred to the Masoretic Text. This document represents the only other remaining copy of the Old Testament in Hebrew aside from the Dead Sea Scrolls. The oldest fragments of the Masoretic Text date from the ninth century A.D. However, the NASB translators relied primarily upon the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Septuagint
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The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament completed in Alexandria in the third century prior to Christianity. This is the text primarily relied upon by first-century Jews, and is cited by the New Testament authors. The NASB translators made use of this translation of the Old Testament.
Nestle Greek New Testament
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The 23rd Edition of the Nestle Greek New Testament was another important source for the NASB translators. The first edition was published by Eberhard Nestle in 1898. It has been subsequently revised over the years.
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