The Origin of the LSB

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 the Author’s intent. In this way, the refinements in the LSB also preserve the legacy of the NASB.

A Legacy in the Making

Explore the lineage of the LSB that began over 70 years ago

1942

The Lockman Foundation’s Beginning

On December 3, 1942, Dewey & Minna Lockman donated 75% of their 385 acre citrus ranch, located in La Habra, California, to form The Lockman Foundation, a non-profit corporation with the established purpose of promoting Christian evangelism, education, and benevolence.

1959

The Endeavor Begins

In 1959, a group of scholars and pastors were organized to start work on the New American Standard Bible. This literal translation, direct from the original languages and modeled on the scholarship and accuracy of the 1901 American Standard Version, also incorporated new information taken from the recently discovered Dead Sea Scrolls. The New Testament released in 1963.

1971

NASB Dedication

The first complete NASB was dedicated at a public service held at Dewey and Minna Lockman’s home church. Six years later it would be listed as the #1 selling Bible by the Christian Booksellers Association.

1981

The NAS Exhaustive Concordance

In 1981 the New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance was published. This tool further established the NASB as the version of choice for theologians and scholars. Because of its accuracy, readability, and clarity, the NASB soon became trusted and used by scholars, pastors, teachers, and readers for everyday study.

1995

Updated Language

In 1995, the NASB went through an update, removing the archaic language of “thee,” “thou,” and “thy”. The result was the NASB ’95, which serves as the base text for the LSB.

2020

Updates and Preservation

Leaders from The Lockman Foundation, Three Sixteen Publishing, and The John MacArthur Charitable Trust met to explore the idea of an update to the NASB ’95. 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.

2021

A Legacy for All

The Legacy Standard Bible was completed by a team of scholars from The Master’s Seminary and University. Working directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to update the text of the NASB ’95, the goal for the LSB to preserve and honor its predecessors was accomplished. The LSB New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs was released first, with the complete LSB released in October 2021.

A Legacy Upheld

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. This new level of precision the Bible reader is able to see more of what is happening in the original text than ever before. Learn more

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.