In 2021 a new translation became available to the English speaking world: the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB). John MacArthur and his scholars at The Master's University and The Master's Seminary were given the unprecedented opportunity by the Lockman Foundation to revise their copyrighted New American Standard Bible and publish it under a new title. The small hand-selected translation committee, in God's wise Providence, had the opportunity to pour over the NASB verse by verse and revise it because of the shutdown in America due to Covid-19. The LSB is the kind of translation for which I have been waiting for years. I specifically have been waiting for a Bible version to accomplish point one below:
1. It restored the covenant name of God as found in the Old Testament. Many translations do not mention His Hebrew name but, instead, print it in all-caps as THE LORD. Lord is a title, not His name. The Trinity's Hebrew name—Yahweh, pronounced closely like "Yah-way"—is extremely important to Him. It is used 6,844 times in the LSB Old Testament! Also, the shortened form of the name, Yah, is used 50 times.
Yahweh means "He Is." When He speaks of Himself He may say, "I Am." When Hebrew speakers spoke of Him they often said Yahweh, "He Is." Both come from the Hebrew "to be" verb hayah.
Consider this passage from the LSB:
Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am about to come to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ And they will say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
And God furthermore said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name from generation to generation. (Ex 3.13-15)
If it matters to God it should matter to us. Some years ago the Lexham English Bible restored the name of Yahweh in their translation but they never published their version. It is only available in digital format. This prevented me from using the LEB as my pulpit Bible.
2. It translated the New Testament Greek word doulos as "slave." It took intestinal fortitude for them to do it. Some translations translate it as "servant" or "bond-servant" but the LSB bluntly says "slave."
3. They refined and tweaked the entire NASB text, already an outstanding translation. They made it even better. In particular, the translation committee paid close attention to the New Testament Greek verbs and were careful to translate them accordingly, such as the imperfect verb.
I love this translation. Though the carefully-selected translation team differs with me in places—they are Calvinists and Dispensationalists while I remain Wesleyan and Amillennialist—theologically they are all very conservative and able scholars and orthodox in the faith. They are my Christian brothers.
Examine the Legacy Standard Bible yourself for free. Click here to go to the entire Bible which is online.
If you prefer another translation such as the KJV, NKJV, ESV or NIV I have no quarrel. I consult other translations as well.
Additionally, I also love the Christian Standard Bible. I enjoying preaching from both translations.
