The NASB and the NABRE are both serious, scholarly Bible translations, but they come from different traditions and aim at different readers. The New American Standard Bible is an evangelical translation that tries to follow the wording of the original languages as closely as English allows. The New American Bible, Revised Edition is the Catholic translation used in the United States, and it balances accuracy with clear, readable English. If you want a text that stays close to the grammar and word choice of Hebrew and Greek, the NASB suits you best. If you want a careful modern translation that reflects Catholic scholarship and reads smoothly in liturgy and study, the NABRE is often the better fit.
Background
The NASB traces back to the Lockman Foundation, an organization that sponsored its first complete edition in 1971, with the New Testament appearing earlier in 1963. It was produced by a committee of conservative evangelical scholars who wanted a revision of the older American Standard Version that kept its literal character while updating the English. Later editions, including the 1995 update and the 2020 edition, have adjusted wording and readability while keeping the same general approach.
The NABRE is the work of the Catholic bishops of the United States, who commissioned it as a revision of the earlier New American Bible. It draws on a large team of Catholic scholars and includes the deuterocanonical books that Catholics recognize in their Old Testament. The revision was completed and published in stages, with the full Bible appearing in 2011 and a revised New Testament and Psalms following. It is the translation most often read in Catholic parishes in the United States, including in the Lectionary used at Mass.
Translation Method
The NASB is generally described as a formal, word-for-word translation. Its translators tried to render each Hebrew and Greek word with a consistent English equivalent and to preserve the sentence structure of the original where possible. The result is a text that often feels stiff in English, but it lets you trace how a particular word or phrase is used across the Bible. Readers who study vocabulary, grammar or verb tense often value this approach because it shows them more of what the original authors actually wrote.
The NABRE uses a more dynamic approach, sometimes called thought-for-thought. Its translators aimed to convey the meaning of a passage in natural English rather than mirror every grammatical feature of the source. This makes the text flow well when read aloud and easier to follow in a single pass. The trade-off is that some subtle wording choices in the original may be smoothed into a single English phrase, so careful readers sometimes compare it with a more literal text when a detail matters.
Reading Level and Style
Because the NASB holds closely to the original wording, its sentences can be long and its English can sound formal or unfamiliar in places. Many readers find it demanding at first but rewarding once they settle into its rhythm. It works well for close Bible study, memorization that depends on exact wording, and comparing the text word by word with a concordance or interlinear resource.
The NABRE is written at a more accessible level, with shorter sentences and everyday vocabulary that suits a general reader, a student or a group study. Its style is clear and direct, and it avoids much of the archaic phrasing still found in older translations. For public reading and prayer, many people appreciate how smoothly it sounds when spoken aloud.
A Verse to Compare
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(WEB)
The opening verse of John is a good place to see the difference in method. The NASB keeps the Greek word order and structure as closely as English allows, so its sentences stay close to the original grammar. The NABRE restates the same claims in more natural English, focusing on the meaning of the sentence over its exact grammatical shape. Both are faithful renderings of the same ideas, but the NASB invites you to notice the grammar while the NABRE invites you to absorb the sense of the whole sentence at once.
Who Should Use It
Choose the NASB if you are doing detailed Bible study, want to see how key words are used, or prefer a translation that stays near the original language. Its main limit is readability. Long, formal sentences can slow you down during devotional reading, and some readers find it harder to follow in a sermon or group setting.
Choose the NABRE if you attend a Catholic parish, use the Lectionary, or want a modern, flowing translation for daily reading and study. It includes the deuterocanonical books and reflects Catholic scholarship throughout. Its main limit is that its freer method sometimes gives up fine-grained wording, so if you need to check a precise term in the original, you may want to consult a more literal text alongside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NASB a Catholic Bible?
No, the NASB was produced by evangelical Protestant scholars and does not include the Catholic deuterocanonical books in its standard edition. Catholics typically use a translation such as the NABRE for Mass and parish study. The NASB is widely used across many Protestant churches and by individual readers.
Which is more accurate, the NASB or the NABRE?
Each translation is accurate in different ways because they use different methods. The NASB aims for close, word-for-word correspondence with the original languages, while the NABRE aims for clear meaning in natural English. The better choice depends on whether you want to study wording closely or read the text smoothly.
Can I use both translations together?
Yes, many readers compare the two side by side. Reading the NABRE for flow and the NASB for precise wording can give you a fuller picture of a passage. This approach is especially helpful when you are studying a difficult or important text.
