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LSB

Legacy Standard Bible

Three Sixteen Publishing / Lockman Foundation

First published 2021

TranslationLSB
PublisherThree Sixteen Publishing / Lockman Foundation
First Published2021
Canon Proximity8.0 / 10 — High
LSB
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Legacy Standard Bible

The Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) is an extremely literal revision of the NASB 1995, produced by The Master's Seminary faculty under John MacArthur's commission. Its most distinctive feature is restoring 'Yahweh' throughout the Old Testament wherever the divine name (YHWH) appears — replacing the NASB's 'LORD' — and using 'slave' instead of 'servant' for the Greek doulos.

History & Background

John MacArthur commissioned the LSB because he and the faculty of The Master's Seminary felt the NASB 2020 update moved away from the formal equivalence and precise rendering they valued in the 1995 edition. The Lockman Foundation (owner of the NASB) partnered with Three Sixteen Publishing. The complete Bible was released in 2021. The LSB is rapidly gaining adoption in Reformed and MacArthur-influenced evangelical communities.

Canon Proximity Rating

Canon Proximity8.0 / 10 — High

Standard 66-book Protestant canon. Restoration of 'Yahweh' for YHWH is a major exegetical decision. Maximum formal equivalence — among the most literal modern translations.

Rating Scale

9–10: Formally equivalent, 66 books
7–8: Dynamic equiv., 66 books
5–6: Includes Apocrypha
1–4: Major departures / additions