A Watershed in Translation
The American Standard Version (ASV), published in 1901, represents a watershed moment in English Bible translation. The ASV was the American revision of the British Revised Version (1881), undertaken by American scholars who wanted to preserve the strengths of that translation while adapting it to American English and incorporating ongoing scholarly improvements.
The Divine Name
The ASV is particularly famous for one distinctive choice: consistently rendering the Hebrew divine name Yahweh as "Jehovah," a practice that shocked many who had grown accustomed to seeing only "the Lord" or "God." This choice, while controversial at the time, reflected a commitment to literalness.
Consistent Equivalence
What makes the ASV remarkable is its principle of equivalence. The translators committed themselves to rendering Greek and Hebrew words consistently. When a Hebrew word appears, the same English word (when possible) appears in every occurrence. This creates an internal consistency that is invaluable for serious study.
Lasting Influence
The influence of the ASV on subsequent translations cannot be overstated. The New American Standard Bible (NASB), often called the "most literal" modern translation, directly traces its genealogy to the ASV. The English Standard Version (ESV) similarly builds on the ASV foundation. Many of the translation principles and phrasings that define these popular modern versions were inherited from this 1901 standard.
