The Riches OF GRACE
“hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
Robert W. Reed
Words Easier to Understand in the Other Versions?
“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.”
Proverbs 8:8-9
In this article we will explore one of the major objections the critics use against the King James Bible (the Authorized Version). They say the new versions are easier to understand and clear up the archaic language found in the King James Bible. Some of these new versions have been marketed by advertising their readability. But the Authorized Version still remains the easiest English Bible to read and understand.
Although I am only giving fifty-four word changes in this article, please keep in mind that there are literally thousands of changes.
“The Bible is a child’s book. A child may know it. The child Timothy did.”
- J. Wells
Please note that many of the words that are changed in the modern versions may have the same meaning as the King James Bible but are not easier to understand. The truth is, they have become more complicated to the reader. The following is a list of comparisons:
KJV - King James Version
RSV - Revised Standard Version
NIV - New International Version
NASV - New American Standard Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NRSV - New Revised Standard Version
1. Job 6:6 2. Gen. 12:9
KJV - White of an egg KJV - South
RSV - Slime of the purslane RSV - Negeb
3. Num. 21:14 4. Num. 13:33
KJV - What he did in the Red Sea KJV - Giant
RSV - Waheb in suphah RSV - Nephilim
5. Isa. 15:6 6. Joel 2:30
KJV - There is no green thing KJV - Wonders
RSV - The verdure is no more RSV - Portents
7. Rom. 12:11 8. Gen. 14:1
KJV - Not slothful in business KJV - Nations
RSV - Never flag in zeal RSV - Goiim
9. Gen. 18:8 10. Gen. 49:14
KJV - Butter KJV - Strong
NIV - Curds NIV - Rawboned
11. Num. 11:4 12. Duet. 21:20
KJV - Mixed multitude KJV - Glutton
NIV - Rabble NIV - Profligate
13. I King 6:3 14. I King 7:6
KJV - Porch KJV - Porch
NIV - Portico NIV - Colonnade
15. I King 4:22 16. Isa. 16:6
KJV - Measures KJV - Very
NIV - Cors NIV - Overweening
17. Isa. 20:3 18. Isa. 13:8
KJV - Wonder KJV - Amazed
NIV - Portent NIV - Aghast
19. Ezek. 40:13 20. Matt. 2:1
KJV - Little Chamber KJV - Wisemen
NIV - Alcove NIV - Magi
21. 2 Tim. 2:20 22. Gen. 38:9
KJV - Dishonour KJV - Spilled
NIV - Ignoble NKJV - Emitted
23. Isa. 28: 4 24. Ezek. 31:4
KJV - Fat KJV - Little rivers
NKJV - Verdant NKJV - Rivulets
25. Dan. 5:16 26. Micah 1:13
KJV - Doubts KJV - Beast
NKJV - Enigmas NKJV - Steeds
27. Zech. 10:3 28. Ezra 8:36
KJV - Goats KJV - King’s lieutenants
NKJV - Goatherds NKJV - King’s satraps
29. Acts 13:7 30. Mt. 20:2
KJV - Deputy KJV - Penny
NKJV - Proconsul NASV - Denarius
31. Num. 21:12 32. Num. 21:14
KJV - Valley KJV - Brooks
NASV - Wadi NASV - Wadis
33. I Kings 14:23 34. Ester 1:6
KJV - Green KJV - Red
NASV - Luxuriant NASV - Porphyry
35. Job 28:18 36. Job 19:24
KJV - Price KJV - Pen
NASV - Acquisition NASV - Stylus
37. Job 16:11 38. Ps. 132:6
KJV - The ungodly KJV - Wood
NASV - Ruffians NASV - Jaar
39. Isa. 16:8 40. Jer. 18:18
KJV - Branches KJV - Wise
NASV - Tendrils NASV - Sage
41. Dan. 3:2 42. Mt. 5:15
KJV - Princes KJV - Bushel
NASV - Satraps NASV - Peck measure
43. Luke 7:32 44. Acts 12:21
KJV - Have mourned KJV - Throne
NASV - Sang a dirge NASV - Rostrum
45. II Cor. 1:17 46. II Cor. 11:32
KJV - Minded KJV - Governor
NASV - Vacillating NASV - Ethnarch
47. Lev. 21:10 48. Lev. 1:12
KJV - Uncover KJV - Fat
NRSV - Dishevel NRSV - Suet
49. Job 26:7 50. Song of Solomon 3:9
KJV - North KJV - Chariot
NRSV - Zaphon NRSV - Palanquin
51. Jer. 46:20 52. Nahum 2:5
KJV - Destruction KJV - Defence
NRSV - Gadfly NRSV - Mantelet
53.Acts 27:17 54. II Peter 2:18
KJV - Quicksands KJV - Great swelling words
NRSV - Syrtis NRSV - Bombastic
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31
Victory Baptist Church
Pastor Robert W. Reed
14473 Bellingrath Road
P.O. Box 257
Coden, Alabama 36523
(251) 873-4422