25.5.25

A list of notable errors and weaknesses in interpretation or translation in the King James Version

A list of notable errors and weaknesses in interpretation or translation in the King James Version (KJV) that demonstrate it is not a perfect or infallible English Bible. These are drawn from textual, linguistic, theological, and historical perspectives, and reflect improvements made in later translations based on better manuscripts, clearer understanding of Hebrew and Greek, and updated English usage.


๐Ÿ” Errors and Weaknesses in the KJV Translation

๐Ÿ“œ Old Testament Issues

1. Unicorns (e.g., Numbers 23:22; Deut. 33:17; Job 39:9–10)

o   KJV: "Unicorn"

o   Better rendering: "Wild ox" (Hebrew re'em)

o   ❌ Mistaken translation due to reliance on the Latin Vulgate ("unicornis").

2. Genesis 3:15 – "It shall bruise thy head"

o   KJV: “it” (referring to the seed)

o   Better rendering: “he” (masculine pronoun referring to the Messiah)

o   ❌ Weakens messianic prophecy of Christ defeating Satan.

3. Psalm 8:5 – "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels"

o   KJV: “angels” (mal’akim)

o   Better rendering: “God” or “heavenly beings” (Hebrew: Elohim)

o   ❌ The Hebrew word here is Elohim, not "angels" (mal’akim), and theologically significant in Christology (cf. Heb. 2:7 quoting LXX).

4. Isaiah 14:12 – "Lucifer"

o   KJV: “Lucifer”

o   Better rendering: “morning star” or “shining one” (Hebrew: helel ben-shachar)

o   ❌ “Lucifer” is a Latin-based translation; not a proper name in the Hebrew; likely refers to the king of Babylon.

5. Ezekiel 20:25 – “I gave them also statutes that were not good”

o   KJV: Suggests God gave evil laws

o   Better rendering: God allowed them to follow evil statutes (context of judgment)

o   ❌ Misleading implication about God's character without clarifying judgment context.


๐Ÿ“– New Testament Issues

6. Acts 12:4 – "Easter"

o   KJV: “Easter”

o   Better rendering: “Passover” (Greek: Pascha)

o   ❌ The Greek word pascha always means "Passover"; "Easter" is an anachronistic insertion based on Church tradition.

7. Hebrews 10:23 – "Profession of our faith"

o   KJV: “faith” (Greek: elpis)

o   Correct translation: “hope”

o   ❌ Mistakes the Greek word, changing the theological nuance.

8. 1 John 5:7 – Comma Johanneum

o   KJV: Includes “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one”

o   ❌ This phrase is not found in any early Greek manuscripts and was added in late Latin tradition. Almost all modern scholars agree it is a textual interpolation.

9. Revelation 22:19 – "Book of life"

o   KJV: “book of life”

o   Better rendering: “tree of life” (Greek: xulon not biblion)

o   ❌ Based on a later textual variant; early manuscripts have "tree of life."

10.         Titus 2:13 – Weak rendering of the Granville Sharp rule

o   KJV: “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”

o   Better rendering: “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”

o   ❌ The KJV obscures the deity of Christ in this verse due to misunderstanding of Greek grammar.


๐Ÿ—ฃ️ Outdated or Misleading English

11.         "Let" (e.g., 2 Thess. 2:7 – “he who now letteth will let”)

o   ❌ In 1611 English, “let” meant "hinder." In modern English, it means "allow," leading to confusion.

12.         "Conversation" (e.g., Phil. 1:27; 1 Pet. 3:1–2)

o   ❌ Meant “conduct” or “behavior” in 17th-century English, but today is understood as "talking."

13.         "Prevent" (e.g., 1 Thess. 4:15 – “we which are alive... shall not prevent them...”)

o   ❌ Meant “precede” in 1611; today means “stop” or “hinder.”

14.         Romans 5:8 – “commendeth”

o   ❌ Archaic; more clearly rendered today as “demonstrates” or “shows.”

15.         Genesis 6:4 – “There were giants in the earth”

o   ❌ “Giants” (Hebrew: Nephilim) is a misleading rendering; better translated as “fallen ones” or left transliterated.


๐Ÿงพ Conclusion: Why This Matters

  • The KJV was a remarkable translation for its time, based on limited manuscripts and early modern English.
  • It contains several inaccuracies due to:
    • Use of the Textus Receptus, which lacked access to earlier Greek manuscripts,
    • Translation based on the Latin Vulgate in places,
    • Archaic English words that no longer mean what they once did,
    • Incomplete understanding of biblical Hebrew and Greek grammar.

The KJV is faithful and historic, but not perfect. It should be honored — but not idolized.




 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comparison between Papyrus 75 and the Textus Receptus (TR),

Introduction: Papyrus 75 and the Textus Receptus Papyrus 75 (๐”“75) Date: c. AD 175–225 (one of the earliest known NT manuscripts). Contents:...