KJ21 Comparative Word Study 21st Century King James Version Table of Contents Comparative Word Study: Part One - 21st Century King James Version compared with King James Version (a few examples among many) Comparative Word Study: Part Two - 21st Century King James Version compared with contemporary versions (a few examples among many) Special Features of the KJ21 Abbreviations Used in Comparisons KJV...........King James Version KJ21 ........21st Century King James Version NIV............New International Version NRSV........New Revised Standard Version NKJ...........New King James Version NASB........New American Standard Bible REB...........Revised English Bible TEV...........Today's English Version The 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) is an updating of the King James Version (KJV). It is not a new translation or a revision. Wording changes have been made cautiously, and while no attempt has been made to change or improve the timeless message and literary style of the King James Version, its readability has been greatly enhanced. The following rules, conventions, and practices are among the more important used in updating the wording of the KJV: 1. Words which have become obsolete or archaic, and which are no longer understood by many literate readers, have been replaced by the most exact modern synonyms. 2. Where the meaning of words has changed over the period of almost 400 years, those words have been replaced by current equivalents. 3. Words such as thou, ye, art, hath, etc., although archaic, are readily understood and have been retained to preserve the traditional language of worship and prayer, and to distinguish singular from plural in the case of personal pronouns. 4. Many words found in the KJV, which contemporary translators have changed to conform to modern political and cultural biases, have been retained exactly as in the KJV. 5. No attempt has been made to conform Biblical language to recent secular trends gender neutral language, for example. Comparative Word Study Part One King James Version compared with 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) Lev 19:35 KJV .....in judgement, in meteyard, in weight,... KJ21 ....in judgment, in measuring length, weight,... Ruth 2:3 KJV ...and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz,... KJ21 ...and she happened to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz,... 1 Chr 22:5 KJV ...the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical,... KJ21 ...the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent,... Ezra 9:3 KJV ...and sat down astonied. KJ21 ...and sat down stunned. Job 42:10 KJV And the LORD turned the captivity of Job,... KJ21 And the LORD released Job from captivity... Ps 139:15 KJV My substance was...curiously wrought... KJ21 My substance was...intricately wrought... Ps 140:5 KJV ...they have set gins for me. KJ21 ...they have set traps for me. Pr 23:16 KJV Yea, my reins shall rejoice,... KJ21 ...yea, my inmost being shall rejoice... Pr 27:22 KJV Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar... KJ21 Though thou shouldest beat a fool in a mortar... Jer 24:2 KJV ...the other basket had very naughty figs,... KJ21 ...the other basket had very bad figs,... Mic 1:6 KJV ...and I will discover the foundations thereof. KJ21 ...and I will uncover the foundations thereof. Nah 2:7 KJV ...tabering upon their breasts. KJ21 ...beating upon their breasts. Mt 17:12 KJV ...Elias is come already, and they...have done unto him whatsoever they listed. KJ21 ...Elijah is come already, and they...have done unto him whatsoever they pleased. Mt 27:50 KJV Jesus,...yielded up the ghost. KJ21 Jesus,...yielded up His spirit. Mk 1:43 KJV And he straitly charged him,... KJ21 And He strictly charged him,... Mk 9:6 KJV For he wist not what to say;... KJ21 For he knew not what to say,... Jn 8:46 KJV Which of you convinceth me of sin? KJ21 Which of you convicteth Me of sin? Acts 21:15 KJV And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. KJ21 And after those days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 1 Cor 9:7 KJV Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? KJ21 Who goeth to war at any time at his own expense? 1 Cor 16:13 KJV Watch ye,...quit you like men,... KJ21 Watch ye;...acquit yourselves like men;... Php 2:1 KJV If there be...any bowels and mercies,... KJ21 If there be...any tenderness and mercies,... 1 Th 4:15 KJV For this we say...that we which are alive...shall not prevent them which are asleep. KJ21 For this we say...that we who are alive...shall not precede those who are asleep. 1 Pt 5:10 KJV ...the God of all grace,...stablish,...you. KJ21 ...the God of all grace,...establish,...you. Rev 4:6 KJV ...and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes... KJ21 ...and round about the throne, were four living beings full of eyes... Comparative Word Study Part Two 21st Century King James Version* compared with contemporary versions *In the examples that follow the KJ21 is either identical to, or substantially the same as, the KJV. Gen 1:28 KJ21 Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it;... NIV Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. NRSV Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;... NKJ Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;... TEV Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. In the KJ21 the text focuses on mankind's duty to restore to the earth what is being consumed, rather than merely to take possession of the earth. Gen 2:7 KJ21 ...and man became a living soul. NIV ...and the man became a living being. NKJ ...and man became a living being. REB ...he became a living creature. TEV ...and the man began to live. In the KJ21 the text, by referring to man as having a soul, emphasizes the essential difference between human beings and all the rest of creation. 1 Sam 8:5 KJ21 Now make us a king to judge us,... NIV ...now appoint a king to lead us,... NRSV ...appoint for us, then, a king to govern us,... TEV ...appoint a king to rule over us,... In the KJ21 the elders of Israel reflect the Biblical view of the government as a judge, rather than as a ruler. Job 42:10 KJ21 And the LORD released Job from captivity when he prayed for his friends. NIV After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again... NRSV And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends;... NKJ And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. REB ...and the LORD showed favour to Job when he had interceded for his friends. TEV Then, after Job had prayed for his three friends, the LORD made him prosperous again... In the KJ21 the text interprets the restoration of Job as being a release from the powers of Satan, rather than as a restoration of Job's material good fortune. Ps 101:1 KJ21 I will sing of mercy and judgment;... NIV I will sing of your love and just... NRSV I will sing of loyalty and of justice;... NKJ I will sing of mercy and justice;... In the KJ21 David sings of two wondrous blessings, namely, God's saving acts of mercy on the one hand, and His judgment against sin on the other. Pr 11:16 KJ21 ...and strong men retain riches. NIV ...but ruthless men gain only wealth. NRSV ...but the aggressive gain riches. NKJ ...But ruthless men retain riches. REB ...a bold man gets only a fortune. In neither the KJ21 nor the KJV does the writer/poet manifest any bias against the accumulation of wealth. Pr 27:4 KJ21 ...but who is able to stand before envy? NRSV ...but who is able to stand before jealousy? NKJ ...But who is able to stand before jealousy? REB ...but who can stand up to jealousy? In the KJ21 the writer/poet speaks of envy, which connotes the coveting of what is owned by someone else; jealousy, on the other hand, conveys a personal feeling of inferiority by comparison with others. Pr 29:7 KJ21 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor,... NIV The righteous care about justice for the poor,... NRSV The righteous know the rights of the poor;... REB The righteous are concerned for the claims of the helpless,.. TEV A good person knows the rights of the poor,... Here the writer/poet in the KJ21 views the circumstances of the poor with concern and compassion, rather than focusing on the rights or claims of the poor. Ecl 9:9 KJ21 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest... REB Enjoy life with a woman you love... In the KJ21 the preacher recognizes the unique and blessed status of traditional marriage, together with its joyful potential. Isa 7:14 KJ21 Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,... NRSV ...Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son,... REB A young woman is with child, and she will give birth to a son... TEV ...a young woman who is pregnant will have a son... Isaiah, in the KJ21 and KJV, cites as a sign that a virgin shall conceive, truly an astonishing miracle. Isa 61:1 KJ21 ...good tidings unto the meek. NIV ...good news to the poor. NRSV ...good news to the oppressed,... NKJ ...good tidings to the poor;... In the KJ21 the writer perceives the meek, rather than the poor, as being worthy of good tidings. Mt 6:13 KJ21 ...lead us not into temptation,... NRSV ...do not bring us to the time of trial,.. REB ...do not put us to the test,... In the KJ21 Christ's petition to the Lord is for deliverance from the temptation of sin, rather than deliverance from misfortune. Mk 5:30 KJ21 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him,... NIV At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. NKJ And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him,... In the KJ21 St. Mark says that Christ's healing qualities come from virtue, rather than from power. Lk 12:15 KJ21 Take heed and beware of covetousness,... NIV Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed REB `Beware! Be on your guard against greed of every kind,... Christ's concern here is with the sinful desire to acquire what belongs to another, not with the excessive desire to accumulate wealth (greed). Lk 18:42 KJ21 And Jesus said unto him, ...thy faith hath saved thee. NIV Jesus said to him, ...your faith has healed you. REB Jesus said to him, `...your faith has healed you.' NASB And Jesus said to him, ...your faith has made you well. In the KJ21 Christ's emphasis is on the faith which leads to salvation, rather than to physical healing. Acts 10:34 KJ21 Then Peter opened his mouth and said,... God is no respecter of persons,... NIV Then Peter began to speak: ...God does not show favoritism.. NKJ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ...God shows no partiality. REB Peter began: `...God has no favourites,... In the KJ21 Peter says that God does not show favor to persons because of their worldly status. Peter does not say that God has no favorites (God assuredly favors those who do His will). Rom 13:1 KJ21 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers...the powers that be are ordained by God. NIV Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, ...The authorities that exist have been established by God. NKJ Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities... and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. REB Every person must submit to the authorities in power, ...and the existing authorities are instituted by him. TEV Everyone must obey state authorities, ...the existing authorities have been put there by God. In the KJ21 St. Paul does not equate higher powers with worldly government. Rom 16:1 KJ21 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church... NRSV ...a deacon of the church... REB ...a minister in the church... In the KJ21 St. Paul does not hesitate to ascribe the glory and honor of servanthood to a woman (servanthood being the highest calling of all men and women). 1 Cor 7:3 KJ21 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence,... NIV The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his NRSV The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights,... NKJ Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her,... NASB Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife,... REB The husband must give the wife what is due to her,... In the KJ21 St. Paul admonishes husbands to manifest much more than their marital duties to their wives, namely, benevolence. Benevolence, properly understood, connotes a relationship of goodwill, charitableness, and love, together with a desire to contribute to another's happiness. 1 Cor 13:1 KJ21 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not charity,... NRSV If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love,... NKJ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,.. REB I may speak in tongues of men or of angels, but if I have no love,... In the KJ21 St. Paul uses the term charity rather than love, charity being more specific in connoting selfless benevolence and a disinclination to ascribe evil to others. 2 Cor 13:11 KJ21 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect,... NRSV Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order,... NKJ Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete... NASB Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete,... REB And now, my friends, farewell. Mend your ways;... In the KJ21 St. Paul admonishes his readers to the highest level of virtue, namely, perfection. Eph 5:33 KJ21 ...and the wife see that she reverence her husband. IV ...and the wife must respect her husband. NKJ ...and let the wife see that she respects her husband. In the KJ21 the writer admonishes the wife to reverence her husband, reverence being a much more powerful term than respect and connoting a sacred relationship ordained by God. 1 Th 5:14 KJ21 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,... NIV And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle... REB We urge you, friends, to rebuke the idle,... In the KJ21 St. Paul warns against those who pose a threat to the orderly conduct of human affairs. Special Features of the KJ21 The 21st Century King James Version contains special features which contribute to reading ease and understanding. The text is presented in an uncrowded, single-column format which is easy to follow across the page. The words of Christ are emphasized by use of larger, italicized type and are indented from each margin. Bold-faced type is used for passages which are among the most powerful, most familiar, best loved, and most often quoted and memorized. Combined with the words of Christ, these passages are superlative for teaching Christian morals and values. Poetic portions are arranged in a typical poetic format for ease in responsive reading and memorization. Passages included in the Revised Common Lectionary are clearly identified. The Revised Common Lectionary is used by many church denominations to select Bible texts for sermons, Sunday readings, and study groups. This feature should be of interest not only to persons who favor the use of the Revised Common Lectionary, but also to its numerous and ardent critics. Chapter summaries from the original 1611 King James Version are included, a feature found in no other modern Bible. Cross references from the original 1611 King James Version have been included. The preface to the original 1611 edition of the King James Version, entitled The Translators to the Reader, updated and abridged, is included in the Appendix. Comfortable type sizes and styles facilitate reading ease. Capitalization, paragraphing, and punctuation have been updated. All text from the King James Version is included. Not Since 1611 has there been a Bible that is so Right for its time Right for traditionalists Right for the Bible lovers Beautiful Biblical English Obsolete words replaced Words of Christ emphasized Familiar passages emphasize Single-column, 1888 pages Durable sewn binding No gender-neutral language It's the King James Bible for the 21st Century The 21st Century King James Version is markedly closer in language and spirit to the original King James Version than any other Bible copyrighted in the 20th century. It is an accurate and understandable updating which preserves the power, beauty, and timeless message of its historic predecessor. It is simply the most powerful and beautifully worded of all modern Bibles. Available at your local bookstore. For more information contact: 21st Century King James Bible Publishers Post Office Box 40 1111 N Coteau Street Gary SD 57237 1-800-225-5521 Copyright 1994. All rights reserved.