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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | NIV bible | Bible general Archive 2 | Hank | 110498 | ||
Taleb, a thoughtful post and your illustrations were superb. .... To be sure, the Authorized or King James Version is a noble translation and ably has stood the test of time, but time itself has become rather a formidable enemy of this distinguished opus. In but seven years hence the KJV will observe its fourth centennial, and during those four centuries the English language has undergone enormous changes as have all other living languages. Many words and phrases that were in common usage in 1611 no longer are; in fact, a large number of them are either foreign to current usage or they have changed dramatically in meaning, so much so that certain words of 1611 meant the very opposite of what they mean today. I have long admired the King James Bible and its merits are commendable, but it is rapidly becoming virtually unintelligible to speakers of modern English unless they grew up with it or are able and willing to devote considerable time and effort to learn the Elizabethan English of the KJV. I suspect that many die hards who doggedly refuse to let go of the King James, at least to a certain degree, and avail themselves of some of the newer and clearer translations do themselves undue harm, for I'm convinced that there are many who adhere rigidly (and perhaps foolishly) to the 1611 version and who are not really equipped with the necessary reading skills to unlock the riches of this older version. Such are they who would profit greatly by reading a more modern version. There is an immense span between the 1611 KJV and, say, the English Standard Version or the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Scripture presents the reader with portions that are of great complexity in any version, even in the "simplified" language of the paraphrases. It becomes enormously more difficult for the reader who is unskilled in 16ll English, because he has the formidable task of wrestlling both with archaic language and complex subject matter. --Hank | ||||||
2 | NIV bible | Bible general Archive 2 | kalos | 110507 | ||
"THE GREATEST PROBLEM, however, is presented by the English words which are still in contant use but now convey a different meaning from that which they had in 1611 and in the King James Version." ___________________ Hank: Thanks for providing information that is accurate and informative. To expand a bit on what you've said, I quote from the Preface to the Revised Standard Version. 'A major reason for revision of the King James Version, which is valid for both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the change since 1611 in English usage. Many forms of expression have become archaic, while still generally intelligible -- the use of thou, thee, thy, thine and the verb endings -est and -edst, the verb endings -eth and -th, it came to pass that, whosoever, whatsoever, insomuch that, because that, for that, unto, howbeist, peradventure, holden, aforetime, must needs, would fain, behooved, to you-ward, etc. Other words are obsolete and no longer understood by the common reader. 'The greatest problem, however, is presented by the English words which are still in contant use but now convey a different meaning from that which they had in 1611 and in the King James Version. These words were once accurate translations of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures; but now, having changed in meaning, they have become misleading. They no longer say what the King James translators meant them to say. 'Thus, the King James Version uses the word "let" in the sense of "hinder," "prevent" to mean "precede," "allow" in the sense of "approve," "communicate" for share," "conversation" for "conduct," "comprehend" for "overcome," "ghost" for "spirit," "wealth" for "well-being," "allege" for "prove," "demand" for "ask," "take no thought" for "be not anxious," etc.' (Preface to the Revised Standard Version, 1952, 1946, 1971) |
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