The Italicized Words In The KJV by John A. Kohler, III
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The
Italicized Words in the
KJV
by John A. Kohler,
III
The italicized words that are found in the King James Version of the Bible
were added by the King James translators in order to improve the fluency
and readability of the translation they produced in 1611 A.D. Unlike
the modern translators of the New International Version, the New King James
Version, and others, the King James translators were honest enough to place
in italics all the words they added. This does not imply, however,
that these words do not belong in the text, or that they should be eliminated
from it. Ultimately, these words became a part of the text of the Bible
by the hand of God’s
providence.
I. Examples
of Italicized Words in the KJV That Are Not Italicized in Other
Versions
A. The word
is is italicized in Psalm 23:1 of the KJV, but it is not italicized
in the NIV.
B. The words
was sent are italicized in John 1:8 of the KJV, but they are not
italicized in the NKJV.
II. Examples
of Italicized Words in the KJV That Cannot Be Eliminated From The
Text
A. II Samuel
21:19---If we remove the italicized words the brother of, then we
would have to conclude
that Goliath was not killed
by David, but by Elhanan. This would leave us with an actual
contradiction
in the
Bible.
B. Psalm 16:8---The
words he is are in italics in the KJV. Yet, when this verse
is quoted by the Apostle
Peter in Acts 2:25, he includes
the italicized words as a part of the intended Biblical text.
C. Isaiah 65:1---The
words them that are in italics in the KJV. Yet, when this verse
is quoted by the
Apostle Paul in Romans 10:20,
he includes the italicized words as a part of the intended Biblical
text.
D. Psalm 94:11---The
word are is in italics in the KJV. Yet, when this verse is quoted
by the Apostle
Paul in I Corinthians 3:20,
he includes the italicized word as a part of the intended Biblical
text.
E. Deuteronomy
25:4---The words the corn are in italics in the KJV. Yet, when
this verse is quoted by
the Apostle Paul in I
Corinthians 9:9, he includes these words as a part of the intended Biblical
text.
F. Deuteronomy
8:3---The word word is in italics in the KJV. Yet, when this
verse is quoted by our
Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew
4:4, He includes this word as a part of the intended Biblical
text.
| What should we do
with the italicized words found in the King James Version of the Bible?
Should we remove all of them, some of them, or none of them? If we
should remove only some of them, who will decide which italicized words to
remove and which ones to leave in place? On what basis will this be
decided? Far better to leave the King James Version of the Bible just
as it is. It ain’t broke, so it don’t need
fixin’. |
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