The following are just a few of the many places where the NKJV 1982 does not follow or translate the literal Hebrew texts. The NKJV translates hundreds of verses in such a way that they completely change the meaning found in the King James Bible, of which it is supposedly a modern revision. The NKJV also contains many misleading footnotes designed to discredit the Authorized King James Bible. We will look at just a few of these.

MICAH

Micah 7:19 - “and thou wilt cast all THEIR sins into the depths of the sea.”

“THEIR sins” is the reading of the Hebrew texts as well as that of the Geneva Bible 1599, the RV 1881, ASV 1901, NASB 1963-1995, Darby, Young’s, Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible 1902, Jewish Publication Society 1917, Hebrew Names Bible, 2001 Judaica Press Tanach.

NKJV - “You will cast all OUR sins into the depth of the sea.” Footnote- literally “THEIR”

Agreeing with the the NKJV bogus reading of OUR sins (instead of THEIR sins) is the RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV and Holman. The ESV footnote also tells us that the Hebrew reads “THEIR sins” just as the KJB and the Jewish translations have it. The NRSV also reads “our sins” like the NKJV now does, but the NRSV informs us in their footnote that the reading of “OUR sins” comes from the Greek LXX, the Syriac and the Vulgate, while the Hebrew says “their sins.”

Micah 2:6 “PROPHESY ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy TO THEM, that THEY SHALL NOT TAKE SHAME.”

NKJV - “DO NOT PRATTLE, you say to those who prophesy, So they shall not prophesy TO YOU; THEY SHALL NOT RETURN INSULT FOR INSULT.”

Here the NKJV needlessly changes the word “prophesy” to “prattle” even though it still translates the same word as “prophesy” in the same verse. Then it changed “prophesy TO THEM” to “prophesy TO YOU”, and then in a footnotes tells us the literal reading is “to them” (not “to you”). Then in the NKJV footnote they try to imply that the KJB got its reading of “that they shall not take shame” from the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew by stating: “Vulgate reads ‘he shall not take shame’.”

The fact is the Hebrew itself can be translated as “that they shall not take shame” and so do the Geneva Bible, Bishops’ bible, and the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, the Complete Jewish Bible, and the Judaica Press Tanach!

Micah 2:12 KJB - “I will put them together as the sheep of BOZRAH, as the flock in the midst of their FOLD.”

NKJV - “I will put them together like sheep of THE FOLD, like a flock in the midst of their PASTURE.” Then the NKJV footnotes “Hebrew - BOZRAH”

Micah 3:2 KJB - “Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from OFF THEM, and their flesh from off their bones.”

NKJV - “who strip the skin from MY PEOPLE” Footnote - Literally THEM.

Micah 3:12 KJB - “...and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of THE HOUSE as the HIGH PLACES of the forest.”

NKJV - “...Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of THE TEMPLE like BARE HILLS of the forest.” Footnote - literally HOUSE (not ‘temple’)

Micah 6:5 KJB - “...what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from SHITTIM unto Gilgal...”

NKJV - “what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from ACACIA GROVE to Gilgal...” Footnote - Hebrew - SHITTIM.

Micah 6:14 KJB - “Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and THY CASTING DOWN shall be in the midst of thee; AND THOU SHALT TAKE HOLD, but shall not deliver...”

NKJV - “You shall eat but not be satisfied, HUNGER shall be in your midst. YOU MAY CARRY SOME AWAY (18), but shall not save them.” Footnote: Targum and Vulgate read “you shall take hold” (as the KJB has it).

First of all, the KJB says “THOU SHALT TAKE HOLD” and so do the Geneva Bible, Bishops’, Coverdale, and the KJV 21st Century versions. Even the Holman Standard has “you will acquire” while the NIV has “you will store up”, but the NKJV says “You may carry some away” and then casts doubt on the legitimacy of the KJB reading by saying that the Vulgate reads “you shall take hold”, as though the Hebrew could not possibly be read this way.

Micah 6:14 -The KJB says “THY CASTING DOWN shall be in the midst of thee” and so do the Geneva Bible, Bishops’, Coverdale, the KJV 21 and the Spanish Reina Valera (tu abatimiento), but the NKJV says “hunger”, while the ASV has “humiliation”, the NASB has “vileness” and the NIV says “your stomach will be empty”. Hey, it’s all pretty much the same “message”, right?

Micah 7:11 KJB - “In the day that thy walls are to be built, in THAT DAY SHALL THE DECREE BE FAR REMOVED.”

In the day of Israel’s restoration, the decree to judge her for her sins will be far removed. So read the Geneva Bible, Bishops’ bible, Revised Version, the American Standard Version and the KJV 21st Century. However the NKJV says “in that day THE DECREE SHALL GO FAR AND WIDE.” - the opposite meaning.

Micah 7:12 KJB - “In that day HE shall come even to thee from Assyria...”

NKJV - “In that day THEY shall come to you from Assyria...” Footnote - Literally HE.

Micah 7:15 KJB - “According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto HIM marvellous things.”

NKJV - “I will show THEM marvelous things.” Footnote - Literally HIM.

NAHUM

Nahum 1:5 KJB - “The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth IS BURNED at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”

NKJV - “And the earth HEAVES at His presence” - Footnote: Targum reads BURNS.”. Thus the NKJV implies that the KJB translators got their reading of “burned” from a Targum rather than a possible meaning of the Hebrew.

First of all, note the context “He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers” (v.4) “Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire...”(v.6)

The Hebrew word in question has many meanings including “accept, arise, burn, forgive, bring, set up, lift up, went, bear, regard, respect, carry away, fetch, and to pardon.”

The same Hebrew word is used in 2 Samuel 5:21 where we read in the KJB of when David and his men fought against the Philistines and burned up their idols - “And there they left their images, and David and his men BURNED them.”

So read the Judaica Press Tanach (And they forsook there their images, and David and his men BURNED them.), the Spanish Reina Valera 1909, 1960 and 1995 (“David y sus hombres los QUEMARON”), Bishops’ Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, Webster’s 1833, and the KJV 21st Century version.

However the NKJV joins many modern versions and says: “And they left their images there, and David and his men CARRIED THEM AWAY.” Did they keep them for themselves or did they burn them up?

In Nahum 1:5 not only does the King James Bible say “the earth IS BURNED at his presence” but so do the Bishops’ Bible, the Geneva Bible, Las Sagradas Escrituras 1569 (y la tierra SE ABRASA delante de su presencia), the Spanish Reina Valera 1909, Webster’s, and the KJV 21st Century.

Nahum 2:2 KJB - “For the LORD HATH TURNED AWAY the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their branches.”

So read or mean Wycliffe 1395, the Geneva Bible, the 1936 Hebrew Publication Society translation (For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob), Douay, Webster’s, and the KJV 21st Century version.

However the NKJV says the exact opposite with: “For the LORD WILL RESTORE the excellence of Jacob like the excellence of Israel.”

It is not a question of the Hebrew word, for such versions as the NASB has translated this same word as “turn back” 43 times, and “turn away” another 42 times, but it is one of interpretation. Yet here the NASB and NKJV are in basic agreement reading: “The Lord WILL RESTORE the splendor of Jacob”.

As is usually the case, the “scholars” as well as the multiple-choice bible versions are in radical disagreement about both the text and its meaning. What one affirms another denies. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown comment: “For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob--that is, the time for Nineveh's overthrow is ripe, because Jacob (Judah) and Israel (the ten tribes) have been sufficiently chastised. The Assyrian rod of chastisement, having done its work, is to be thrown into the fire. If God chastised Jacob and Israel with all their "excellency" (Jerusalem and the temple, which was their pre-eminent excellency above all nations in God's eyes, Ps 47:4; 87:2; Eze 24:21; see on Am 6:8), how much more will He punish fatally Nineveh, an alien to Him, and idolatrous? MAURER, NOT SO WELL (caps are mine) translates, "restores," or "will restore the excellency of Jacob."

Likewise John Wesley notes: “ Israel and Jacob were more to God, yet he punished them; much more will he punish Nineveh. Turned - Laid low.”

And Matthew Henry comments: “ The Lord has turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel, that is, The Assyrians have been abusive to Jacob, the two tribes (have humbled and mortified them), as well as to Israel, the ten tribes, have emptied them, and marred their vine-branches.”

John Calvin remarks: “God has taken away the pride of Jacob as he has the pride of Israel.”

Nahum 2:3 KJB - “...the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and THE FIR TREES SHALL BE TERRIBLY SHAKEN.”

So read the Spanish Reina Valera, the Geneva Bible, the 1936 Jewish translation, Young’s, Websters and the KJV 21st Century.

However the NKJV says: “...in the day of his preparation, AND THE SPEARS ARE BRANDISHED.” Then it footnotes: Literally ‘the cypresses are shaken’.

The NIV says “The PINE trees are brandished”, NASB has “the Cypress spears are brandished”, the RSV, NRSV read: “THE CHARGERS PRANCE”; the Douay has “and THE DRIVERS ARE STUPIFIED”, Wycliffe says “THE LEADERS THEREOF BEEN ASLEEP”, Bishops’s has “THE FIR STAVES ARE DRENCHED IN POISON”, the Bible in Basic English 1960 says: “THE HORSES ARE SHAKING”, Coverdale reads: “HIS ARCHERS ARE WELL DECKED AND TRIMMED”, and the New English Bible 1970 says: “ARE LIKE FLICKERING FIRE.” Yep, it’s just like noted author and scholar James White says. “Having a variety of translations helps us to better understand the Bible.” Don’t you agree?

Nahum 2:7 KJB - “And HUZZAB shall be led away captive..” So read the Geneva Bible, Bishops’ bible, the Revised Version and others, but the NKJV says: “IT IS DECREED”, then footnotes - Hebrew - Huzzab.

But don’t worry, the RSV, ESV say “its mistress” and the NET versions says “Nineveh”.

Nahum 2:13 KJB - “...and I will burn HER chariots in the smoke..” NKJV - “I will burn YOUR chariots in smoke..” Footnote: Literally HER.

HABAKKUK

Habakkuk 2:6 KJB - "...Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with THICK CLAY!"

NKJV - "Woe to him who increases What is not his--how long? And to him who loads himself with MANY PLEDGES?"

Then the NKJV footnotes: "Syriac and Vulgate read 'thick clay'", thus implying again that the KJB translators got this reading from these foreign language versions rather than from the Hebrew. It should be noted that the Hebrew word used here is found only one time in the entire Bible, and there are many different ways the various versions have translated it.

Secondly, Lamsa's 1936 translation of the Syriac does not read "thick clay" but "How long will he load himself with EARTHLY GOODS?" I also noticed that this time the modern versions did not make any reference to the so called Greek LXX. Maybe this is because this fabled version reads: "Woe to him that multiplies to himself the possessions that are not his! How long? AND WHO HEAVILY LOADS HIS YOKE."

And thirdly, it should be asked Why do all these bible correctors always try to discredit the King James readings by referring to the Vulgate? Isn't it more than likely that the Latin translations are often right? If the Vulgate says 'Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead" are we then to toss this out of our Bible? I think not.

Not only does the King James Bible read "to him that ladeth himself with THICK CLAY" but so also do Wycliffe 1395, Coverdale 1535, Bishops's Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, the Spanish Reina Valera of 1602 and 1909 "amontonar sobre sí ESPESO LODO", the Douay-Rheims, the 1950 Douay, Websters 1833, and the KJV 21st Century version.

The 2001 Jewish translation called the Judaica Press Tanach is very similar to the KJB reading: "How long? And who loads himself with A BEAM OF MUD!". Darby's translation notes "There is a play on the word, which may also mean "thick clay".

John Gill makes no attempt to "correct" the KJB reading but says: "and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay: such is gold and silver, no other than yellow and white dust and dirt; and may be called clay, because dug out of the earth, as that; and as clay is defiling, so are gold and silver, when ill gotten, or ill used, or the heart set too much upon them; and as that is very ponderous and troublesome to carry, so an abundance of riches bring much care with them, and often are very troublesome to the owners of them, and frequently hinder their sleep, rest, and ease; and as clay when it sticks to the heels hinders walking, so riches, when the affections are too much set on them, are great obstacles in the way of true religion and godliness."

Matthew Henry likewise comments: "he is lading himself with thick clay. Riches are but clay, thick clay; what are gold and silver but white and yellow earth? Those that travel through thick clay are both retarded and dirtied in their journey; so are those that go through the world in the midst of an abundance of the wealth of it; but, as if that were not enough, what fools are those that load themselves with it, as if this trash would be their treasure! ... They overload their ship with this thick clay, and so sink it and themselves into destruction and perdition."

John Calvin also agrees with the King James reading of "thick clay" and comments on the meaning of the Hebrew word.

Nevertheless, here the NKJV reads: "...to him who loads himself WITH MANY PLEDGES?", while the NASB has "And makes himself rich with loans?", and the NIV "and makes himself wealthy by extortion!".

Habakkuk 2:7 - KJB - "Shall they not rise up suddenly THAT SHALL BITE THEE, and awake that vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?"

Here the NKJV says: "Will not YOUR CREDITORS rise up suddenly?", but then in a footnote they tell us: "Literally THOSE WHO BITE YOU". The Hebrew word is # 5391 can be used figuratively as "to lend upon usury", but the usual literal sense if found in such phrases as "if a serpent had bitten any man" Num. 21:9, "and a serpent bit him" Amos 5:19, "an adder that biteh the horse heels" Genesis 49:17; "fiery serpents... and they bit the people" Num.21:6; "every one that is bitten" Num. 21:8; "the serpent will bite without enchantment" Ecc. 10:8,11; and "the prophets...that bite with their teeth" Micah 3:5.

NKJV - "Will not YOUR CREDITORS rise up suddenly?", while the NIV gives the opposite meaning of "creditors" with "Will not YOUR DEBTORS suddenly arise?".

However agreeing with the literal "that shall bite thee" are the following translations: the 1901 ASV "Shall they not rise up suddenly THAT SHALL BITE THEE, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them?", the Revised Version 1881, Wycliffe 1395, Coverdale 1535, Bishops' bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, Darby, the Douay-Rheims, the Judaica Press Tanach, the KJV 21st Century, the Spanish Reina Valera Antigua (¿No se levantarán de repente los que te han de morder?), Lamsa's translation of the Syriac, and, Yes, even the Latin Vulgate "non repente consurgent qui MORDEANT TE".

For the NKJV to be consistent in their implied criticisms of the KJB readings, they should have footnoted just like they did in the previous verse - "Syriac and Vulgate read "those that bite thee" ;-)

Habakkuk 3:9 KJB - “Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the TRIBES, even thy WORD.”

NKJV - “Oaths were sworn over YOUR ARROWS.” Footnote: Literally tribes.

ZEPHANIAH

Zephaniah 1:12 KJB - “...I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled ON THEIR LEES...” So read the RV, ASV, Darby, the 1917, 1936 Jewish translations and several others.

NKJV - “...and punish the men who are settled IN COMPLACENCY” Footnote: Literally ‘on their lees’.

HAGGAI

Haggai 1:4, 8; 2:3 - KJB- “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this HOUSE lie waste?” “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the HOUSE; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.” “Who is left among you that saw this HOUSE in her first glory?”

NKJV - “...in your paneled houses, and this TEMPLE to lie in ruins...and build the TEMPLE that I may take pleasure in it...” “Who is left among you who saw this TEMPLE in its former glory?” Footnote for all three verses: Literally HOUSE.

ZECHARIAH

Zechariah 1:21 KJB - “...but THESE are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles...” NKJV - “but THE CRAFTSMEN are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations...” Footnote: - literally THESE.

Zechariah 5:6 KJB - “And I said, What is it? And he said, This is AN EPHAH that goeth forth.” NKJV - “And he said, It is a BASKET that is going forth” Footnote: Hebrew EPHAH.

Zechariah 7:2 KJB - “When THEY had sent unto the house of God...” NKJV - “When THE PEOPLE sent...” Footnote: Literally THEY.

Zechariah 8:17 KJB - "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against HIS neighbour". So read the RV, ASV, Geneva, Youngs, Darby, and the Jewish translations. However the NKJV says: "...in your hearts against YOUR neighbor", but then footnotes "Literally, HIS".

Zechariah 8:23 KJB - "In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold OF THE SKIRT of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." So read Geneva bible, the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, the Judaica Press Tanach 2001, the RV, ASV, Darby, Youngs, Douay, Lamsa, Rotherham's Emphasized Bible, and the KJV 21st Century. The NIV says "hem" which is acceptable, but the NASB has "garment". However the NKJV says: "shall GRASP THE SLEEVE of a Jewish man". The sleeve is part of a shirt, not a robe. The word for "skirt" refers to the bottom part of a robe, as in when David "cut off the skirt of Saul's robe" in 1 Samuel 24:4. However even the NKJV still translates this same word as "skirt" in Jeremiah 2:34 - "Also in thy SKIRTS is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents."

Zechariah 9:17 KJB - “For how great is HIS goodness, and how great is HIS beauty!” Many commentators like Calvin, John Gill, Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke and John Wesley have all seen this verse as a reference to the goodness and beauty of God the Messiah.

Other translations that refer to HIS goodness and HIS beauty are the Geneva Bible, the RV, ASV, Darby, Young’s, 1936 Jewish translation, Douay, NRSV and the ESV. However this has all been changed in the NKJV, for it says: “For how great is THEIR goodness and how great is THEIR beauty.” Then in a footnote the NKJV informs us: Literally HIS!!! Versions like the NASB, NIV, and Holman also change the text to read “THEIR” goodness and beauty.

Zechariah 14:5 KJB - “And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains:...ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with THEE.”

So read the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, the Judaica Press Tanach, Hebrew Names Version, the Revised Version, ASV, Youngs, Darby, Green’s, KJV 21, Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible 1902, the Geneva Bible, and Webster’s 1833 translation.

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, John Wesley, and other Bible commentators have seen a reference here to God Himself. JFB comments- “Lord my God . . . with thee--The mention of the "Lord my God" leads the prophet to pass suddenly to a direct address to Jehovah. It is as if "lifting up his head" (Lu 21:28), he suddenly sees in vision the Lord coming, and joyfully exclaims, "All the saints with Thee!" So Isa 25:9. “

The Geneva Bible notes read: “Because they did not credit the Prophets words, he turns to God and comforts himself in that that he knew that these things would come, and says, "You, O God, with your angels will come to perform this great thing."

Matthew Henry comments: “The Lord my God shall come, shall come to the comfort of all that are his; for, "Blessed Lord, all the saints shall be with thee, and it shall be their everlasting happiness to dwell in thy presence; and therefore come, Lord Jesus." The Lord my God shall come, shall come to the comfort of all that are his; for, "Blessed Lord, all the saints shall be with thee, and it shall be their everlasting happiness to dwell in thy presence; and therefore come, Lord Jesus."

John Calvin notes: “All the saints WITH THEE (caps are mine). There seems to be here a kind of indignation, as though the Prophet turned himself away from his hearers, whom he observed to be in a measure prepared obstinately to reject his heavenly doctrine; for he turns his discourse to God.”

Though the NKJV still reads: “The LORD my God will come, and all the saints with YOU.” YET it footnotes: “The ancient versions and some Hebrew manuscripts read HIM.”

Versions that do read “The Lord my God will come, and all the saints with HIM” are the RSV, (which footnotes that HIM comes from the Greek LXX, Syriac, Vulgate and Targum, but the Hebrew reads YOU), NIV, NASB, the NRSV, ESV and Holman Standard.

Back to the beginning - GENESIS

I’m not going to list every one of the scores upon scores of examples of where the NKJV unnecessarily paraphrases or changes the Hebrew texts. (Gen. 9:9 “your descendants” Ft. Lit. seed = KJB; Gen. 18:11 “had passed the age of childbearing” Ft. Lit. ‘the manner of women had ceased to be with Sarah’ = KJB; Gen. 27:36 “Esau” Ft. Lit. “he” = KJB; Gen. 29:30 “Jacob” Ft. Lit. “he” = KJB) It would be exhausting and of little value. If you can’t see the weight and significance of the changes by now, then producing a hundred more examples will not change your mind about the NKJV.

What I will do is mention a few of the more salient examples of where the NKJV misses the whole point, or tries in subtle and not so subtle ways to discredit the King James Bible by its misleading footnotes.

Genesis 20:16 presents us with another example of paraphrasing found in the NKJV and other modern versions which misses the whole point of the passage and results in confusion.

Abraham had been told by God that He would give him a son by his wife Sarah. Yet we see the faltering steps of faith in our spiritual father as he and Sarah sojourned in the land of Gerar. Upon entering the region of king Abimelech, Abraham thought "Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake." So he told Sarah to say that he was her brother. The result of this was that Abimelech took Sarah into his house, thus putting her into a very precarious position. Then God came to Abimelech by night in a dream and told him that Sarah was Abraham's wife and that he was "but a dead man".

Abimelech arose early in the morning and called Abraham and asked him why he had done this. Then the king gave Abraham sheep, oxen, men and womenservants and restored him Sarah his wife and told him to dwell where he pleased. Then in verse 16 we read: "And unto Sarah he said, BEHOLD, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: BEHOLD, HE IS TO THEE A COVERING OF THE EYES, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: THUS SHE WAS REPROVED."

"Covering of the eyes" is the literal reading of the Hebrew and is also found in the Wycliffe 1395, Coverdale 1535 - (lo, he shalbe vnto the a couerynge of the eyes, for all that are with thee); Bishops’ bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, the 1917 and 1936 Jewish translations, the 2001 Judaica Press Tanach, the RV, ASV, Young's, Darby, Douay, the KJV 21st Century version and the Spanish Reina Valera bibles. Even the NKJV shows in its Footnote that the literal Hebrew is "COVERING OF THE EYES FOR YOU.”

The Spanish Reina Valera’s from 1909, 1960 and 1995 read just like the King James Bible with: “mira que él te es como un velo para los ojos de todos los que están contigo, y para con todos” (Look, he is to thee as a covering of the eyes to all those who are with you, and for all).

Abimelech is saying to Sarah that the truth is now known that her "brother" is in fact her husband and that Abraham will serve as a covering of other men's eyes so that they will not look upon Sarah as a potential wife. Thus she was reproved for her part in the deception that almost cost Abimelech his life.

However the NASB, NIV, and NKJV all miss this point and even contradict each other. Instead of "Behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved" the NKJV says: " INDEED, THIS VINDICATES YOU before all who are with you and before all others. Thus she was REPROVED."

The NASB has: " Behold, IT IS YOUR VINDICATION before all who are with you and before all men YOU ARE CLEARED.", while the NIV reads: " THIS IS TO COVER THE OFFENSE AGAINST YOU before all who are with you; you are COMPLETELY VINDICATED."

Now the Holman Standard has come out and it reads “IT IS A VERIFICATION OF YOUR HONOR TO ALL WHO ARE WITH YOU. YOU ARE FULLY VINDICATED.”

So which is it? Was she reproved as the KJB, NKJV and others say or was she cleared and vindicated as the NIV - NASB have it? And what on earth does "this vindicates you" mean? The NIV omits the word "behold" three times in verses 15, 16, adds "offence" though it did get "cover" more or less right but yet the meaning is totally different than either the NKJV, NASB or the KJB.

The Geneva Bible of 1599 notes: 20:16 "And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved." "God caused this heathen king to reprove her because she concealed her identity, seeing that God had given her a husband as her veil and defence."

Matthew Henry and John Wesley both say the same thing in their commentaries. "He gives to Sarah good instruction, tells her that her husband (her brother he calls him, to upbraid her with calling him so) must be to her for a covering of the eyes, that is, she must look at no other, nor desire to be looked at by any other. The marriage-covenant is a covenant with the eyes, like Job says in ch. 31:1."

John Gill notes: "behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee; a protection of her person and chastity: so an husband, in our language, is said to be a cover to his wife, and she under a cover: thus Abraham being now known to be the husband of Sarah, would for the future be a covering to her, that no one should look upon her, and desire her, and take her to be his wife."

The King James Bible is right and the NKJV is a hack job that misses the whole point.

EXODUS

Exodus 1:5 KJB - “And all THE SOULS THAT CAME OUT OF THE LOINS of Jacob were seventy SOULS.”

So read the Jewish translations of 1917, 1936, the Geneva Bible, Coverdale, the Revised Version, American Standard Version 1901, Darby and the KJV 21st Century 1994. However the NKJV says: “All THOSE (not ‘souls’) WHO WERE DESCENDANTS (1) of Jacob were seventy PERSONS (not ‘souls’). Then in a footnote the NKJV tells us: “Literally ‘who came from the loins of’” So why not just say it?

NUMBERS

Numbers 21:14 “Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, WHAT HE DID IN THE RED SEA.”

Here the NKJV changes the meaning of the verse and tries to discredit the KJB reading. The NKJV says: “Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “WAHED IN SUPHAH.” Then in a footnote the NKJV tells us: “Vulgate reads ‘WHAT HE DID IN THE RED SEA.”, as though the King James translators got their reading from the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew texts.

However, agreeing with the King James Bible reading of “WHAT HE DID IN THE RED SEA” are the following Bible translations: Bishops’ Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, Webster’s 1833, the KJV 21st Century version.

The Spanish Reina Valeras 1569, 1909 and 1960 likewise agree with the King James Bible reading: “Lo que hizo en el mar Rojo” (What He did in the Red Sea).

It basically comes down to whether the Hebrew words in question form a verbal phrase (What he did in the Red Sea) or are specific names of places (Waheb in Suphah). However if it refers to physical places or cites, (as the NKJV, NIV, NASB do) there are no other Biblical or historical references to any such alleged places as Waheb or Suphah. The King James Bible reading just makes a lot more sense.

There are several quite different translations of this verse with the Judaica Press Tanach saying: “"What He gave at the Sea of Reeds”, Rotherham’s Emphasized bible of 1902 with: “ Waheb with a hurricane”, and Lamsa’s 1936 translation of the Syriac says: “A flame of fire is in the whirlwind.”

Adam Clarke remarks on the passage: “What he did in the Red Sea, and in the brooks of Arnon. This clause is impenetrably obscure. All the versions, all the translators, and all the commentators, have been puzzled with it. Scarcely any two agree.”

Numbers 24:17 KJB - “...and shall smite the corners of Moad, and destroy all the children of SHETH.” So read the NASB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, ESV and Holman Standard.

NKJV - “and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of TUMULT.” Footnote: Hebrew SHETH.

Numbers 24:24 KJB - “And ships shall come from the coast of CHITTIM, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and HE ALSO shall perish forever.” Chittim or Kittim is the reading found in the Jewish translations, the RV, ASV, NASB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, Young, KJV 21 and Holman.

NKJV - “But ships shall come from the coasts of CYPRUS and they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, and so shall AMALEK until he perishes.” Footnotes: Hebrew Kittim (not Cyprus); Literally “he” (not Amalek)

One Last Example for Now.

An important prophetic statement found in the book of Galatians is all messed up in the NKJV references. In Galatians 3:16 we read: “Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made. He saith NOT, And to SEEDS, as of many; but as of one, And to thy SEED, which is Christ.”

The NKJV N.T. verse reads basically the same, but in giving cross references to this distinction between SEED (singular) as opposed to SEEDS (plural) the NKJV footnotes three Old Testament references found in Genesis 12:7; 13:15; and 24:7.

Let’s take a look for a moment at these three O.T. references listed in the NKJV and see what we find. In the King James Bible we read in all three: 12:7 -“And the LORD appeared unto Abraham, and said, Unto thy SEED will I give this land...”; 13:15 - “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy SEED for ever.”; 24:7 - “The LORD God of heaven...sware unto me, saying, Unto thy SEED will I give this land.”

However when we look at all three of these references in the NKJV, we do not read of a singular SEED, but instead of a plural DESCENDANTS. 12:7 - “To your DESCENDANTS will I give this land”; 13:15 - “for all the land which you see I give to you and your DESCENDANTS for ever.” (Footnote: Literally SEED) 24:7 - “To your DESCENDANTS I give this land.”

The NKJV is at best a poor substitute for the true Holy Bible. Get yourself the Authorized King James Holy Bible and stick to it. Accept no cheap imitations.

Will Kinney

Further studies comparing the King James Bible with the NKJV -

To see how the NKJV keeps changing it’s English text from one edition to the next, see http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/nkjvwords.html

If you mistakenly think the NKJV is the same as the KJB, please see - http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/nkjvsm.html

See also Don’t Go On Safari with a NKJV translator http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/safari.html

See a comparative study between the KJB and the NKJV in 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah here: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/1-2Chron.html

And for a thorough examination of the differences between the KJB and the NKJV in the Book of Proverbs see: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/Pro.html

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