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This is a sampling of texts from a broad spectrum of doctrines, concepts, and magnitude of importance, comparing the
King James Version with that of the New International Version. Each text can be seen side-by-side for easy comparison,
and those who wish to may also view these texts from BibleGateway.com by clicking on the link at the left in each row.
Please note: These texts are just a sampling and do not represent a complete list, nor are these
necessarily representative of the most important differences in the translations presented. Additionally, this
list is arranged in a chronological order, and not, as might be better, by topic. In order to understand the magnitude
of the individual changes, one must look at the sum of all similar changes of the same subject matter throughout the
entire Bible.
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| Bible Passage | King James Version (KJV) | New International Version (NIV) | Notes: |
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Genesis 1:1 Read online at BibleGateway | In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | The NIV changes just one word here in English from KJV, with minimal justification. Notice that in verse 8 the word is clearly singular. This is the "heaven" referred to here. Some, looking at the expanse of the "skies" do plural it, but the "heavens" should not be misunderstood to apply to other than that belonging to this earth. (This word in Hebrew, like the Hebrew word for "face," has no singular form--but that doesn't mean everyone is two-faced, nor that there is no single "heaven" to address. It is akin to the word "physics" in English, which lacks a singular form.) |
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Genesis 1:2 Read online at BibleGateway | And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. |
Now the earth was [fn1] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. FOOTNOTE: Or possibly became | The footnote is added to this verse to support those who believe life may have existed on earth prior to creation week. It is uncalled for. The actual translation of the rest of the verse is fine. |
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Genesis 1:5 Read online at BibleGateway | And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. | God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. | NIV lowercases the names God assigned, appropriate for modern common English usage, but lacking in the significance of God's nomenclature. These words are symbols of other spiritual truths throughout the Bible. |
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Genesis 1:6 Read online at BibleGateway | And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. | And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." | Here again the NIV meddles with the plurals, making "waters" singular in two of its three occurrences. This distances it from its prophetic significance in which "waters" represent people (see Revelation 17:15). Like "heavens," there is no singular form of "waters" in Hebrew, so it is a matter of interpretation; but the KJV rendering is more consistent here. |
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Genesis 1:8 Read online at BibleGateway | And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. | God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. | The use of "sky" in place of "Heaven" here in the NIV significantly erodes its correlation with other Bible passages, such as the fourth commandment, where the NIV reverts to the correct form of "heavens." This muddles the controversy surrounding Creation vs. Evolution by disconnecting the link as to which "heavens" are referred to in the Sabbath commandment. |
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Genesis 1:9 Read online at BibleGateway | And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. | And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. | The use of "dry ground" in place of "the dry land" is very significant to the next three verses, again destroying the link between Genesis 1 and the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20, not to mention multiple other passages in the Bible. |
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Genesis 1:10 Read online at BibleGateway | And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. | God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. | Calling the "dry ground" "land" in place of "earth" directly removes the link to the Sabbath commandment and other passages of the Bible. It essentially removes the Biblical definition of the term "earth" from the Bible. Of course, in other passages, the NIV is happy to use the now-undefined term "earth." |
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Genesis 1:11 Read online at BibleGateway | And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. | Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. | Again, the NIV attempts to remove a Bible definition. The word "grass" symbolizes people in prophecy, as further defined in Isaiah 40:7 and other passages. The NIV is happy to use "grass" in those--why avoid the term here? Again, the Bible's own congruity and integrity is lessened by this change. |
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Genesis 1:12 Read online at BibleGateway | And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. | The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. | Here the use of the word "grass," significant throughout the Bible, is again omitted in the NIV. |
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Genesis 1:14 Read online at BibleGateway | And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: | And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, | Apart from the substitution of "skies" for "heaven," one other change here is significant: the NIV translation removes the fact that the lights will be for "signs." The NIV rendering leaves the lights only as markings for seasons, days and years--but not for signs. This removes some important prophetic parallels. |
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Genesis 1:24 Read online at BibleGateway | And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. | And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. | The addition of the word "wild" here in NIV is subtle. It is, however, contrary to the truth about how God made the animals. Animals had no reason to fear mankind before sin, and were not, therefore, "wild." |
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Genesis 1:25 Read online at BibleGateway | And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. | God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. | NIV again adds the word "wild," which is incorrect. While the animals are indeed wild in today's world, they were not wild in the beginning when God created them. |
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Genesis 2:1 Read online at BibleGateway | Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. | Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. | The word "host" (Heb. צָבָא) here is changed to "vast array" in the NIV. In other places, the NIV changes "host" to such terms as "heavenly array," "starry skies," and "starry hosts." However, the NIV cannot make the change away from "host" consistently, as observed in texts like 1 Kings 22:19 and 2 Chronicles 18:18. The proliferation of terms confuses, rather than simplifies, and makes things more difficult to understand in the end. |
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Genesis 6:3 Read online at BibleGateway | And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. | Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." | The KJV "flesh" (Heb. בָּשָׂר) becomes "mortal" in the NIV...but these words are hardly synonymous. |
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Genesis 49:10 Read online at BibleGateway | The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. | The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. | NIV here reduces the promise of the Messiah to a nameless pronoun and muddles the meaning with that of Judah. |
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Exodus 20:4 Read online at BibleGateway | Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. | "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. | NIV has altered the grammar which now reduces the scope of the commandment. A "graven image" is more like a "sculpture" than an "idol." Removing the "OR" is key. |
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Exodus 20:5 Read online at BibleGateway | Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; | You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, | "Visiting" and "punishing" are not the same. While "visiting" may mean "punishing", "punishing" could never mean "visiting." So the NIV translators have chosen our interpretation for us. |
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Exodus 20:6 Read online at BibleGateway | And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. | but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. | Mercy and love may be similar, but they are not the same. Neither are "thousands" and "a thousand {generations}" the same. The NIV has added its own perspective here, regardless of the original intent. Does not God love everyone? |
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Exodus 20:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. | "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. | Again, the NIV has narrowed the scope of the command. To "take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" is NOT the same as to "misuse the name of the LORD your God." The Hebrew word "ṯiś·śā" translated as "take" might also be rendered as "bear" or "carry" or "sustain" or even "lift up": it is the anti-hypocrisy commandment, telling God's followers not to be called "Christians" without actually being Christians. |
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Exodus 20:10 Read online at BibleGateway | But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: | but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. | Subtle: "the Sabbath" is changed to "a Sabbath". This would broaden the scope of the command to cover ALL sabbaths, and effectively create confusion within the Bible itself, for God did not create the world in seven days prior to each of the ceremonial sabbaths. In Hebrew, there is no indefinite article. |
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Exodus 34:6 Read online at BibleGateway | And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, | And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, | NIV rearranges and rewords the attributes of God, seemingly at will. The first changes to this text occur in the names and pronouns. Later, goodness becomes love, truth becomes faithfulness. |
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Exodus 34:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. | maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." | Mercy becomes love, such that now we have love repeated twice in the list even though these are two different words in Hebrew. Visiting becomes punishing (the Hebrew word in this case is more often translated in the positive, such as when God visits the earth and waters it, Ps. 65:9). |
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Leviticus 3:17 Read online at BibleGateway | It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. | " 'This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.' " | NIV swaps the KJV "perpetual," with its sense of permanence, as is present in the Hebrew, with "lasting." Lasting until when? |
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Leviticus 15:19 Read online at BibleGateway | And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. | " 'When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. | The original text, as per the KJV, says nothing about how long the issue (or discharge) will last, only that the woman is to be put apart for a week for it. The NIV, in addition to adding the concept of "monthly," dares to predict how long the flow will last! |
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Leviticus 18:6 Read online at BibleGateway | None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. | " 'No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD. | NIV again narrows the scope. Did the translators feel it is alright to "look but don't touch?" |
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Leviticus 18:7 Read online at BibleGateway | The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. | " 'Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. | NIV has added the concept of honor in this verse, converting it from a straight "thus saith the Lord" type of a command to one of private interpretation. |
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Leviticus 19:18 Read online at BibleGateway | Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. | " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. | Subtle: NIV has removed the familiar wording "you shall" which would identify it as the command reiterated by Jesus in the New Testament, and which parallels the words used in the Ten Commandments. This amounts to a subtle attack upon the "Old Covenant." |
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Leviticus 23:32 Read online at BibleGateway | It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. | It is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath." | By rearrangement of the sentence structure, the NIV attempts to define the sabbath hours for a single day per year only, whereas the KJV renders it more broadly applicable. |
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Numbers 23:19 Read online at BibleGateway | God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? | God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? | Perhaps this is but a small difference, but I like the KJV "the son of man" better than the NIV "a son of man," simply for the parallel to the New Testament it invokes. Jesus, born to Mary, is called "the son of man." |
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Deuteronomy 5:1 Read online at BibleGateway | And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. | Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. | Notice the "easier" English of the NIV? Called -> summoned; speak -> declare; do -> follow. The NIV also omits the concept of "keeping" God's law. |
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Deuteronomy 5:14 Read online at BibleGateway | But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. | but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. | After both versions have translated "remember the sabbath day" in verse 12, NIV splits away with "a sabbath." It would be more consistent to drop the indefinite article, and say "Sabbath" in place of "a Sabbath," following the original Hebrew. |
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Deuteronomy 6:4 Read online at BibleGateway | Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: | Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. |
Small difference. The Hebrew might be rendered as "Listen, Israel! Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one" OR "Listen, Israel! Jehovah, our God Jehovah, is one." (The original Hebrew lacked punctuation.) |
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Deuteronomy 6:5 Read online at BibleGateway | And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. | Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. | KJV clearly preserves the command in Decalogue style with "thou shalt." The NIV throws these words away. |
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Deuteronomy 30:15 Read online at BibleGateway | See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; | See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. | NIV changes "good" to "prosperity" and "evil" to "destruction", though these are hardly synonyms. |
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Joshua 1:6 Read online at BibleGateway | Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. | "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. | The NIV "lead" takes considerable liberty with this translation. The Hebrew word aligns better with "divide" or "apportion." |
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1 Samuel 28:13 Read online at BibleGateway | And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. |
The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a spirit [fn1] coming up out of the ground." FOOTNOTE: Or see spirits; or see gods | Poor translation: The Hebrew word translated as "gods" in the KJV is the word "Elohim" (Heb. אֱלֹהִ֥ים). We know this word is plural in this text because its verb "ascending" is in plural form in Hebrew. While it can mean one of several things, in the KJV this word is never translated as "spirit." |
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2 Samuel 7:23 Read online at BibleGateway | And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? | And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? | Notice the clear distinction in the KJV between God (thy) and the people (you). The NIV loses this clarity and also omits the concept of the land, which the KJV additionally makes clear is belonging to God. |
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1 Chronicles 28:11 Read online at BibleGateway | Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, | Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. | The NIV never uses "mercy seat" (apart from two footnotes). In this text, it has replaced it with "the place of atonement"; in other passages it may be "the atonement cover" or simply "the cover." But none of these is an accurate translation. See more of its failures to mention "mercy seat" in Exodus 25:17-22; 26:34; 30:6; 31:7; 35:12; 37:6-9; 39:35; 40:20; Leviticus 16:2, 13-15; Numbers 7:89; and Hebrews 9:5. |
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Job 20:21 Read online at BibleGateway | There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. | Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. | Completely changed -- "left", "his", and "for" are the only words of the NIV version which can be found in the KJV. |
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Job 21:13 Read online at BibleGateway | They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. | They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. | NIV changes the time, and falsely adds the concept of "peace" (this word is not in the Hebrew text). Verse 7 clearly names the wicked as the subject here, and Isaiah 57:21 is emphatic about the wicked not having peace. |
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Job 23:12 Read online at BibleGateway | Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. | I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. | The NIV has carried over from the New Testament its hate for the idea of fasting, by changing this verse to erase the concept of self denial. |
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Psalms 1:6 Read online at BibleGateway | For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. | For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. | The Hebrew word "yada" means "to know, recognize, understand; to have sexual relations; to be respected; to be known, make oneself known" etc. It is never equivalent to "watch over" as the NIV has rendered it. |
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Psalms 2:12 Read online at BibleGateway | Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. | Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. | The NIV incorrectly portrays the Son as impatient or fickle with the added words "can flare up in a moment." |
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Ecclesiastes 9:5 Read online at BibleGateway | For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. | For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. | [No problem] This verse is included solely to provide appropriate context to the next two verses (see below). |
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Ecclesiastes 9:6 Read online at BibleGateway | Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. | Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. | Notice NIV "have long since" versus KJV "is now." |
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Ecclesiastes 9:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. | Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. | The same Hebrew word is used for "now" in this verse as in the previous verse--should this also be "long since?" The NIV translation is less consistent than the KJV. |
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Isaiah 14:12 Read online at BibleGateway | How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! | How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! | Here the NIV is blasphemous. "Morning star" is a term reserved for Jesus elsewhere (see Rev. 22:16), yet the NIV has granted to Lucifer this title here. You will notice that it is an addition to the text, though Lucifer is left out. Does this imply Christ has fallen? |
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Isaiah 40:13 Read online at BibleGateway | Who hath directed the spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught him? |
Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? FOOTNOTE: Or Spirit; or spirit | There's a bit of a difference between "directed the spirit" and "understood the mind." NIV relegates the word "spirit" to a footnote. |
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Isaiah 48:22 Read online at BibleGateway | There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. | "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." | KJV is less ambiguous here. "For" can also mean "on account of" or "because of" in English. |
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Lamentations 3:26 Read online at BibleGateway | It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. | it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. | NIV leaves out the concept of hope (Heb. וְיָחִיל֙), failing to translate one of the Hebrew words. |
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Ezekiel 4:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. | Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth." | NIV removes God from the verse, and has Ezekiel as talking back rather forcefully with "Not so, Sovereign LORD!" Does this give us all an example of how to speak to the King? |
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Daniel 2:4 Read online at BibleGateway | Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. | Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it." | Chaldeans may include astrologers, but the reverse may not be true. Syrian/Syriack and Aramaic are synonomous, but the KJV is to be commended for using the same word each time to translate the Hebrew, whereas NIV uses both Aramaic and Syrian so that it is more difficult to follow the equivalence. |
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Daniel 5:11 Read online at BibleGateway | There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; | There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. | NIV converts "light" to "insight" and "understanding" to "intelligence"; "Chaldeans" (Heb. כַּשְׂדָּאִין֙) is dropped out of the text, and "astrologers" (Heb. אָֽשְׁפִ֗ין) gets translated as both "enchanters" and "astrologers." But watch what happens to "the spirit of the holy gods" in the next verse. |
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Daniel 5:12 Read online at BibleGateway | Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. | This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means." | The "excellent spirit" spoken of here harks back to "the spirit of the holy gods" from the previous verse--but the NIV downgrades this lofty concept to "a keen mind," ascribing to Daniel himself the abilities for which only God deserves credit, including the interpretation of dreams. |
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Daniel 6:3 Read online at BibleGateway | Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. | Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. | Whereas in chapter 5, the NIV rendered "an excellent spirit" (Heb. ר֤וּחַ יַתִּירָא֙) as "a keen mind," here it becomes "his exceptional qualities," again crediting the man in place of God. This is far from a translation of exceptional quality. |
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Daniel 8:14 Read online at BibleGateway | And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. | He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated." | No issue with the evening-mornings: both translations are essentially correct. But there is a significant difference between the concepts of "consecration" and of "cleansing." |
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Micah 5:2 Read online at BibleGateway | But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. |
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans [fn2] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins [fn3] are from of old, from ancient times. [fn4] " FOOTNOTES: Or rulers; Hebrew goings out; Or from days of eternity | There's a tremendous difference between "ancient times" and "everlasting." This is a subtle blow to Christ's divine eternal pre-existence. |
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Matthew 1:25 Read online at BibleGateway | And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. | But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. | Born to a virgin, Jesus must have been a firstborn. NIV leaves it open as to whether or not she had had other children previously, perhaps by another man, thus a subtle blow to Christ's legitimacy. The original Greek has the word πρωτότοκον (prototokon), "proto" meaning "first" (think "prototype") and "tokon" meaning begotten. |
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Matthew 5:44 Read online at BibleGateway | But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; | But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, | NIV slices out most of the verse! Perhaps the translators thought Jesus' words too boring, or his teachings unnecessary. |
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Matthew 6:13 Read online at BibleGateway | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' FOOTNOTE: Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. |
NIV here removes to a footnote the identification of God's authority. NOTE: The Greek does not contain the word "one" nor any similar pronoun in the translation "the evil one"; however, because the word for "evil" (an adjective in Greek) is preceded by the Greek definite article, this translation may be justified. |
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Matthew 6:33 Read online at BibleGateway | But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. | But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. |
Whose kingdom? The Greek "τοῦ θεοῦ" (of God) is omitted in the NIV rendition. |
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Matthew 8:29 Read online at BibleGateway | And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? | "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" | Who is the Son of God? Does the NIV wish not to answer this question? |
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Matthew 9:13 Read online at BibleGateway | But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. | But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." | NIV does not recognize the need for repentance. |
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Matthew 9:18 Read online at BibleGateway | While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. | While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." | The NIV has changed "worship" to "knelt before." These do not have the same significance. Are children worshiping their teacher when kneeling in a circle around her to hear the story? |
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Matthew 11:12 Read online at BibleGateway | And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. | From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. | NIV big fail: There is a huge difference between suffering violence and "forcefully advancing." The violence is done against the kingdom of heaven, not by it. |
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Matthew 12:47 Read online at BibleGateway | Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. |
Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." FOOTNOTE: Some manuscripts do not have verse 47. | Why include this statement in the footnote, which undermines the text? The NIV translators were not even forthright enough to identify upon which manuscripts they based their statement. |
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Matthew 12:49 Read online at BibleGateway | And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! | Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. | NIV omits the "hand" (Gr. χεῖρα) of Jesus. |
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Matthew 13:33 Read online at BibleGateway | Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. | He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." | NIV omits the number "three" (Gr. τρία). |
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Matthew 13:51 Read online at BibleGateway | Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. | "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.“"Yes," they replied. | The NIV excludes the fact that Jesus' disciples called Him "Lord." It also replaces a simple word with a more difficult one: say vs. replied--yet another example of the NIV actually increasing the reading level. |
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Matthew 16:20 Read online at BibleGateway | Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. | Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. | NIV does not like to equate "Jesus" with "Christ," so Jesus' name is omitted. The KJV properly retains the word from the Greek text. |
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Matthew 17:21 Read online at BibleGateway | Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. | OMITTED | Perhaps the NIV translators do not wish to promote prayer and fasting. They align themselves with Pharaoh, who seemed to think that Israel's worship was too difficult (see Exodus 10:8-11). |
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Matthew 18:3 Read online at BibleGateway | And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. | And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. | The NIV translators have watered down the need for conversion, which implies repentance and a turning point in life. |
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Matthew 18:11 Read online at BibleGateway | For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. | OMITTED | Yet another salvation text removed in the NIV. |
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Matthew 18:22 Read online at BibleGateway | Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. |
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy‑seven times. [fn6] FOOTNOTE: Or seventy times seven | What excuse is there for mistranslation of a number? The "seventy times seven" figure is well supported by prophecy (see Daniel 9:24). Jesus' words here have dual meaning, including being prophetic of the probation granted to the Jewish nation--but you would not be able to catch this from the NIV reading. |
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Matthew 19:9 Read online at BibleGateway | And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. | I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." | The NIV slices out half of the commandment--perhaps the translators had guilty consciences! Shame on those who would silence conscience by changing God's Word! |
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Matthew 20:16 Read online at BibleGateway | So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. | "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." | Again, the NIV leaves out half of Jesus' statement. |
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Matthew 20:20 Read online at BibleGateway | Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. | Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. | The NIV again changes the concept of "worship" to that of "kneeling." |
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Matthew 20:22 Read online at BibleGateway | But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. | "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. | If the NIV translators understood the significance of the term "baptism" in this passage, it would make their sin in leaving this out much greater. I would guess they did not understand it, so they just skipped it. However, not understanding something is no excuse for mistranslation by omission! |
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Matthew 21:44 Read online at BibleGateway | And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. |
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." FOOTNOTE: Some manuscripts do not have verse 44. | Why does the NIV wish to tell us that some manuscripts don't have this verse? Obviously the NIV has it . . . so are they undermining their own credibility? |
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Matthew 23:8 Read online at BibleGateway | But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. | "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. | The NIV leaves Christ out again. |
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Matthew 23:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. | OMITTED | Here we have yet more of Jesus' words rejected by the NIV translators. |
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Matthew 24:3 Read online at BibleGateway | And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? | As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" | The NIV leaves it open as to when Jesus' words might be fulfilled. At "the end of the age" could be any period in history, and not the final moments of the earth itself. |
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Matthew 25:13 Read online at BibleGateway | Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. | "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. | Perhaps the NIV translators did not want you to think about Jesus' coming. |
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Matthew 26:64 Read online at BibleGateway | Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. | "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." | KJV "thou" refers to the high priest, "you" and "ye" to a wider (plural) audience. NIV "you" in each place has reduced the clarity of Jesus' words. The wholesale replacement of thee/thou/ye/you with the single word "you" does not preserve the original. |
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Matthew 26:31 Read online at BibleGateway | Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. | Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' | NIV error: Jesus' disciples did not "fall away." To fall away is to apostatize. They did become afraid, and most of them left Jesus during his trial and agony--but they were still faithful following the resurrection, with the sole exception of Judas, Christ's betrayer. |
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Matthew 27:35 Read online at BibleGateway | And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. | When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. | NIV separates out the fact of fulfilled prophecy regarding Jesus Christ's death. This is another direct attack on His Messiahship. |
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Matthew 27:54 Read online at BibleGateway | Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. |
NIV NOTE: Or a son | "A son" and "the Son" are not equal. This is a direct attack on the divinity of Christ. A better translation for that last phrase might have been "Truly this was God's Son"; however, the formal grammar of the time of the KJV preferred the use of "of" over that of an apostrophe. |
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Matthew 28:9 Read online at BibleGateway | And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. | Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. | The NIV leaves out parts of the story here. |
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Mark 1:2 Read online at BibleGateway | As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. | It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" | NIV omits an "unimportant" part of one's anatomy--"face" (Gr. προσώπου). |
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Mark 1:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, | After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. | The NIV removed "the gospel of the kingdom"! |
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Mark 1:31 Read online at BibleGateway | And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. | So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. | When did the fever leave her? |
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Mark 2:17 Read online at BibleGateway | When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. | On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." | The NIV blatantly omits the concept of repentance, daring once again to change Jesus' own words. |
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Mark 3:14 Read online at BibleGateway | And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, |
He appointed twelve–designating them apostles [fn2] –that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach FOOTNOTE: Some manuscripts do not have designating them apostles. | The NIV even admits in the footnote that "some" (it should read "most") manuscripts do not have the part that they added. (See also next verse below.) |
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Mark 3:15 Read online at BibleGateway | And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: | and to have authority to drive out demons. | No footnote here explains why the NIV omits half of Jesus' commission. (See also vs. 14 above.) |
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Mark 5:6 Read online at BibleGateway | But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, | When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. | The NIV converts "worshipped" (Gr. προσεκύνησεν) to a mere physical aspect: "fell on his knees in front of." This is interpretation, not translation. |
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Mark 6:11 Read online at BibleGateway | And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. | And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." | The NIV omits half of this verse! |
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Mark 7:8 Read online at BibleGateway | For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. | You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." | The NIV omits Jesus' examples of what types of traditions He is speaking of. |
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Mark 7:16 Read online at BibleGateway | If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. | OMITTED | Apparently the NIV translators didn't have ears to hear. |
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Mark 7:19 Read online at BibleGateway | Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? | For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") | Ridiculous addition: Passing through one's body does nothing to make foods clean! There's not even a footnote to indicate that the NIV has added to the text here. The entire parenthetical statement does not belong. |
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Mark 9:24 Read online at BibleGateway | And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. | Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" | The NIV again strips Jesus of his title as "Lord." There is simply no excuse for this omission of the Greek word (κύριε). |
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Mark 9:29 Read online at BibleGateway | And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. | He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." | Here the NIV demonstrates its anti-fasting philosophy, omitting the "and fasting" (Gr. καὶ νηστείᾳ). |
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Mark 9:44 Read online at BibleGateway | Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. | COMPLETELY OMITTED | Apparently the NIV translators didn't understand this verse, so deemed it useless. |
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Mark 9:46 Read online at BibleGateway | Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. | OMITTED but noted in a footnote | Here, at least, they thought it worthy of a footnote mention. |
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Mark 9:49 Read online at BibleGateway | For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. | Everyone will be salted with fire. | The significance of Jesus' words can never be understood if they are never read! Yet the NIV translators dare to leave out, once again, something they must have seen as unimportant. Do they truly think Jesus had no reason for speaking? |
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Mark 10:21 Read online at BibleGateway | Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. | Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." | The NIV leaves out the concept of "taking up the cross." Why? |
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Mark 10:24 Read online at BibleGateway | And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! | The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! | NIV has broadened the concept to all people, instead of placing upon this the focus which Jesus did. |
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Mark 11:10 Read online at BibleGateway | Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. | "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" | Removing "the name of the Lord," the NIV also changes the kingdom from present to future, thereby denying Jesus' present Lordship. |
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Mark 11:26 Read online at BibleGateway | But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. | OMITTED | NIV completely omits this critical issue relative to our salvation. These were Jesus' own words. Was Jesus not important enough to be heard? |
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Mark 12:30 Read online at BibleGateway | And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. | Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' | The NIV reduces this commandment to a mere proverb. Not only have they blatantly removed "this is the first commandment," but also the familiar "thou shalt" which introduces God's most important commands. |
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Mark 13:14 Read online at BibleGateway | But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: | When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. | The NIV omits Jesus' reference to Daniel the prophet. |
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Mark 13:33 Read online at BibleGateway | Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. | Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. | The concepts of obedience, spiritual wakefulness, and prayer are all removed in the NIV. |
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Mark 14:61 Read online at BibleGateway | But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? | But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" | Subtle: In the NIV, the term "Blessed One" appears to deify the title. "Blessed" most probably refers to the mother of the Messiah (Mary), who is called "blessed" in other passages (see Luke 1:28, 42) using the same root word in Greek (εὐλογέω). Is Mary deity? |
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Mark 15:28 Read online at BibleGateway | And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. | OMITTED | NIV omits the fulfillment of prophecy. |
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Mark 15:32 Read online at BibleGateway | Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. | Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. | Subtle: Which Christ? Is this just one of many? The NIV implies such here. (The word "this" is not present in the Greek text.) |
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Mark 16:9-20 Read online at BibleGateway |
IN-TEXT NOTE: (The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.) | Which two MSS do they mean? If we look at the Note in the NKJV beside this same passage we see: "They are lacking in Codex Siniaticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them." | |
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Luke 1:15 Read online at BibleGateway | For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. | for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. | NIV omits "his mother's womb" (Gr. κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ); however, the KJV "from" comes short of the full meaning of the Greek preposition (ἐκ) which means "out of," clearly implying from birth. |
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Luke 2:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. | "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." | In the NIV, God's peace is only offered to His favored few, thus ignoring the fact that Jesus came for all. |
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Luke 2:33 Read online at BibleGateway | And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. | The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. | Was Joseph Jesus' father? NIV again obscures the virgin birth, another attack on the divinity of Christ. Additionally, the Greek contains the word "Ioseph" (Gr. ἰωσὴφ). |
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Luke 2:43 Read online at BibleGateway | And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. | After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. | Again, the NIV would have you believe that Joseph was Jesus' father, instead of preserving the truth of Jesus' birth to Mary the virgin. The Greek "ἰωσὴφ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ" (Joseph and his mother) was omitted. |
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Luke 3:17 Read online at BibleGateway | Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. | His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." | Winnowing fork? This is just another example of the KJV being more readable than the "modern" NIV. |
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Luke 4:4 Read online at BibleGateway | And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. | Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" | The NIV misquotes Jesus during His temptation. The part omitted is crucial to His reason for making the statement as our example for how to face trials. |
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Luke 4:8 Read online at BibleGateway | And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. | Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" | The NIV excludes the command forms of "thou shalt" (see Deut. 6:13; 10:20) of Jesus' quote which show Jesus was being obedient to God's command instead of falling prey to temptation. It also omits Jesus' command to Satan. |
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Luke 4:18 Read online at BibleGateway | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, | "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, | The NIV neglects to mention the brokenhearted. Are they not to be included? |
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Luke 4:34 Read online at BibleGateway | Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. | "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" | The NIV leaves out an entire phrase. |
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Luke 4:41 Read online at BibleGateway | And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. | Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. | The NIV omits the supernatural admission of Christ's identity, leaving the word "Christ" out of it. |
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Luke 4:44 Read online at BibleGateway | And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. |
And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. [fn9] FOOTNOTE: Or the land of the Jews; some manuscripts Galilee | Where did he preach? What the NIV's footnote shouldread is "most manuscripts," for it is only in the corrupted minority texts that this variance is found. |
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Luke 7:31 Read online at BibleGateway | And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? | "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? | The NIV strips "the Lord" (Gr. ὁ κύριος) out of the text. |
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Luke 8:42 Read online at BibleGateway | And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, |
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, [fn4] but no one could heal her. FOOTNOTE: Many manuscripts years, and she had spent all she had on doctors | NIV relegates a most important detail to a footnote. That "small detail" is even in the minority texts which the translators usually favored, so why would they leave this out? |
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Luke 8:48 Read online at BibleGateway | And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. | Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." | The NIV is literally comfortless here. |
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Luke 9:54 Read online at BibleGateway | And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? | When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" | The NIV commits an error here through omission to show James and John to be merely vengeful without the basis of their (mis-)application of the experience of prophet Elijah. |
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Luke 9:55 Read online at BibleGateway | But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. | But Jesus turned and rebuked them, | Here, again, the reason of the rebuke is omitted in the NIV, leaving us to question Jesus' response. |
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Luke 9:56 Read online at BibleGateway | For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. | and they went to another village. | Do you see what is missing? A beautiful promise is omitted as an attack on Jesus' Messiahship. |
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Luke 10:1 Read online at BibleGateway | After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. |
After this the Lord appointed seventy‑two [fn1] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. FOOTNOTE: Some manuscripts seventy; also in verse 17 | The NIV's source text has been altered to say "seventy-two" in place of "seventy"--as they admit in a footnote. What they don't say is that the majority of Greek manuscripts have "seventy," not merely "some manuscripts." |
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Luke 10:17 Read online at BibleGateway | And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. | The seventy‑two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." | The NIV's source text has been altered to say "seventy-two" in place of "seventy"--as they admit in the footnote to verse 1 (above). What they don't say is that the majority of Greek manuscripts have it the other way, not merely "some." |
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Luke 10:19 Read online at BibleGateway | Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. | I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. | NIV tames down the force of Jesus' words, omitting the expression "by any means." |
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Luke 11:2 Read online at BibleGateway | And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. | He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. | The NIV has a specific reason for leaving out the "in heaven" (Gr. ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοις) part here. Catholics pray to the pope as "Father" . . . .but he is not in heaven! This would be too clearly a reference to God Himself if they did not change this verse! |
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Luke 11:4 Read online at BibleGateway | And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. | Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' " | The NIV leaves out "deliver us from evil." This is likely because the Catholic priests claim to forgive, but do little to prevent people from sinning further. After all, the church makes money from people who are "buying back" their righeousness! (See also vs. 2.) |
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Luke 17:36 Read online at BibleGateway | Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. | OMITTED | NIV leaves out more of Jesus' words. |
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Luke 22:31 Read online at BibleGateway | And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: | Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. | NIV edits out the source of this quote. "The Lord" (Gr. ὁ κύριος) is missing. Here the NIV rightly explains in a footnote that the term "you" as used in this verse is plural. |
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Luke 22:32 Read online at BibleGateway | But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. | But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. | Here the NIV adds "Simon." But now in this verse, NIV does not say the word "you" is singular in Greek. Those who use the KJV, naturally, have no difficulty discerning that even without footnotes. |
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Luke 22:43 Read online at BibleGateway | And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. |
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. FOOTNOTE: Some early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44. | The NIV would like people to think that this supernatural event is just speculation. Why? This is another attack on the divinity of Christ. |
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Luke 22:44 Read online at BibleGateway | And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. |
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. FOOTNOTE: Some early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44. | Again, this verse is just too heavy for the NIV translators. They took out the adjective "great" to tame it down (Gr. θρόμβοι = great/large drops), and added the footnote to make you think this didn't really happen. |
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Luke 23:17 Read online at BibleGateway | (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) | OMITTED | The NIV does not even bother to admit in a footnote that it has omitted this verse! |
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Luke 23:39 Read online at BibleGateway | And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. | One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" | The NIV omits the word "if" (present in the Greek) which harks back to the three temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness, thus obscuring the parallel. |
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Luke 23:42 Read online at BibleGateway | And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. | Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." | The NIV again leaves out the concept of Jesus' Lordship. |
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Luke 23:46 Read online at BibleGateway | And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: | He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, | The original Greek text implies a reason for Christ's sufferings. While the KJV properly carries this, that meaning is entirely lost in the NIV rendition. |
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Luke 24:42 Read online at BibleGateway | And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. | They gave him a piece of a broiled fish, | NIV makes more changes here through the omission of the honeycomb (Gr. καὶ ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου)--is this merely to have sufficient change to be able to legally copyright their "new" version? |
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John 3:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. | You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' | KJV "thee" (s.) and "ye" (pl.) distinguishes between singular and plural forms of "you" which are present in the Greek. The NIV lacks this clarity. (There are many other verses muddled by this same principle.) |
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John 3:11 Read online at BibleGateway | Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. | I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. | KJV "thee" versus "ye" again provide better clarity to Jesus' words, whereas the NIV has reduced the clarity by the loss of such distinguishment. Notice also that the NIV provides no footnote to tell us which "you" is which. |
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John 3:16 Read online at BibleGateway | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. FOOTNOTE: Or his only begotten Son | The term "only begotten" has great significance. It means that Christ is the only one literally begotten by God (we are adopted, per Gal. 4:5). To say He is God's only Son contradicts other verses which say we can be the sons of God (see John 1:12). |
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John 4:25 Read online at BibleGateway | The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. | The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." | The NIV here clearly tries to say that the woman did not use the word "Christ." Are the translators implying it was wrongly added by the writer (John) or by later copyists? Notice, however, verse 29 (below). |
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John 4:29 Read online at BibleGateway | Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? | Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ? | Here, the NIV can hardly escape using the word Christ. But they put a greater degree of insecurity into the woman's question. |
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John 4:42 Read online at BibleGateway | And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. | They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." | It just makes me sick to think that translators of God's Holy Word would really work this hard to remove references to His Son from the book! (Yes, "the Christ" [ὁ χριστός] appears here in the original Greek text.) |
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John 5:2 Read online at BibleGateway | Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. | Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. | NIV uses "Aramaic" in place of "Hebrew" (these are two different languages) for every occurrence of this in the Greek (NT) except in Philippians and Revelation. Why, then, is it not the same language used by the Jews in the Old Testament? And is "colonnades" more readable than "porches?" |
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John 5:4 Read online at BibleGateway | For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. | OMITTED | The NIV again omits this without any mention. Is this to reduce the belief in the supernatural? Might that also be the reason behind the footnote for Luke 22:43? |
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John 6:47 Read online at BibleGateway | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. | I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. | KJV is clear regarding the object of belief. The NIV obscures this to say anyone who believes. Does it matter what one believes? |
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John 6:69 Read online at BibleGateway | And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. | We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." | NIV chooses to leave out the full identification of Christ. |
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John 7:25 Read online at BibleGateway | Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? | [ Is Jesus the Christ? ] At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? | Why should this question need to appear in the text? And the placement of the question, right before some are questioning his identity in the verses following (see below), is unconscionable. |
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John 7:26 Read online at BibleGateway | But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? | Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ ? | Subtle: The NIV has framed the question in such a manner as to put incredulity into the voice of the questioner that the rulers would think Jesus were Christ. The KJV shows far more confidence on the part of the questioner that Jesus IS Christ. |
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John 7:31 Read online at BibleGateway | And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? | Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?" | Subtle: The introduction of "still" here, and "put their faith in him" add up to mild insinuation on the part of the NIV translators that those who believed were not making the right choice. This is followed by changing the focus from the quantity of miracles, to the magnitude of "signs." |
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John 7:41 Read online at BibleGateway | Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? | Others said, "He is the Christ." | See a difference? |
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John 7:53-8:11 Read online at BibleGateway |
IN-TEXT NOTE: (The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11.) | How do people feel about the trustworthiness of translators who say the "most reliable" sources don't have something which they have chosen to include? | |
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John 9:35 Read online at BibleGateway | Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? | Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" | Was the man asked to believe on "the Son of God" or in "the Son of Man"? The NIV downgrades Christ's identity. |
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John 9:36 Read online at BibleGateway | He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? | "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." | Subtle: Did the man say "sir" or "Lord"? The NIV again undermines Christ. |
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John 9:35 Read online at BibleGateway | And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. | Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." | The NIV adds the glosses "now" and "in fact" which are not in the Greek text. |
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John 10:30 Read online at BibleGateway | I and my Father are one. | I and the Father are one." | Whose Father? |
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John 10:32 Read online at BibleGateway | Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? | but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" | The NIV narrows the scope of Jesus' works to just the "miracles." |
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John 11:41 Read online at BibleGateway | Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. | So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. | From where? The NIV neglects to mention the dead man laid there. |
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John 14:14 Read online at BibleGateway | If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. | You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. | The NIV here is ridiculous! It makes no sense to ask Jesus for something in Jesus' name. The context here is clearly referring to asking the Father--but the NIV has tried to change that. |
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John 16:23 Read online at BibleGateway | And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. | In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. | In John 14:14 (above), the NIV said we are to ask Jesus. Here it now admits we must ask the Father . . . but implies that heretofore we have asked Jesus (in Jesus' name). As is clear in the KJV, the NIV's position is incorrect. |
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Acts 2:30 Read online at BibleGateway | Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; | But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. | NIV again leaves out the mention of Christ. Why? |
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Acts 3:18 Read online at BibleGateway | But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. | But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. | Subtle: Note that "his Christ" is not the same as "Christ." |
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Acts 3:20 Read online at BibleGateway | And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: | and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. | "Appointed for" and "preached unto" are hardly similar. The Greek word here means "preached beforehand." And why would the NIV choose to split up the words "Jesus" and "Christ?" (These are together in the Greek.) |
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Acts 4:10 Read online at BibleGateway | Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. | then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. | In the Greek text, emphasis is placed on the fact that it was by Jesus, the very one the Jews had crucified, that the healing took place. The NIV de-empasizes this by removing the "even by him" emphasis for Jesus. |
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Acts 4:26 Read online at BibleGateway | The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. | The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. | The NIV moves the name of Christ to a footnote. Folks, there are some things that can be translated in more than one way--names and titles generally do not fall into that category! |
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Acts 5:20 Read online at BibleGateway | Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. | "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." | The word "new" here is introduced by the NIV translators. It is not found in any of the Greek manuscripts. |
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Acts 8:37 Read online at BibleGateway | And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. | OMITTED | Why omit a confession of Christ? Trying to hide his true identity? |
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Acts 9:20 Read online at BibleGateway | And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. | At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. | Once again, there is little excuse for mistranslating a name. In Greek, it is "Christon" (Gr. χριστὸν). The NIV translators' carelessness in a simple detail like this should alert us as to their diligence in correctly translating anything else. As Jesus Himself counseled us: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10). |
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Acts 10:30 Read online at BibleGateway | And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, | Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me | The NIV removes the word "fasting" again! They have removed the self-abnegation along with the deeper significance of the vision thereby. |
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Acts 12:4 Read online at BibleGateway | And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. | After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. | While the KJV errs (embarrassingly) in using the word "Easter," the NIV has added much more gloss to this verse when compared to the Greek. For example, "Herod" is nowhere in the Greek for this verse, nor is "public trial." |
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Acts 12:5 Read online at BibleGateway | Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. | So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. | NIV exchanges "without ceasing" with "earnestly." (It comes from a Greek root word meaning "stretched out.") |
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Acts 15:11 Read online at BibleGateway | But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. | No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." | NIV again removes "Christ" from the text. |
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Acts 15:34 Read online at BibleGateway | Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. | OMITTED | Apparently, the NIV translators felt you didn't need to read this text. |
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Acts 16:31 Read online at BibleGateway | And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. | They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." | NIV omits Christ again. |
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Acts 17:26 Read online at BibleGateway | And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; | From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. | NIV: "...and the exact places where they should live"! Wow. But that's not how the text reads in Greek at all. NOTE: The NIV constantly changes. This text has been updated in the NIV, but the version used for this comparison reads as quoted above. |
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Acts 19:4 Read online at BibleGateway | Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. | Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." | NIV omits Christ yet again. |
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Acts 20:21 Read online at BibleGateway | Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. | I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. | NIV omits Christ yet again. |
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Acts 24:7 Read online at BibleGateway | But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, | OMITTED | The NIV translators must not have valued this text. |
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Acts 28:29 Read online at BibleGateway | And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. | OMITTED | Once again, the NIV removes scripture without so much as a mention of it. |
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Romans 1:3 Read online at BibleGateway | Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; | regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, | NIV removes "Jesus Christ our Lord" and "according to the flesh." The latter is apparently converted to "human nature." |
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Romans 1:16 Read online at BibleGateway | For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. | I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. | The NIV is apparently ashamed of Christ. |
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Romans 1:24 Read online at BibleGateway | Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: | Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. | Notice how the NIV has interpreted the intended meaning for us here. The Greek word used does include "sexual impurity" as a possible meaning, but it is broader in scope, encompassing other forms of sin as well. Additionally, while this Greek word is translated consistently in the KJV, the NIV uses multiple English forms, thus obscuring any parallels among the passages which may have existed. |
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Romans 3:23 Read online at BibleGateway | For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, | The KJV compound verb becomes a compound sentence in NIV, with marked change in meaning with the new grammar. Changing the verb from past participle to present simple, NIV implies all must sin, an excuse for sinners, ignoring Jesus' goal of perfection (Mt. 5:48). Additionally, "fall short" implies sin, whereas "come short" implies inequality. |
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Romans 4:1 Read online at BibleGateway | What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? | What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? | NIV again removes "the flesh" concept, which is a key concept throughout the Bible, beginning in Genesis, and which plays a major role in Paul's writings. |
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Romans 6:11 Read online at BibleGateway | Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. | In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. | Perhaps the NIV translators did not feel Jesus Christ was their Lord. |
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Romans 8:1 Read online at BibleGateway | There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. | Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, | The NIV lops off half of this verse. Is it to avoid mention of "the flesh"? It is worthy of note that the word "flesh" is entirely removed from 261 verses of the Bible as compared to the KJV. |
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Romans 10:11 Read online at BibleGateway | For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. | As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." | Never? Or at some future point in time? |
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Romans 10:15 Read online at BibleGateway | And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! | And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" | The NIV removes the "gospel of peace" along with the "glad tidings of good things!" |
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Romans 11:6 Read online at BibleGateway | And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. | And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. | The NIV does not include the second half of the verse which is intended to balance and give perspective to the first half. |
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Romans 14:10 Read online at BibleGateway | But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. | You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. | The NIV truly meddles here. It changes the meaning of the statement, and gives ownership of the judgment seat to "God" in place of "Christ." |
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Romans 15:29 Read online at BibleGateway | And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. | I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. | Again, the NIV despises the gospel. Why? |
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Romans 16:24 Read online at BibleGateway | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. | OMITTED | Apparently, another case of the NIV stripping out the name of Christ. This time, there wouldn't have been much left of the verse, so the entire verse is thrown out. |
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1 Corinthians 5:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: | Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Was Christ's sacrifice not for us? |
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1 Corinthians 7:5 Read online at BibleGateway | Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. | Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. | The NIV, predictably by now, removes "fasting" here. However, if one is not fasting during this period of abstinence, the very temptation of which the text speaks is more likely. |
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1 Corinthians 11:24 Read online at BibleGateway | And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. | and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." | The NIV leaves out "take eat" and "broken", both central to communion. |
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1 Corinthians 15:33 Read online at BibleGateway | Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. | Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." | Is it whom we are with, or what we say that corrupts our character? Despite all the sinners in Jesus' company, they did not corrupt him! |
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2 Corinthians 6:5 Read online at BibleGateway | In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; | in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; | There is a vast difference between the involuntary "hunger" and the voluntary "fastings." Likewise "sleepless nights" and "watchings" are much different. |
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Galatians 3:1 Read online at BibleGateway | O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? | You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. | See any difference here? |
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Galatians 3:17 Read online at BibleGateway | And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. | What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. | The NIV has the covenant (NIV "law") being "introduced" in place of "confirmed"--virtually opposite meanings! Furthermore, it has left Christ out of this crucial verse about the covenant. There can be, however, no covenant without Christ, whose death sealed it! |
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Galatians 4:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. | So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. | Acts 4:10-12 makes it clear that there can be no salvation in any other name than that of Jesus Christ. But the NIV leaves Christ out here. |
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Galatians 6:15 Read online at BibleGateway | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. | Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. | The NIV again leaves out Christ Jesus. |
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Galatians 6:17 Read online at BibleGateway | From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. | Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. | The NIV speaks of Jesus here without His title of "Lord." |
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Ephesians 2:15 Read online at BibleGateway | Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; | by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, | KJV is clearly referring to the commandments of the ordinances themselves, whereas NIV implies the entire law of commandments and ordinances were abolished. |
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Ephesians 3:9 Read online at BibleGateway | And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: | and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. | By whom? NIV is leaving Christ out again. |
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Ephesians 3:14 Read online at BibleGateway | For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, | For this reason I kneel before the Father, | NIV is leaving Christ out yet again. |
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Ephesians 5:3 Read online at BibleGateway | But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; | But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. | The NIV has added the concept of "hint" which is nowhere in the Greek text for this verse. The KJV is correct in saying "let it not be once named among you." |
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Ephesians 5:9 Read online at BibleGateway | (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) | (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) | Is it "Spirit" or is it "light"? |
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Ephesians 5:23 Read online at BibleGateway | For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. | For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. | Note the NIV gloss "his body" which is not part of the original Greek text. |
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Ephesians 5:30 Read online at BibleGateway | For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. | for we are members of his body. | See any difference here? |
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Philippians 3:16 Read online at BibleGateway | Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. | Only let us live up to what we have already attained. | The meaning has changed much here. The NIV has again removed words and concepts from the original. |
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Colossians 1:2 Read online at BibleGateway | To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. | The NIV strips the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" once again. |
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Colossians 1:14 Read online at BibleGateway | In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: | in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. | Where is the blood? Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins according to Hebrews 9:22. Since the NIV includes this verse, it contradicts itself. |
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Colossians 2:11 Read online at BibleGateway | In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: | In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, | By leaving out "of the sins," the NIV has changed the whole meaning of this verse. The concept of repentance is weakened by its rendition here. |
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Colossians 2:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; | having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. | NIV changes the word "ordinances" to "written code with its regulations." The NIV only uses the phrase "written code" in three other verses, all in the New Testament--so this effectively obscures the true object of reference. |
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Colossians 3:6 Read online at BibleGateway | For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: | Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. | Upon whom will the wrath of God come? |
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1 Thessalonians 4:1 Read online at BibleGateway | Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. | Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. | NIV adds the entire phrase "as in fact you are living" and subtracts some concepts in exchange. |
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1 Thessalonians 4:6 Read online at BibleGateway | That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. | and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. | NIV here eliminates the connection to the Old Testament concept of the avenger of blood, thus reducing the inter-biblical harmony and setting this verse in isolation from its counterparts. |
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1 Thessalonians 4:9 Read online at BibleGateway | But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. | Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. | NIV converts the first-person singular to plural. Exactly who is "we" here? |
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1 Thessalonians 4:13 Read online at BibleGateway | But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. | Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. | Who is writing this? Throughout the chapter, the NIV identifies the author as "we" in place of the use of "I" in the KJV. Are the NIV "translators" thinking of themselves as part authors with Paul? |
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1 Timothy 2:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. | And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. | "The true faith"? Paul is saying he teaches faith and truth, not the "true faith!" Besides, seeing as the NIV has left out the key phrase "in Christ," what kind of "true faith" or religion would its translators be trying to support here? A Christless one? |
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1 Timothy 3:16 Read online at BibleGateway | And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. | Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. | NIV changes "God was manifest in the flesh" to "He appeared in a body." This converts "God" to an ambiguous pronoun, and muddles up the concept of how he "appeared." Do spirits have bodies? (See John 4:24.) |
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1 Timothy 4:12 Read online at BibleGateway | Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. | Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. | The NIV leaves out "in spirit." |
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1 Timothy 6:5 Read online at BibleGateway | Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. | and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. | The NIV omits the command here: "from such withdraw thyself!" |
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2 Timothy 2:15 Read online at BibleGateway | Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. | Notice the difference? To "study" is to be diligent. To "do your best" is rather less defined. |
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2 Timothy 4:22 Read online at BibleGateway | The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. | The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. | The NIV refuses to name Jesus Christ as Lord here. |
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Titus 1:4 Read online at BibleGateway | To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. | To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. | As with many other verses, NIV silently drops the "Lord" (Gr. κυρίου) out of its connection with "Jesus Christ." |
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Titus 2:8 Read online at BibleGateway | Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. | and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. | Notice the differences in pronouns? Greek pronouns are not so ambiguous. |
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Titus 3:4 Read online at BibleGateway | But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, | But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, | NIV has but partially translated the "philanthropia" (Gr. φιλανθρωπία) of this text. It means "love of mankind." |
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Titus 3:10 Read online at BibleGateway | A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; | Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. | Notice the glosses the NIV inserts here? Nor is a warning quite the same as an admonition. |
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Philemon 1:2 Read online at BibleGateway | And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: | to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: | The word "beloved" (Gr. ἀγαπητῇ) becomes "sister" in the NIV. While the Greek word does appear in its feminine form, there is little similarity between the two translations for this word. |
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Philemon 1:6 Read online at BibleGateway | That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. | I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. | The two translations here seem to have entirely different foci. The NIV adds "I pray," loses the concept of a having an "effectual" witness, and exchanges "acknowledging" for "understanding." |
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Philemon 1:16 Read online at BibleGateway | Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? | no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. | NIV changes "in the flesh" to "as a man"--two different concepts, and adds the final "brother" to the text. |
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Hebrews 1:2 Read online at BibleGateway | Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; | but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. | The universe? Interesting stretch. |
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Hebrews 1:3 Read online at BibleGateway | Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: | The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. | The NIV removes "by himself" so that it will not appear as though Jesus is solely responsible for purging our sins. This reflects the fact that Catholics don't want us to know that salvation depends on Jesus alone. |
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Hebrews 2:7 Read online at BibleGateway | Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: | You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor | The NIV again removes an important part of the verse. |
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Hebrews 2:16 Read online at BibleGateway | For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. | For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. | Whoa! There is a huge difference between these two renditions. |
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Hebrews 10:34 Read online at BibleGateway | For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. | You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. | The NIV removes the references to Paul and to heaven. |
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James 5:16 Read online at BibleGateway | Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. | Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. | James uses the Greek word "paraptoma", rendered as "faults" in the KJV, but as "sins" in the NIV. It means trespasses, or sins which are committed against others. The NIV broadens it to every class of sin, supporting the Catholic notion of confession. |
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1 Peter 1:13 Read online at BibleGateway | Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; | Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. | While the meaning may be similar, "prepare your minds for action" does not harmonize with the Old Testament concept and imagery present in "gird up the loins." This effectively isolates this scripture from its companion texts. |
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1 Peter 4:1 Read online at BibleGateway | Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; | Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. | The NIV leaves out the fact that Christ suffered "for us," and implies instead that he suffered for his own sins. We know this is erroneous! |
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1 Peter 4:14 Read online at BibleGateway | If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. | If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you.“ | NIV omits the last half, the part which explains the first. However, note that the explanation does not match the NIV's interpretation for the first half, thus the NIV translators needed to get rid of it. |
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1 Peter 5:8 Read online at BibleGateway | Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: | Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. | NIV downplays the urgency of the situation, changing "vigilant" to "alert." "Sober" becomes "self-controlled." |
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2 Peter 2:9 Read online at BibleGateway | The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: |
if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. FOOTNOTE: Or unrighteous for punishment until the day of judgment | "Continuing their punishment?" What sort of purgatorial or eternal hell addition is this? At least the NIV admits in the footnote that it should be rendered more like what the KJV has. |
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2 Peter 2:17 Read online at BibleGateway | These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. | These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. | The NIV leaves out "for ever." This is likely because the Catholics choose to believe in a second-chance theory called "Purgatory". |
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1 John 4:3 Read online at BibleGateway | And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. | but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. | NIV leaves out the fact that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh--yet another swipe at the divinity of Christ. |
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1 John 5:7 Read online at BibleGateway | For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. | OMITTED | The "Johannine Comma" is a gloss known to be added to this text in about the 16th century, but there is still a part of this verse which should remain after its removal. The KJV erroneously includes the gloss, whereas the NIV throws it out. In this particular case, the NIV seems justified. See its parenthetical note in the footnote for the following verse (vs. 8). |
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1 John 5:8 Read online at BibleGateway | And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. |
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. FOOTNOTE: Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteenth century) | Here, the KJV includes the remainder of the Johannine Comma, but the NIV, while correctly removing that, incorrectly removes the concept of "one." |
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1 John 5:13 Read online at BibleGateway | These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. | I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. | Admittedly, the Greek text appears redundant here, containing "the name of the Son of God" (Gr. τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ) twice. However, does this justify the NIV's failure to translate a phrase which may be there for emphasis--and which focuses on salvation through "the name of the Son of God"? |
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Revelation 1:5 Read online at BibleGateway | And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, | and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, | Subtle: NIV subtly undermines the royalty of Christ by converting "prince" (the son of a king) to "ruler." "Wash" and "free" are also not equal. |
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Revelation 1:11 Read online at BibleGateway | Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; . . . [Seven Churches] | which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: . . . [Seven Churches]" | NIV leaves out God's self-identification here as John's authority for writing. |
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Revelation 1:18 Read online at BibleGateway | I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. | I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. | The NIV has both added to and subtracted from this verse. Also, note the change of the word "hell" to "Hades"--so much for simpler, or more "modern" English! |
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Revelation 5:14 Read online at BibleGateway | And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. | The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. | The NIV translators leave out the number of elders (a Greek grammatical carry-over from verse 8), and, most importantly, "him that liveth for ever and ever" is removed. By so doing, the NIV has removed another reference to Christ, who is the "Lamb that was slain" worshiped by the elders (see vs. 13). |
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Revelation 8:13 Read online at BibleGateway | And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! | As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!" | The angel (Gr. ἀγγέλου) morphs into "an eagle" in the NIV. |
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Revelation 13:1 Read online at BibleGateway | And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. |
And the dragon [fn1] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. FOOTNOTE: Some late manuscripts And | Who stood on the shore? |
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Revelation 13:18 Read online at BibleGateway | Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. | This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666. | The terms "number of a man" and "man's number" are hardly equal. Saying it is "man's number" is to spread the number over all of humankind, as opposed to applying it to just one entity, as the Greek would also allow. Essentially, the translators have chosen our interpretation for us, to the exclusion of other legitimate possibilities. |
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Revelation 14:5 Read online at BibleGateway | And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. | No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. | It is one thing to be blameless, and another thing to be "without fault before the throne of God!" |
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Revelation 16:17 Read online at BibleGateway | And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. | The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" | Is there any point to the NIV leaving out the words "in heaven"? Where is the throne and temple spoken of here? |
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Revelation 20:12 Read online at BibleGateway | And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. | And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. | The NIV changes "God" to "the throne." Whose throne is it? |
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Revelation 21:24 Read online at BibleGateway | And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. | The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. | The NIV omits "of them which are saved." Will everyone be saved? This appears to be another relic of Catholic belief in "purgatory," a second-chance theory in which people are believed to get to heaven after thousands of years in limbo. |
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Revelation 22:14 Read online at BibleGateway | Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. | The NIV translates here from a corrupted manuscript, resulting in an entirely different meaning. The washing of the robes is addressed in Revelation 7:14; but here the focus is on the keeping of the commandments--a vital part of washing one's robes. Notice the emphasis just two verses prior: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (vs. 12). |
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Revelation 22:21 Read online at BibleGateway | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. | The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. | How audacious for the NIV "translators" to remove "Christ" from this verse, only two verses after the warning is given to those who should "take away from the words of the book of this prophecy!" |
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