Q & A's

Answer to
Question 1
(Continued)

How do you answer those who have heard the false advertising claim that new Bible versions are easier to read and understand?

NKJV Verse Comparison Chart

The following is excerpted
from pp. 152-153 of

The Language of the
King James Bible

by Gail Riplinger

Page 152
(For entire chart, see pp. 146-160 of The Language of the King James Bible.)
 
Why does the NKJV use harder words than the KJV? The derivative copyright law insists that: "To be copyrightable, a derivative work must be different enough from the original to be regarded as a 'new work' or must contain a substantial amount of new material. Making minor changes or additions of little substance to a pre-existing work will not qualify the work as a new version for copyright purposes." Therefore all new Bible versions must change those simple one or two syllable Anglo-Saxon words of the King James Version into complex, multi-syllable "Latinized" words. Consequently, the KJV reads at the 5th grade level and the NKJV reads at the 6th grade level. Because of this copyright law, there will never be an easier to read Bible than the KJV.

Examples of the NKJV's Preference for More Difficult Words:
Compare
Versions:		   Hard Word(s)
NKJV		   Easy Word(s)
KJV
2 Cor. 3:12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|		 we use great boldness of speech

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 we use great plainness of speech
Amos 5:21 savor smell
2 Cor. 5:2 habitation house
Eccl. 2:3 gratify give
Isa. 28:1, 4 verdant fat
Isa. 34:6 overflowing fat
Isa. 13:12 mortal man

Please Note:  All editions of the NKJV are not the same.

Page 153
(For entire chart, see pp. 146-160 of The Language of the King James Bible.)

Examples of the NKJV's Preference for More Difficult Words: (Cont'd.)
Compare
Versions:		   Hard Word(s)
NKJV		   Easy Word(s)
KJV
Deut. 28:50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|		 elderly

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 old
Judges 19:29 limb bones
Ps. 43:1 Vindicate Judge
Rom. 14:13 resolve judge
Josh. 22:24 descendants children
Heb. 7:8 mortal men men that die
John 6:7 denarii pennyworth
Acts 17:22 the Areopagus Mars' hill
Ezek. 31:4 rivulets little rivers
Joel 1:2 elders old men
New Testament hades hell
1 Kings 10:28 Keveh linen yarn
1 Sam. 13:21 pim file
John 18:28 Praetorium judgment hall
Eccl. 4:4 skillful right
Rom. 13:1 governing authorities higher powers
Gal. 5:4 estranged no effect
Isa 2:16 sloops pictures
Phil. 1:16-17 the former...the latter The one...the other
Lam. 5:3 waifs fatherless
1 Sam. 10:19 clans thousands

Please Note:  All editions of the NKJV are not the same.
 

Return to Question #1 Answer

AVP Bestseller  |   Catalogue   |  Latest Release 

A.V. Publications Corp.
P.O. Box 280, Ararat, Virginia 24053 USA

Phone: (800) 435-4535 (CC Orders Only)
All other orders: (540) 251-1734
Fax: (540) 251-1734

"Every word of God is pure:"
Prov. 30:5