Home > KJV Translation Errors

Note: The Scriptures in the following list are listed in their proper canonical order.

(E) Genesis 1:2 - KJV

Original: And the earth was without form, and void...

Correction: And the earth became without form, and void...

was = became. Heb. hayah.
without form = to lie waste (formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness).
The earth was not created tohu va bohu (i.e., desolate and empty, an indistinguishable ruin), but became that way. We are not told how, when, why, or the length of time it lasted. Geology and history prove the lengthy time span between v.1 and v.2.

1 Corinthians 14:33 - AFV

33:   For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Isaiah 45:18 - AFV

18:   For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (tohû, same word as in Gen. 1:2), he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

The Earth was not created that way, but it became such.

(E) Genesis 1:3 - KJV

Original: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Correction: And God said, Let there become light: and there became light.

be light = become light.
was = became.
The same as in 1:2. Notice that light is not located till the 4th Day of creation.

(E) Genesis 2:2 - KJV

Original: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made...

Correction: And on the beginning of the seventh day God ended his work which he had made...

At the end of the sixth day the work of God was ended. It was then on the seventh day that He rested, which the verse goes on to state. The italics make it more clear.

(E) Genesis 10:9 - KJV

Original: ...wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

Correction: ...wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter in place of [in opposition to; against; in defiance of] the LORD.

"before" is a bad translation, making Nimrod seem good. He was not.

(E) Exodus 12:11 - KJV

Original: ...and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.

Correction: ...and ye shall eat it in trepidation: it is the LORD's passover.

"haste" is a misleading translation, making the timing seem as if they were just about to leave. This is not the case and the timing of Exodus 12 does not support that, for they were not to leave their dwellings until morning (daylight). Instead, they ate the Lord's Passover in trepidation, or in fear and trembling, throughout the night.

(E) Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26 - KJV

Original: ...scapegoat...

Correction: ...Azazel...

The word "scapegoat" today means "one who bears the blame for the mistakes of others." "Scapegoat" here is the Heb. word azazel, a goat of departure. This goat is representative of Satan the Devil and is by far not being unjustly blamed for the mistakes of others. He is guilty of his part in our sins. Though this goat [azazel] will escape the situation at hand (i.e. to be sacrificed), this is only a symbolic, physical enactment of when this event will be fulfilled. In the future when Jesus Christ returns, on the Day of Atonement, Satan the devil will be captured, pronounced guilty, bound up, and led away to be placed into the bottomless pit (Revelation. 20:1-3).

(E) 2 Kings 2:23 - KJV

Original: ...there came forth little children out of the city,...

Correction: ...there came forth youths out of the city,...

(E) 2 Kings 2:24 - KJV

Original: ...and tare forty and two children of them.

Correction: ...and tare forty and two children of them.

The youths mentioned in v.23 are implied here.

(E) Ezekiel 20:25 - KJV

Original: Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

Correction: Wherefore I gave them also their own [false] statutes that were not good, and their own [false] judgments whereby they should not live;

God's statutes (Psalms 119:5, 8, 12, etc.) and judgments [ordinances] (Psalms 119:91, 102, 106, 108, 160, 175) are perfect and good. Because Israel did not keep His statutes and judgments (v.13, 16, 21, 24), even when God says they were to keep them (v.11-12, 19-20), God allowed Israel to be given over to their own statutes that were NOT good, and their own judgments whereby they should NOT live (Cp v.18), of which are obviously false and of man (Proverbs 14:12).

(E) Malachi 4:6 - KJV

Original: ...lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Correction: ...lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction.

a curse = utter destruction.
Better rendered as such, for it is the same word as in Zechariah 14:11.

(E) Daniel 8:14 - KJV

Original: ...Unto two thousand and three hundred days;...

Correction: ...Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings;...

days = better rendered evenings and mornings, referring to the times of the daily sacrifice.

(E) Matthew 5:48 - KJV

Original: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Correction: Become ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

perfect = complete in mental and moral character, or to be "spiritually mature." To be such is a process over time with the aid and help of the Holy Spirit. (Can also be rendered "Therefore, you shall be perfect...")

(E) Matthew 24:22 - KJV

Original: ...there should no flesh be saved...

Correction: ...there should no flesh be saved [alive]...

The additional word is for clarity.

(E) Matthew 27:49 - KJV

Original: The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Correction: The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Then another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood.

"The latter half of this verse, which includes the words '..Then another took a spear and...out came water and blood.' has been omitted from the King James Version. However, some ancient manuscripts contain this part of the verse. The latter part of the verse is also found in other manuscripts that are designated by letter (L, T, Z) and by number (33, 49, 892 and 1241). Older translations which contain the complete verse are the Moffatt translation and the Fenton translation. Newer translations generally footnote this portion of Matthew 27:49 rather than including it in the text. The weight of evidence indicates that the latter half of the verse is an authentic part of the Greek text and should be included in translations of the New Testament. The veracity of this portion of Matthew 27:49 is substantiated by the records in John 19:34 and 20:27."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The New Testament in its Original Order, pg. 396.

Jesus Christ, our Savior, died from this piercing by a soldier with the spear (Revelation 1:7).

(E) Matthew 28:1 - KJV

Original: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week...

Correction: Now late on the sabbath, as the first day of the weeks was drawing near...

"This literal translation of the Greek...shows that the day which followed the weekly Sabbath was the first day of the seven-week count to Pentecost, thus identifying this day as the Wave Sheaf Day (Lev. 23:10-11, 15-16). The ascension of Jesus Christ on that day fulfilled the offering of the wave sheaf for all time."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The New Testament in its Original Order, pg. 397.

According to God, days begin and end at sunset. Therefore, the Sabbath ended at sunset prior, not at midnight or dusk. This Sabbath in particular was the weekly (Saturday) Sabbath, not the High Sabbath of Matthew 27:62 or John 19:31, 42.

(E) Luke 2:14 - KJV

Original: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Correction: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of [His] good pleasure.

This peace that is offered is not for all men, but for only those who are pleasing to God.

(E) Luke 14:26 - KJV

Original: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Correction: If any man come to me, and does not love less [by comparison] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

hate = Greek miseo, though it means hate, by extension it means "to love less". God is not contradictory and would not command us to love and honor our parents (and family) then turn around and tell us to hate them. Christ is wanting us to love them, but love them less in comparison to Him (Matthew 10:37).

(E) John 1:3, 17 - KJV

Original: All things were made by him...For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Correction: All things were made through him...For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

(v.3) Christ did create everything, but it was done by God the Father through Him (Hebrews 1:2).
(v.17) God's laws were given through Moses, for they were not Moses' to begin with nor were his idea. God delivered them through him. The same is with the Grace of God; Grace is given through Jesus Christ.

(E) John 13:2 - KJV

Original: And supper being ended...

Correction: And during supper...

Because of the course of events, supper could not have been ended and then they eat. But in light of v.26, it could better be rendered "supper having been served" for preceding the meal would naturally be the washing (Cp. Luke 7:36-48).

(E) Acts 7:45 - KJV

Original: ...brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles...

Correction: ...brought in with Joshua into the possession of the Gentiles...

The names "Jesus" and "Joshua" are Greek and Hebrew equivalents respectively. The proper name and context for this verse is obviously Joshua.

(E) Acts 12:4 - KJV

Original: ...intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Correction: ...intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

The word translated "Easter" is a poor translation. It is the Greek word pascha and is rendered "Passover" as in Matthew 26:2.

"Easter is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T."

-- The Companion Bible, pg. 1607.

(E) Acts 14:12 - KJV

Original: And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Correction: And they called Barnabas, Zeus; and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Jupiter = the father of the gods. Roman name for the Greek god Zeus.
Mercurius = the messenger of the gods. Roman name for the Greek god Hermes.

(E) 1 John 5:7-8 - KJV

Original: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Correction: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

The text from "in heaven" to "in earth" should be struck out and removed. This text was not in the original Greek manuscripts, but was found in some Latin manuscripts of a later origin. This text undoubtedly crept into the text because of the trinity doctrine, of which the Bible does not support.

(E) Romans 8:15, 23; 9.4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5 - KJV

Original: ...adoption (of sons/children)...

Correction: ...sonship...

"An 'adopted' child may partake of all the privileges of the family, yet it is not begotten and born in the family. But the subjects of this verse are begotten of the Spirit (John 3:6) and are, therefore, sons of God by spiritual generation. It is thus a real sonship-spirit that enables them to cry, 'Abba, Father.'"

-- The Companion Bible, pg 1678.

The Scriptures clearly teach that God is creating children unto Himself. We are not adopted into His Family, but will be born into it as His literal children at the first resurrection as Spirit beings, even exactly as Jesus was upon His resurrection from the dead.

(E) 1 Corinthians 1:18 - KJV

Original: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Correction: For the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God.

The preaching and saving are to them in the current, not in the past. The preaching of the cross is foolishness only to those who "are perishing," while it is the power of God unto those "who are being saved."

(E) 1 Corinthians 15:29 - KJV

Original: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Correction: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the resurrection of the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the resurrection of the dead?

When one is baptized, it is for the hope of the resurrection from the dead just as Christ rose from the dead. The additional words are necessary for clarity.

(E) 2 Corinthians 6:2 - KJV

Original: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Correction: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is a day of salvation.)

The first part of the verse is quoted from Isaiah 49:8 which states:

Isaiah 49:8 - KJV

8:   Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

This in Isaiah is correct. It is "A" day of salvation. There is, in reality, more than one resurrection. (Revelation 20) Only the firstfruits will be resurrected in the first resurrection at Christ's return. The rest will be raised in the second resurrection at a later time.

(E) 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - KJV

Original: ...in them that perish; because they received...

Correction: ...in them that are perishing; because they received...

Same as 1 Corinthians 1:18 above.

(E) Hebrews 4:8 - KJV

Original: For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Correction: For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

The names "Jesus" and "Joshua" are Greek and Hebrew equivalents respectively. The proper name and context for this verse is obviously Joshua.

(E) Hebrews 4:9 - KJV

Original: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Correction: There remaineth therefore a keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.

The word "rest" used in Hebrews 3:11, 18 and 4:1, 3-5, and 8 is from the Greek words katapausis and katapauo which means "rest." The "rest" in Hebrews 4:9 is the Greek sabbatismos, meaning "a sabbatism" which is a literal keeping of the Sabbath of God.

(E) 1 Timothy 4:8 - KJV

Original: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Correction: For bodily exercise profiteth for a short time: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

In comparing bodily exercise to godliness, it is only evident that bodily exercise will only benefit a person for a short time. Godliness will last into the life to come, for a spirit will not have the limitations of the flesh.

(E) 1 Timothy 6:10 - KJV

Original: For the love of money is the root of all evil...

Correction: For the love of money is a root of all evils...

The love of money is not the root to all evils (plural), but a root.

(E) Revelation 14:4 - KJV

Original: ...redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Correction: ...redeemed from among men as firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

(E) Revelation 20:4-5 - KJV

Original: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Correction: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection.

The text "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." is best placed in parenthesis to render the thought off to the side. The latter part of v.5 of the first resurrection coincides with all of v.4 and is correct.

(E) Revelation 20:10 - KJV

Original: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Correction: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast, and they [Satan and the demons] shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The beast and false prophet are mortal human beings when they are cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20) It will be one thousand years later that the devil (and his demons) will be thrown into the same lake of fire. Because of the mortality of the beast and false prophet, they will burn up and die. Satan is spirit, and as a consequence, will be tormented forever. The false doctrine of the immortal soul is not biblical, so the connotation that the beast and false prophet will be still alive in the lake of fire one thousand years later is not correct in translation nor understanding.