Why does the bible change so much from the king james version to the NIV?
Caleb asked:
An example of this can be seen all over but here is one example:
An example of this can be seen all over but here is one example:
Job 39:9 (King James Version)
Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
Job 39:9 (New International Version)
“Will the wild ox consent to serve you?
Will he stay by your manger at night?
I picked Job because it is where creationists get the idea of dinosaurs being mentioned as a “behemoth”. If words can be easily swapped for completely other meanings such as from “unicorn” to “ox” how can you take anything in job literally?
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February 09 2010 01:41 am | Religion & Spirituality
Kyle M. on 12 Feb 2010 at 10:04 am #
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Our understanding of ancient languages has changed. Plus, King James was rather liberal with his interpretation of ancient text, so it’s not surprising that things are much different compared to that version.
keen on 15 Feb 2010 at 9:29 am #
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It is in the preface of the Revised Standard Version of the bible, 1978, that thirty-two Christian scholars “of the highest eminence,” backed by fifty Christian denominations, wrote of the authorized version, also known as the King James Version, that : “The King James Version have grave defects, so many and so serious as to call for revision.”
Riverwind on 17 Feb 2010 at 7:25 pm #
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The manuscripts King James’s scholars used had additional segments not found in the earliest manuscripts we now have, which he didn’t have.
Darwin on 19 Feb 2010 at 1:46 pm #
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To cover up the errors.
Cecile on 22 Feb 2010 at 5:59 pm #
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If I am a protestant, I will never read the NIV as it was translated by a group of people and one of them is Virginia Mollenkott. Virginia accdg to the Baptist church is a ******* and was able to prod her agenda in the NIV bible. Be ware !!!!
skepsis on 24 Feb 2010 at 9:30 pm #
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Because languages and cultures change over time, words change in meaning and meanings aquire new words. Because there is no actual Ancient Hebrew-English dictionary. (There are words and idioms in the Bible that no one knows exactly how to translate. Translators just take their best guess, which can improve over time.) Because the sciences of archeology, anthropology and linguistics keep improving.
Isolde on 27 Feb 2010 at 10:23 pm #
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Each translation was based on different versions of Greek manuscripts. So even literal translations will have honest differences. The NIV also attempts to use modern English. They may also have taken liberties with words like unicorn. It is similar to the KJV using English coins in some passages.
I find the old style of the KJV actually transmits important additional information about the verse. Modern English does not duplicate the familar second person as is found in the orginal. There is a distinct difference in meaning between thou and you. It is the opposite of what most people think it is. This is why many do not understand our relationship to God.
Chicago Bob. on 02 Mar 2010 at 10:49 pm #
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The Bible was First Written In Latin. Through various translations? A few decided to decipher a few things to suite themselves.
Thus the KJV. But the NIV Bible is about the easiest to understand and read.
Mostly the same meanings. Just the interpretation is left up to the reader.
Makes YA nuts at times.
GOD Bless YA,
Chicago Bob. (Imasinner)
Please pray for our Country and Our President (DAILY)
There is more Joy in JESUS in 24 hours, Than there is in the World in 365 Days. I have tried them both.(ME TO)
R.A. Torrey.
BibleChooser on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:46 am #
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Well, first, if this is an example of the greatest extent of the “change” – one species of 4-legged mammal named instead of another – well, they must be VERY nearly identical.
However, in this instance (as in MOST, but NOT all, instances comparing the NIV to the KJV) the NIV is probably a more accurate translation.
In fact, scholars do NOT know what the word translated as “unicorn” and “wild ox” means. The best guess of the translators of the KJV was “unicorn” (that is, rhinoceros). The best guess of modern scholars is “wild ox”. What’s very interesting is that both guesses are based on the same source: Babylonian carvings of a bull-like animal (in profile, showing only one horn) described by a Babylonian word very similar to the Hebrew word found in this passage.
But really, that’s no more certain than claiming that potatoes are a species of apple (if you were to base it on the French terminology).
The bottom line: they simply don’t know what that word means. Both translations of that word are simply educated guesses (the degree of education, naturally, improving over 400 years).
Jim,
Scott S on 05 Mar 2010 at 8:04 pm #
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There are three main reasons for differences between the KJV and the NIV.
1. The English language has changed considerably in the last 400 years. Some words are no longer used, new words have been adopted, and the meanings of some words have changed.
2. The KJV is an essentially literal Bible, that is, the translators tried to translate the words of the original language in their closest English equailvent as long as it didn’t violate English grammar. Whereas the NIV used a translation method called “dynamic equivalence” in many passages, which tries to convey meaning instead of words to make it easier to read. Since the meaning is open to some interpretation, there can be significant differences.
3. The KJV was an excellent translation from the available manuscripts 400 years ago. Since the KJV was translated, better manuscripts have been discovered and archeological finds have improved the knowledge of the ancient languages and peoples. Scholars have incorporated these improvements in the newer translations.
“Unicorn” in the KJV is generally considered to be an error or at least a poor translation of a word for an animal that might now be extinct.
So, yes, one can cite a few passages in the Scripture were there are uncertainties. However, they don’t detract from the main themes of the Bible, because they are taught over and over in many clear and undisputed passages.
Cecile, who is concerned about the NIV, please watch this video to see the other side of the story.