If the KJB is the inspired words of God then why the italicized words?

[brandplucked]

If the King James Bible is inspired, why does it add italics?


At one of the Bible clubs on the internet a Bible critic asks: "If the KJV-only supporters believe fully in the word-for-word inspiration of the KJV, why would italics be necessary?"

First of all, we Bible believers believe in a word for word meaning, not necessarily a strictly literal word for word translation. Sometimes the literal translation would not make sense to us.

ALL translations into another language require the "addition" of certain words for a passage to make proper sense. Why? Because the Hebrew and Greek languages are often elliptical languages. That is, they sometimes omit the Subject or the Verb, or the Direct Object, the Indirect Object or even the word "not" when the text requires it when placed into another language.

The King James Bible translators were honest enough to put most of these "added" words in italics so you could see where they did this. Versions like the NASB, NKJV, ESV, NIV, Holman Standard ALL still "add" those words but they do not always put them in italics so a person reading them is not aware of this.

In fact, there are many places in the Hebrew text where a word is not literally in the text but placed in italics, but when the passage is quoted in the Greek, the word IS there.

Here is one of many examples:

Deuteronomy 8:3.

"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did they fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

You will note that the word "word" is in italics, meaning of course, that it was not in the Hebrew text. Upon examination of Deuteronomy 8:3 in Hebrew one will find that the word "dabar" which is Hebrew for "word" is not found anywhere in the verse. Yet in His temptation experience in the wilderness with Satan we find Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 as follows in Matthew 4:4 - "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

While quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 Jesus quotes the entire verse including the King James italicized word! Even an amateur "scholar" can locate "ramati," a form of "rama," which is Greek for "word," in any Greek New Testament.

Deuteronomy 25:4, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out THE CORN.” (Geneva, Coverdale, Bishops’ bible, Wycliffe, Revised Version, Darby, Douay-Rheims; THE GRAIN -NIV, RSV, ESV, NKJV) The Hebrew word for "corn" or "grain" is not found in the Hebrew text but it is supplied by almost every translation done by man, including the Jewish translations. Yet when this verse is quoted in the New Testament, the apostle Paul “adds” the words “the corn” to the inspired Greek text. - I Corinthians 9:9. "For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out THE CORN. Doth God take care for oxen?"

Another example found in all bible translations. (And I have MANY of these)

In 1 Samuel 2:3 we read: "Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let NOT arrogancy come out of your mouth"

The simple word "not" is not literally in the Hebrew text, yet how different the meaning (the opposite) if not supplied. Check out your bible versions; they all "add" the word "not" to the text.

Here is another one like it. In Proverbs 24:28 we read: "Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive NOT with thy lips." Check out your modern versions like the NIV, NASB, ESV, NKJV, Holman etc. If the word "not" is not "added" then we get the totally opposite meaning from the verse.

In Psalm 9:18 we read: “For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall NOT perish for ever.” Once again the word “not” is not in the Hebrew text and if it were not “added” then the verse would mean the complete opposite - “the expectation of the poor shall perish”. So translations like the NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV and Holman all “add” the word “not” or “nor” to the passage.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 a case is found where the subject and the verb are not found in the Hebrew texts, yet almost every translation in almost every language “adds” these extra words to their texts.

Here we read: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for THE LORD SEETH not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

The words “the LORD seeth” are not found in the Hebrew texts, but they are supplied, and usually not even in italics, with either “for God sees” or “the LORD seeth” by such translations as the Bishops’ bible, the Geneva Bible, the RV, ASV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NKJV and NET versions.

Verbs are “added”

Take a look at how many verbs need to be supplied or “added” to the text for the verses to make much sense. In 2 Samuel chapter 9 we read the following verses where ALL the versions (NASB, NIV, ESV, NKJV etc.) “add” the verbs plus other parts of the sentences that are not found in the Hebrew text.

2 Samuel 9:2 “And THERE WAS of the house of Saul a servant...” (NASB, NIV, ESV, NKJV, Holman etc.)

2 Samuel 9:3 “And the king said, IS there not yet any of the house of Saul...? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, WHICH IS lame on HIS (both) feet.”

2 Samuel 9:4 “And the king said, Where IS he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold he IS in the house of Machir...”

2 Samuel 9:8 “And he bowed himself, and said, What IS thy servant...”

2 Samuel 9:10 “Thou therefore, and thy sons shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in THE FRUITS...(NKJV - the harvest; ESV, NASB - the produce; NIV - the crops)

2 Samuel 9:11 “...As for Mephibosheth, SAID THE KING (NKJV), he shall eat at my table (NASB, NIV, ESV change the Hebrew “my” to DAVID’S table), as one of the king’s sons.”

2 Samuel 9:12 “And all the house of Ziba WERE servants unto Mehpibosheth.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman etc.)

Psalm 19 - Let’s look for a moment at a more familiar passage of Scripture and see what all the translations “add” to the text.

Psalm 19:5 “Which IS as a bridegoom coming out of his chamber...” (NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, Holman etc.)

Psalm 19: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - “The law of the LORD IS perfect...testimony of the LORD IS sure...statutes of the LORD ARE right...commandment...IS pure...fear of the LORD IS clean...judgments...ARE true... THERE IS great reward.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman etc.)

Psalm 19:12 “Who can understand HIS errors? cleanse thou me from secret FAULTS.” (NIV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, Holman etc.)

There are literally hundreds of such examples found in all Bible translations in both English and foreign languages. It is due in large part to the elliptical nature of the Hebrew and Greek languages.

Here are a few examples from the N.T.

The Elliptical Greek language.

The Greek language used in the New Testament is often elliptical and so also is the Hebrew in the Old. That is, certain parts of speech, including everything from the subject, the verb or the direct and indirect objects are frequently omitted in the literal sense but are implied in the context.

ALL Bible translations OFTEN “add” words like “him, them and you” to their English or foreign language translation. The KJB is honest about this in that it places these “added” words in italics, whereas most modern versions still “add” the extra words but put them in regular print so you can’t see where they did it.

Here are just a FEW of the literally hundreds of examples that could be given. The Bold faced CAPITALIZED words are “added” to the Greek texts.

John 1:18 - “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared HIM.” (NASB, NIV, NKJV, ESV, Holman)

John 4:26 - “Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am HE.” (NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV)

John 5:21 - “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth THEM; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman)

John 6:5 - “When Jesus then lifted up HIS eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (NKJV, NASB, ESV)

John 6:52 - “The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us HIS flesh to eat?” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman)

John 8:44 - “Ye are of YOUR father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman)

John 8:47 - “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear THEM not, because ye are not of God.” (NIV, NASB, RV, ASV, RSV)

John 9:9 - “Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am HE.” (RV, ASV, NKJV, - NIV, ESV “THE MAN”, NASB “THE ONE”)

John 10:29 - “My Father, which gave THEM me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” (RV, ASV, NASB, NIV, ESV, NKJV, Holman)

John 12:42 - “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess HIM, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (NASB, NKJV, Holman; NIV THEIR FAITH; ESV, RSV - IT)

John 13:9 - “Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also MY hands and MY head.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman)

John 13:10 - “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash HIS feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. “ (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman)

John 13:19 - “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am HE.“ (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman)

John 15:6 - “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather THEM, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (RV, ASV, NKJV, NASB, Holman; - NIV SUCH BRANCHES; ESV THE BRANCHES)

John 19:1 - “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged HIM. “ (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman)

John 19:15 - “But they cried out, Away WITH HIM, away WITH HIM, crucify him. “ (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman)

John 20:22 - “And when he had said this, he breathed ON THEM, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman)

John 21:18 - “...but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry THEE whither thou wouldest not.” (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman)

Will Kinney

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[Jim]

Actually brother, not to argue, but looking at it in a different view, it actually was a word for word translation, hence the italics. If it were a word for word meaning, then it would not have needed italics, and in essence would not have been a "formal equivalent" translation.

Just a thought,

In Christ,

Jim