About the King James 2000 Bible
The most frequently asked question is: "What is the difference between this version and the other King James
Versions?"
Brief Comparison of Three King James Versions
The King James 2000 is the King James Version brought forward 400 years. Several categories of words are brought up to 21st century language. Pronouns such as thy, thine, thou, ye, etc. are put into current language usage form. Verbal endings such as -eth, -est, -st, etc. are given equivalent forms of today's language. Words so archaic as to be unknown, such as wist, wot, froward, etc. are rendered as their current synonyms. Some words considered entirely proper in 1611, but which may be considered "coarse" today, are changed to equivalent intentions (such as bowels to heart).
The intent of King James 2000 is to keep every KJV word the same, unless a misunderstanding or a gross word order "error" (in today's usage) must be averted. All punctuation is left the same, including omission of quotation marks, in order to keep the rhythm and pattern of KJV memorization intact.
A large percentage of English speaking people still prefer the KJV, whether because of their trust in its truthfulness or their enjoyment of its beauty of language. To these saints of God the King James 2000 is presented, that they may hold to the old with confidence, yet move into the future without fear. The intent of the King James 2000 is to "look, sound and feel" like the KJV.
As with editors of many versions of the past, the desire of this editor was that the King James 2000, as well as "everything we do," may honor and glorify the Sovereign God of eternity.
Comparison of the New King James with the King James 2000 in relation to the King James Version:
Brief Comparison of Three King James Versions
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| Genesis 24:45 | and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee | And I said to her, "Please let me drink" | and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray you |
| Matthew 5:13 | if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? | if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? | if the salt has lost its savor, how shall it be salted? |
| John 17:5 | glorify thou me with thine own self | glorify Me together with yourself | glorify me with your own self |
| Romans 4:3 | For what saith the scripture? | For what does the Scripture say? | For what says the scripture? |
| Romans 4:5 | But to him that worketh not | But to him who does not work | But to him that works not |
The King James 2000 is the King James Version brought forward 400 years. Several categories of words are brought up to 21st century language. Pronouns such as thy, thine, thou, ye, etc. are put into current language usage form. Verbal endings such as -eth, -est, -st, etc. are given equivalent forms of today's language. Words so archaic as to be unknown, such as wist, wot, froward, etc. are rendered as their current synonyms. Some words considered entirely proper in 1611, but which may be considered "coarse" today, are changed to equivalent intentions (such as bowels to heart).
The intent of King James 2000 is to keep every KJV word the same, unless a misunderstanding or a gross word order "error" (in today's usage) must be averted. All punctuation is left the same, including omission of quotation marks, in order to keep the rhythm and pattern of KJV memorization intact.
A large percentage of English speaking people still prefer the KJV, whether because of their trust in its truthfulness or their enjoyment of its beauty of language. To these saints of God the King James 2000 is presented, that they may hold to the old with confidence, yet move into the future without fear. The intent of the King James 2000 is to "look, sound and feel" like the KJV.
As with editors of many versions of the past, the desire of this editor was that the King James 2000, as well as "everything we do," may honor and glorify the Sovereign God of eternity.
Comparison of the New King James with the King James 2000 in relation to the King James Version:
- NKJV uses all modern vocabulary (examples: begat to begot; unto to to; ointment to fragrant oil.) KJ2000 keeps all KJV vocabulary the same unless it causes a mistake in meaning (examples: prevent to precede, suffer to allow) or has lost meaning for today (wist, wot, aforetime, haply, paps, superfluity of naughtiness).
- NKJV uses all modern word order/sentence structure. KJ2000 keeps KJV word order/sentence structure almost 100% of the time.
- NKJV uses all modern punctuation. KJ2000 keeps KJV punctuation to look like the KJV.
- NKJV uses all modern poetic form. KJ2000 keeps poetry in KJV form (prose) to look like the KJV.
- The intent of the KJ2000 is to keep every KJV word the same, unless a misunderstanding or a gross word order "error" (in today's usage) must be averted.
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| Genesis 1:2 | and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters | And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters | same as KJV |
| Exodus 15:21 | And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. | And Miriam answered them: "Sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" |
And Miriam answered them, Sing unto the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and its rider has he thrown into the sea. |
| Matthew 5:15 | Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel | Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket | Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel |
| John 11:10 | there is no light in him | the light is not in him. | same as KJV |
| John 11:11 | said he . . . unto them . . . awake him out of sleep | He said . . . to them . . .wake him up. | same as KJV |
| Acts 2:14 | lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: | raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words." | lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. |
| Romans 4:1 | What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? | What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? | What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19 | What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost . . . | Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . | What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . |
An exciting, skillful accomplishment with minimum changes, preserving the King James Version tradition in a readable, understandable version for the 21st Century
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