Introduction to Fred Miller's Revised King James Version

The King James Version of the Bible is in many ways the fountain of English literature. There are multitudes of literary referenced expressions like "a little bird told me" and others as well known but whose source in the KJV is forgotten. Therefore there is good reason to preserve the KJV forms of expression,-- with exceptions. The KJV is admittedly difficult for a modern reader with too many antiquated thees, thous, whereofs, thereofs, and antiquated verbal endings, like saith and doeth. As well as these obvious annoyances of many KJV sentences beginning with a predicate while normally we expect the subject of the sentences to be first. Also indirect objects may be lost somewhere in an extended sentence or sometimes may even start the sentence. Also the frequent use of "And it came to pass,....that" is not only annoying but unnecessary since the whole phrase including "that" is the translation of a four letter simple form of the verb "to be;" which verb is frequently left out of Hebrew sentences because it is understood. Thus in this revision "and it came to pass...that" is eliminated making a much clearer meaning brcause in almost every case the verb "to be" is understood in translation. Then the change or updating all antiquated pronouns and verbal endings and other antique words does the same. Many but not all such sentences are rearranged. The same words are used and none eliminated but they are put in a more acceptable order for a modern reader. A simple example is the rearrangement of subject and verb like "Then went Jesus..." to "Then Jesus went..." An example of rearranging an indirect object or beginning a phrase with object of a preposition is illustrated in Lev. 25:41; "and to the possession of his fathers he shall return" now reads "and he shall return to the possession of his fathers." One of the positive reasons for retaining the King James translation is because it is a word for word translation where ever possible. Thus if we want to be sure of a meaning, we can look up any KJV word to find the Greek or Hebrew equivalent of any word in the KJV text. That can not be done as frequently in the NIV and very often not at all because they add words. Newer translations are often interpretive translations which take unnecessary liberties with the text. Something simple like The KJV telling that Moses parents put the ark he was in into the "river,"--river is used several times there. The modern NIV version says "Nile" each time. Actually I resent having someone interpret the text for me. I want to know what the original text says. There, in Exodus it makes no real difference because the river was most likely the Nile. However the same type liberty of interpretive translation changes the meaning, and mistakenly so, in many places in the NIV, notably Isaiah 9:1-3 and 9:5 and Isa 48:16 (where the KJV has it right) and very badly in 2 Corinthians 13 where the NIV informs us that Paul had already made a second visit to the Corinthians even though the text says no such thing. It is purely an interpretation and mistaken at that. Not that there is not more than one mistake in the KJV translation. But they are more rare because the translators knew the idiom of the language and chose an equivalent word in English for each word in Hebrew or Greek when ever possible. This is not only not done by the NIV translators it is avoided. However Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly" is clearly a mistake in translation and NIV has it right there. But that is a very rare exception. In this revision, some KJV words are changed or upgraded because there are better selections that mean the same thing, like Acasia for Shittim, or go before for prevent, or falsehood for leasing; or surround for compass; and often around is better than round about, and olive oil than oil olive. But the Palestinian animal called an ass is not a donkey, it is a kin to a donkey but an altogether different animal so that word is retained. However one or two vulgarisms are updated, like piss, to better ways of expressing the identical thought. Often "that" when referring to humans is changed to "who" as in the example above "A man that hath friends" would be changed to "A man who has friends" if the translation was to be retained. However most of King James expression and word choice is retained. We have worked very hard in revision not to change the meaning chosen by the KJV. Anyone familiar with the KJV will like the easy flowing revision of the KJV offered here. Phrases like "I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof," therefore become "I have given Jericho and its king into your hand," Also a few archaic words have been updated (for instance falsehood for leasing and go before for prevent) but for the most part the KJV vocabulary is retained. This then is really a 21st century King James Version. People comfortable with the King James Version will be comfortable with this translation.

One other revision that makes a real contribution to better reading and understanding is the almost total elimination of the phrase "it came to pass.....that." This whole phrase is translated from a shortened (only three letters) form of the verb "to be," which is already understood in the passage making the additional words redundant. The following passages illustrate this needed change:

1. Gen. 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Becomes: Gen 4:3 And in process of time, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.

2. Gen 7:10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Becomes: Ge 7:10 And after seven days, the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

3. 1Sa 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Becomes: 1Sa 8:1 And when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

4. 1Sa 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
Becomes: 1Sa 16:6 And when they had come, he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.

I think you can see from these illustrations that the edited verses do not lack any meaning inherent in the longer form. And that the elimination of the redundant words makes easier reading and understanding.

This Revision is copyrighted but any use may be made of it except offering the text for sale. Any portion of it may be copied and passed on to others if it is not sold. If there is any doubt to the use the text will be put to please write to fmoeller@bellsouth.net