The King James Bible has preserved God's Word faithfully since 1611. But not every translation has followed the same standard. The comparisons below highlight verses where modern translations have omitted words, softened meaning, or changed the text in ways that alter what Scripture actually says.
This is not an exhaustive list — it is a small but revealing sampling. The translations compared are the King James Version (KJV), the New International Version (NIV, 1984 edition), the New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1977 edition), and the New World Translation (NWT, 1984 edition — the Bible published by Jehovah’s Witnesses).
Every word God inspired matters. Judge for yourself.
Matthew 9:13 — The Call to Repentance
King James: “For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
NIV: “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
NASB: “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
NWT: “For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.”
The word “repentance” — the entire point of the call — is removed in every modern translation.
Matthew 18:11 — The Son of Man Came to Save
King James: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
NIV: OMITTED
NASB: Footnote casts doubt
NWT: OMITTED
An entire verse declaring Christ’s mission is removed or questioned.
Luke 2:33 — The Virgin Birth
King James: “And Joseph and his mother marvelled...”
NIV: “The child’s father and mother marvelled...”
NASB: “His father and mother marvelled...”
NWT: “Its father and mother marvelled...”
Calling Joseph “the child’s father” directly contradicts the virgin birth. The King James Bible carefully says “Joseph” — never “father.”
Luke 4:4 — Every Word of God
King James: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
NIV: “Man does not live on bread alone.”
NASB: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”
NWT: “Man must not live by bread alone.”
“But by every word of God” — the very heart of the verse — is omitted in every modern translation.
Luke 4:8 — Get Thee Behind Me, Satan
King James: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written...”
NIV: OMITTED
NASB: OMITTED
NWT: OMITTED
Christ’s direct rebuke of Satan is removed entirely from all three modern translations.
Acts 8:37 — Confession of Christ
King James: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
NIV: OMITTED
NASB: Footnote casts doubt
NWT: OMITTED
The confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God — the basis for baptism — is omitted or questioned.
Acts 23:9 — Let Us Not Fight Against God
King James: “Let us not fight against God.”
NIV: OMITTED
NASB: OMITTED
NWT: OMITTED
Romans 13:9 — Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
King James: “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
NIV: OMITTED
NASB: OMITTED
NWT: OMITTED
One of the Ten Commandments is omitted from all three modern translations.
Colossians 1:14 — Redemption Through His Blood
King James: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
NIV: “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
NASB: “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
NWT: “By means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.”
“Through his blood” — the foundation of redemption — is removed from the NIV and NASB.
1 Timothy 3:16 — God Manifest in the Flesh
King James: “God was manifest in the flesh.”
NIV: “He appeared in a body.”
NASB: “He who was revealed in the flesh.”
NWT: “He was made manifest in the flesh.”
The King James Bible explicitly names God as the one manifest in the flesh — a direct statement of Christ’s divinity. Modern translations replace “God” with “He,” removing the doctrinal clarity entirely.
1 Peter 1:22 — Purified Through the Spirit
King James: “Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.”
NIV: “you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth.”
NASB: “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls.”
NWT: “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth.”
The role of the Holy Spirit in purification is omitted from all three modern translations.
1 John 4:3 — Jesus Christ Come in the Flesh
King James: “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.”
NIV: “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”
NASB: “Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”
NWT: “Every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God.”
The incarnation — that Jesus Christ came in the flesh — is reduced to simply “Jesus” in every modern translation, removing the doctrinal test entirely.
Revelation 5:14 — Worship of the Eternal One
King James: “The four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”
NIV: “...the elders fell down and worshipped.”
NASB: “...the elders fell down and worshipped.”
NWT: “...the elders fell down and worshipped.”
The object of worship — the eternal God — is removed from all three modern translations.
Revelation 20:9 — Fire from God
King James: “Fire came down from God out of heaven.”
NIV: “Fire came down from heaven.”
NASB: “Fire came down from heaven.”
NWT: “Fire came down out of heaven.”
“From God” is removed — stripping the divine source from the act of judgment.
These are not minor stylistic differences. They are changes to the meaning, doctrine, and completeness of God’s Word. The King James Bible preserves what others have quietly set aside.
At Kinsman & Company, every product we create is inscribed with King James scripture — because we believe every word of it.
Read more: Why the King James Bible Is the Most Faithful English Translation
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