Information on the New King James Version translation and italic type.
Use of Italics
Most lovers of the King James Bible know that the italicized words denote language that is not in the original Greek or Hebrew, but which is supplied by the translators to complete the sense of the English sentence. These words have always been a problem to editors because it is often hard to determine whether certain words should be considered as part of a word in the original or italicized as a supplied word. Most places, however, are clear.
In 1979, when the New Testament was published in the New King James Version, the editors and publisher agreed to do away with italics for two reasons. First was the problem mentioned above as to exactly which words should be italicized. A second problem is that today italics usually mean emphasis (or a foreign word). Occasionally, even preachers will not know the KJV tradition and emphasize the very words that have no specific words behind them in the original!
On this issue the public spoke out in no uncertain terms: “Restore the italics!” Many people feel safer with a translation if they are able to tell where the words have been added.
Two other small items of accuracy regarding italics: First, italics have been used more consistently in the New King James Version to reflect the structure and meaning of the original text. Also, some italicized words that were formerly in the King James Bible are omitted in the New King James because they are no longer needed to complete the English sense.
The New King James Version: In the Great Tradition, Arthur L. Farstad, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, p. 53
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