A companion complaint to archaic words is the
presence of words whose meanings have changed.* Daniel B. Wallace claims
“300 words found in the KJV no longer bear the same meaning.” This is
again something of a misnomer. Rather than the word no longer bearing the
meaning used in the KJV, more likely is that its most common use is no longer
the meaning most commonly used in the KJV. Wallace gives as examples “suffer”
(permit) and “study” (be diligent). The meaning in the KJV may not be the first
meaning moderns think of when they hear the word, but my Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary supports the changed meanings. Suffer means “to allow” (#
4) and study means “endeavor/try” (# 3) – substantially the same definitions
given by Wallace which have “changed”. My modern dictionary even tells me that
“prevent” means to “arrive before” or “go before” (Cf. I Thess. 4:15).
Words that do not mean what we expect them to
mean cause us difficulty in reading and understanding the Bible. I do not
ignore that; I have experienced that. But part of being diligent in studying
the word of God is to study words and their meaning. This is true whether it is
words in a Bible first printed in 1611 or a Bible that has just been translated
and made available to the readers. It isn't hard to look up an old word in a
good dictionary. All words we don’t understand need to be looked up in some dictionary!
The Oxford English Dictionary is a wonderful
tool. It is the largest unabridged dictionary of the English language and
especially helpful in ferreting out multiple and changing word meanings. Yet
most good basic dictionaries will give definitions that correspond to the
meanings of “archaic” words found in the King James Bible. In
addition many Bibles have footnotes or marginal readings that are helpful,
calling attention to archaic words or words whose meaning has changed.
Though Daniel Wallace and I will not agree on
the best texts and best translations, I unreservedly agree when he writes,
“The reason unspiritual people do not understand the scriptures is because
they have a volitional problem, not an intellectual problem.” This is the
first great problem of understanding the Scriptures, for they are spiritually
discerned. Changing words may address a person’s intellectual problem, but it
cannot address his or her spiritual problem!**
It is true that the King James Bible contains
words that are not used much in everyday speech or that are not often used in
the way the KJV uses them. It is not true that these must keep one from
understanding the Bible. Rather than frighten the KJV reader (who wants to be a
KJV reader) towards a modern translation, a valid option is to direct them
toward the help they need.
* “Archaic” and “changed meaning” are two different issues, though they might seem one and the same without due consideration.
** Since each individual suffers from different language and knowledge difficulties, it is endlessly impossible to try to accomplish a fix with a new translation of the Bible. It would take a unique Bible for each individual. Rather than falling into this never ending cycle, better that many individuals work together to solve their problems from one common translation.
** Since each individual suffers from different language and knowledge difficulties, it is endlessly impossible to try to accomplish a fix with a new translation of the Bible. It would take a unique Bible for each individual. Rather than falling into this never ending cycle, better that many individuals work together to solve their problems from one common translation.
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