KJV vs NLT: What do I need to know?

The King James Version (KJV) and the New Living Translation (NLT) are two popular English Bible translations. However, they take different approaches to translating the original Hebrew and Greek into English. Some churches use only the King James Version and criticize Christians who read modern translations. Other churches prefer the modern English of the NLT and view the KJV as outdated. Understanding the differences between these translations can help Christians choose a Bible that is both accurate and understandable.

In 1603, James I became king of England. At the time, some English church leaders wanted a new Bible translation. King James approved the project, and dozens of scholars worked together to translate the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures into English. They completed their work in 1611, producing what became known as the King James Version. The translators sought to produce an accurate Bible that was also suitable for public reading. As a result, the KJV became known for its formal, elegant style.

Almost four hundred years later, a team of scholars published the New Living Translation in 1996. They used modern English and wanted the Bible to be easy to read and understand. Because Hebrew and Greek use words and sentence structures differently than English, scholars cannot always translate a passage word for word and still communicate its meaning clearly. The NLT translators took a meaning-based approach. They often translated the meaning of a phrase or sentence rather than closely following the wording and structure of the original languages. As a result, the NLT emphasizes readability more than the KJV does.

The King James Version of the Bible is written at a twelfth-grade reading level. It retains many older English words, like “shalt,” “thou,” and “hath.” The NLT, on the other hand, is written at a sixth-grade level. In the 1600s, the average Christian did not own a Bible. The experts who translated the KJV meant it to be read aloud to groups of Christians. They emphasized beauty, elegance, and poetry. The scholars behind the NLT wanted as many people as possible to read the Bible. They wrote for people of all educational backgrounds.

The difference appears in John 1:5. The NLT says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” The KJV says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The KJV reflects an older form of English, including verbs such as “shineth,” while the NLT expresses the verse in familiar modern language.

Each translation has supporters and critics. Many Christians prefer the modern English of the New Living Translation because they can understand it without looking up older words. Supporters of the King James Version appreciate its elegant and poetic style. They may also value reading a translation that Christians have used for centuries.

One important difference involves the manuscripts used for translation. The KJV translators worked with the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts available to them in the early seventeenth century. Since then, scholars have gained access to additional ancient biblical manuscripts. The NLT and many other modern translations consider these manuscripts when determining the original wording of the biblical text. For this reason, modern translations sometimes differ from the KJV in particular words and verses.

Biblical scholars have released modern editions of the King James Version of the Bible that use more modern language. British scholars released a new edition in 1769. Modern experts published the New King James Version in 1982. The NKJV tried to retain the KJV’s style while using more contemporary words. Many supporters of the King James Version thought that the NKJV failed to maintain the original’s beauty and elegance. The New Living Translation released a second edition in 2004. Its translators changed its style to improve clarity.

The King James Version and the New Living Translation represent different approaches to Bible translation. The KJV follows the wording and structure of the original languages more closely and uses a formal style that includes many older English words. The NLT uses modern English and often expresses the original meaning in words that are easier for today's readers to understand. Both translations can communicate the truth of Scripture. The translation a church uses is a secondary issue as long as the church faithfully teaches God's Word and proclaims the gospel.