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The reason some words in some Bible translations are italicized is that those publishers have chosen to mark or set apart certain words. Different publishers have different reasons for their use of italics. Usually, the publisher’s preface will explain why italics are used in that particular edition of the Bible.
The use of italics is common in the King James and New King James translations. For example, 2 Kings 6:23 in the NKJV says,
The bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
The word raiders is italicized to show that, in the original Hebrew text, there is no corresponding word for raiders. That English word has been supplied by the translators to clarify the meaning of the verse.Another example is Luke 1:5 in the KJV. That verse gives this detail about Zacharias:
His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
The italicized was, repeated twice, shows the reader that the verb was added by the English translators. The original Greek does not have a corresponding verb in those places.The New American Standard Bible follows the same formatting for italics as the KJV and NKJV. That is, words provided by the translators are italicized. For example, Psalm 26:9 in the NASB says,
Do not take my soul away along with sinners.
In this verse, the English word along does not represent any specific word in the Hebrew but is added by the translators for clarity’s sake. All versions of the New American Standard Bible (the NASB 1977, the NASB 1995, and the Legacy Standard Bible) maintain the same use of italics in this verse.The Amplified Bible is a little different. That translation uses italicized text to show any of three things:
1. certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts. This is the primary use of italics in the New Testament, so that, upon encountering italics, the reader is alerted to a matter of textual readings. Often these will be accompanied by a footnote. . . .
2. conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and the like, not in the original text, but used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word. In this use, the reader, upon encountering a conjunction in italics, is alerted to the addition of an amplified word or phrase. . . .
3. words which are not found in the original Hebrew or Greek but implied by it. (from the Introduction to the Amplified Bible)
So, for example, John 8:34 in the AMP reads this way:2. conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and the like, not in the original text, but used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word. In this use, the reader, upon encountering a conjunction in italics, is alerted to the addition of an amplified word or phrase. . . .
3. words which are not found in the original Hebrew or Greek but implied by it. (from the Introduction to the Amplified Bible)
Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin.”
The translators italicized and to show that the following words (“most solemnly say to you”) are an amplification of the original Greek and are implied in the words translated “assure you.” The word habitually is italicized to indicate that the adverb is implied in the meaning of Jesus’ words.Italics are a type of formatting and thus are not original to the Bible. The same can be said of capitalization, punctuation, and red lettering. We are glad for such formatting, as it does help the modern reader understand the Bible’s meaning. In the case of italics, the translators have provided a welcome transparency as they identify the words that they have added.
