When the editor was a teenager and modern translations were just becoming popular, he often thought, "Why don't they just update the KJV, so that those who have memorized from it will not 'lose' their long hours of work." In the nearly fifty years since this thought surfaced, no one has ever attempted this specific task.
The King James 2000 is not a new version. It is a King James Version brought forward 400 years. Several categories of words are brought up to 21st century language. Pronouns such as thy, thine, thou, ye, etc. are put into current language usage form. Verbal endings such as -eth, -est, -st, etc. are given equivalent forms of today's language. Words so archaic as to be unknown, such as wist, wot, froward, etc. are rendered as their current synonyms. Some words considered entirely proper in 1611, but which may be considered "coarse" today, are changed to equivalent intentions (such as bowels to heart). The common Biblical beast of burden is rendered donkey.
The intent of King James 2000 is to keep every KJV word the same, unless a misunderstanding or a gross word order "error" (in today's usage) must be averted. All punctuation is left the same, including omission of quotation marks, in order to keep the rhythm and pattern of KJV memorization intact. Even the interpolative KJV words (normally in italics) are kept the same if possible. No "corrections" or "textual considerations" are taken into account, since the King James 2000 intent is to preserve the KJV "as is," except for truly necessary changes. Pronouns addressing Deity are not set apart by capitalization, but are kept just as found in the KJV, with lower case letters (neither is distinction made in the original languages).
The King James 2000 will provide a version which has been, to some extent, verbally composed already. Many pastors and other Bible readers have already exchanged "show" for "shew," "you" for "ye," and "know" for "wot" in their private and public readings. Some of these "corrections" have already appeared in the various KJV printings. The King James 2000 will make these common exchanges "official."
A large percentage of English speaking people still prefer the KJV, whether because of their trust in its truthfulness or their enjoyment of its beauty of language. Many others, who use one of the many modern versions, still quote from that which was long ago "hid in their heart," the KJV. To these saints of God the King James 2000 is presented, that they may hold to the old with confidence, yet move into the future without fear. The intent of the King James 2000 is to "look, sound and feel" like the KJV.
As with editors of many versions of the past, the desire of this editor is that the King James 2000, as well as "everything we do," may honor and glorify the Sovereign God of eternity.
Robert A. Couric, Doctor of Theology, Professor of Bible at Mid-Continent College.
Reference | King James | King James 2000 | |
Genesis 24:45 | and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee | And I said to her, "Please let me drink" | and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray you |
Matthew 5:13 | if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? | if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? | if the salt has lost its savor, how shall it be salted? |
John 17:5 | glorify thou me with thine own self | glorify Me together with yourself | glorify me with your own self |
Romans 4:3 | For what saith the scripture? | For what does the Scripture say? | For what says the scripture? |
Romans 4:5 | But to him that worketh not | But to him who does not work | But to him that works not |
Printing of the KJ2000 Bible shall be limited to 500 verses without express written permission of the copyright owner, Robert A. Couric, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for 25 percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. The initials KJ2000 must appear at the end of each quotation. The KJ2000 can not be used in any application for profit.
Additional information on the KJ2000 Bible can be found at the KJ2000 Website.
The King James 2000 Bible is now available in hard and soft covers, and a soft cover New Testament. Call The Bible League (1-800-334-7017) or visit www.connectionclub.com to order.
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