Wow! A modern version can give light where the KJV may be hard to understand? Not so, my brother, not so. Stick with the KJV.
True, I will never look to a modern bible for clarification on what the word of God says.
Here are some examples of difficult passages or verses that I believe Modern Bibles help to update in certain instances (But yet these translations should never be used alone as a complete substitute for the perfect Word of God, i.e., the King James Bible).
#1. The word “conversation” in the KJB is an archaic word, and it means “behavior” in our modern understanding of Ephesians 4:22.
#2. The archaic word “anon” in the KJB means “immediately.”
#3. Isaiah 26:10 in the New King James says, “Let grace be shown to the wicked, Yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.” But in the KJB, it says, “Let favour be shewed to the wicked,” instead. While favor and grace are the same things, it is just more clear in that this verse refers to grace. Again, I am not looking to correct the KJV by any means. But the Modern Translation simply helps to give clarity here. Meaning, there are Christians today who have not changed in their approach towards sin and its consequences when they were shown God’s grace.
#4. Romans 3:25 (could be misunderstood as talking about forgiveness of a believer’s past sins when it is talking about God holding back punishment in the Old Testament).
#5. Job 40:17 talks about stones in reference to pillar stones (Which would be legs or thighs). However, Modern bibles directly say “thighs” of this Sauropod dinosaur (i.e., like a Brontosaurus). So it gives a more straightforward meaning. Again, the KJV is not in error here, it is just more obscure in meaning, which is a part of God’s plain in our studying to discover such a truth.
#6. Ephesians 5:16 says, “redeeming the time,” but in some Modern bibles, it clears up the meaning by saying, “making the most of your time.”
#7. In Philippians 3:13 - before means ahead. - Websters 1913
#8. The word “proveth” in Deuteronomy 13:3 is not as clear. It actually means to “test.” God tests you to see whether you truly love the LORD your God with all your heart, with and with all your soul, etcetera. This definition is confirmed by both the 1828 and 1913 Webster’s Dictionary, and it aligns correctly with Modern Translations (in this instance). The word “test” is a more clearer rendering than “prove.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, as well. Granted, this again is not an error by any means.
#9. The word “given” in John 5:26 suggests from our Modern understanding that the Father was giving Jesus “eternal life” for the very first time ever. I say this because another Christian I have talked with on a Christian forum holds to this wrong interpretation. However, clearly, this is not the case because John 1:4 teaches us that the Word (Logos) had life in His eternal state. John 5:26 says: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;” A more up-to-date word for the word “given” would be “allowed” (Which is what ERV says). Note: In Greek, it can also be translated as “granted.” (Note: Keep in mind I have a huge hate on for the Revised Version and it makes me want to puke).
#10. The word “worship.” (See my write-up
here).
#11. King James Bible says vexed in Isaiah 63:10. While the KJB is the pure and divine Word, it’s more apparent in Scripture in our Modern understanding to use the word grieved as Modern bibles say because it points back to the New Testament on this topic.
KJB - “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”
New King James Version
“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.”
#12. Acts 17:26, by “one blood” is best understood as referring to “one man” (as Modern Bibles say). Again, they are saying the same thing, but the Modern Bible simply helps our understanding here.
#13. Jeremiah 4:27 - GWT, which is considered to be one of the worst translations, and a paraphrase at times does provide a clearer understanding of this verse in what the KJB says. The KJB is 100% correct. It’s the perfect Word. However, the GWT brings out the meaning more clearly by saying, “This is what the LORD says: The whole earth will be ruined, although I will not destroy it completely.”
#14. The body that casts the shadow. (Colossians 2:17) (GWT). In other words, God’s Word Translation helps to flesh out what the KJB says more clearly here).
#15. The word “commit” in John 2:24 is more clearly rendered as “entrusted.”
#16. The word “hell” is also less clear in the KJB. While I am not encouraging one to become a Greek scholar, they should, at the very least, have a cursory knowledge and understanding that there are different Greek words used for the word “hell” to gain a proper understanding behind the different usages of this word. Hades, Gehenna, and Tartaroo are three words that need to be studied more in-depth to understand what these words truly say. Granted, I am not saying the KJB is in error by any means. The word “hell” is still a correct translation for all these Greek words, but like words in our English language, the Bible has homonyms within it. Knowing the differences in the Greek words will only aid one’s support more clearly in what the KJB says.
#17. 2 Corinthians 11:4 sounds like you could put up with a person who preaches another Jesus. But the Modern Translations in this instance give clarity to suggest that this is in reference to Paul criticizing the Corinthians for wrongfully putting up with those who preach another Jesus. See Biblehub.com.
There are more examples I could give, but I did not want to make my post too long.