KJV vs NIV: Key Differences Explained
The King James Version (1611) and New International Version (1978) are two of the most popular English Bible translations, yet they differ in thousands of places. Here's what you need to know.
Why Do They Differ?
The KJV and NIV are based on different manuscript traditions:
- KJV - Based primarily on the Textus Receptus, a Greek text compiled from later Byzantine manuscripts.
- NIV - Based on the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies Greek text, which incorporates earlier manuscripts discovered after 1611.
Additionally, the NIV uses dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation while the KJV uses formal equivalence (word-for-word).
Verses Omitted in NIV
Several verses found in the KJV do not appear in the main text of the NIV. These are typically relegated to footnotes or omitted entirely because they don't appear in the earliest Greek manuscripts.
Matthew 17:21
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."
(Verse omitted - see footnote)
Matthew 18:11
"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."
(Verse omitted)
Matthew 23:14
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
(Verse omitted)
Acts 8:37
"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
(Verse omitted)
Major Doctrinal Differences
1 John 5:7 - The Trinity
Known as the "Comma Johanneum," this is one of the most significant textual differences.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
"For there are three that testify:"
The KJV includes an explicit Trinitarian statement not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts.
Compare interactively →Colossians 1:14 - Blood Atonement
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
"in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
The phrase "through his blood" appears in later manuscripts but not in the earliest ones.
Compare interactively →Romans 8:1 - Conditional Clause
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"
The KJV includes a conditional phrase about walking after the Spirit.
Compare interactively →Terminology Differences
Beyond omissions, the KJV and NIV often translate the same Greek words differently:
| KJV Term | NIV Term | Example |
|---|---|---|
| only begotten | one and only | John 3:16 |
| devils | demons | Mark 16:9 |
| charity | love | 1 Corinthians 13 |
| hell (Gehenna) | hell | Various |
| hell (Hades) | Hades/grave | Various |
Compare KJV and NIV Yourself
Use our interactive tool to explore every difference between these translations, verse by verse.
Compare KJV vs NIVWhich Translation Should You Use?
Both translations have their place in Bible study:
- KJV - Valued for its literary beauty, historical significance, and preservation of traditional readings.
- NIV - Valued for its readability, use of modern English, and incorporation of textual scholarship.
Many serious students use multiple translations to gain a fuller understanding of Scripture.