The King James Bible vs. Modern Translations: What’s Missing?

The debate over Bible translations is not new, but in recent years, many have begun to notice significant omissions and changes in modern versions such as the NIV, ESV, NLT, and NASB. Compared to the King James Version (KJV), these modern translations remove entire verses and alter key doctrinal meanings, affecting core Christian beliefs.

In this article, we will examine 15 verses omitted from modern translations, 8 verses that are changed and 3 verses that remove the Blood, weakening key biblical doctrines.

15 Verses Completely Omitted in Modern Translations

The following 15 verses are entirely missing in many modern versions, causing the verse numbering to skip in comparison to the KJV:

1. 1 John 5:7

KJV: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Significance: This verse is one of the clearest proofs of the Trinity. Its removal weakens biblical support for the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being one God.

2. Matthew 17:21

KJV: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Significance: Jesus teaches that some demonic forces require both prayer and fasting to be cast out. Omitting this verse downplays the importance of fasting in spiritual warfare.

3. Matthew 18:11

KJV: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
Significance: This verse directly states Jesus’ mission to save sinners. Removing it takes away a clear statement of Christ’s redemptive work.

4-5. Mark 9:44 & 9:46

KJV: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
Significance: These verses emphasize the eternal suffering in hell, warning of God’s judgment. Their removal lessens the seriousness of hell.

6. Mark 11:26

KJV: “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Significance: This verse teaches that forgiveness is required to receive God’s forgiveness. Its omission diminishes this crucial biblical principle.

7. Mark 15:28

KJV: “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.”
Significance: A prophecy fulfillment from Isaiah 53:12, proving that Jesus’ crucifixion was foretold. Removing it erases evidence of fulfilled prophecy.

8. Luke 17:36

KJV: “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Significance: This verse reinforces the teaching of the Rapture or sudden judgment, but its omission removes a key passage on end-times prophecy.

9. John 5:4

KJV: “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”
Significance: This verse explains why the sick gathered at the pool of Bethesda. Its omission leaves the story incomplete.

10. Acts 8:37

KJV: “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.”
Significance: This verse contains a clear confession of faith in Jesus Christ for baptism. Removing it weakens the doctrine of salvation by faith.

11-13. Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, and Acts 28:29

Significance: These verses provide historical clarity about Paul’s ministry, including Silas’ choice to stay behind, Paul’s arrest, and the Jewish reaction to his preaching. Their removal creates narrative gaps.

14. Romans 16:24

KJV: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Significance: This verse is a final blessing in Romans. Removing it takes away Paul’s closing words of grace.

15. Matthew 23:14

KJV: “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.”
Significance: Jesus condemns religious hypocrisy in this verse. Omitting it softens His strong rebuke of false religious leaders.

8 Verses That Have Been Changed in Meaning

While some verses are omitted, others are altered in modern translations, changing their meaning entirely.

1. Matthew 5:22

• KJV: “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…”
• Modern Versions: “Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment…”

Significance: The omission of “without a cause” makes it seem like all anger is sinful, contradicting Ephesians 4:26 (“Be ye angry, and sin not”).

2. Luke 4:4

• KJV: “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
• Modern Versions: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”

Significance: “But by every word of God” is removed, downplaying the necessity of God’s Word for spiritual life.

3. Luke 9:56

• KJV: “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
• Modern Versions: (Omitted)

Significance: This removes Jesus’ declaration of His mission to save sinners.

4. Colossians 1:14

• KJV: “…redemption through his blood…”
• Modern Versions: “…redemption…”

Significance: Omitting “through his blood” removes the importance of Christ’s blood for salvation (Hebrews 9:22).

5. 1 Timothy 3:16

• KJV: “God was manifest in the flesh…”
• Modern Versions: “He appeared in the flesh…”

Significance: The KJV clearly declares that Jesus is God, but modern versions remove this direct reference to Christ’s deity.

6. Mark 1:2

• KJV: “As it is written in the prophets…”
• Modern Versions: “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet…”

Significance: The quote comes from Malachi and Isaiah, so modern versions contain an error by attributing it only to Isaiah.

7. John 7:8

• KJV: “I go not yet unto this feast…”
• Modern Versions: “I am not going…”

Significance: Removing “yet” makes it seem like Jesus lied, as He later went (John 7:10).

8. Revelation 13:8

• KJV: “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
• Modern Versions: “…the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”

Significance: This changes the timing of Christ’s sacrifice, affecting the doctrine of God’s eternal plan.

3 Verses that remove the Blood.

Modern Translations (NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB) remove references to the blood of Christ in certain key verses, weakening the doctrine of redemption through His blood. Here are a few examples:

1. Colossians 1:14

• KJV: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
• Modern Versions: “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

What’s Missing? “Through his blood” is removed in modern versions, taking away the emphasis on Christ’s atoning blood as the means of redemption.

2. Acts 20:28

• KJV: “…to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
• Modern Versions: “…to shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

What’s Changed? The phrase “purchased with his own blood” is often softened or altered, weakening the emphasis on Christ’s sacrificial payment for the Church.

3. Revelation 1:5

What’s Missing? The removal of “washed us in his own blood” weakens the connection between Christ’s blood and the cleansing of sin.

• KJV: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
• Modern Versions: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins…”

Why Does This Matter?

The blood of Christ is central to salvation (Hebrews 9:22 – “without shedding of blood is no remission”). Removing or altering these references diminishes the power of Christ’s atonement.

Final Thoughts

The KJV preserves the full Word of God, while modern versions omit and alter key verses. These changes weaken biblical doctrines on salvation, the Trinity, fasting, forgiveness, prophecy, and Christ’s divinity.

Which Bible will you trust—the one that removes key doctrines, or the one that preserves every word of God?