{"id":1695,"date":"2025-12-19T11:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/?p=1695"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:51:35","slug":"kjv-vs-esv-jude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/archives\/1695","title":{"rendered":"KJV vs ESV: Jude"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luke 2:14 – peace to whom?<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A friend got this meme about Luke 2:14 in the ESV, NIV and KJV and asked about it. Just looking at it, it seems as if the KJV is leaving something out, because it is shorter, but actually, the ESV and NIV are saying something rather different to the KJV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is: for whom did Jesus bring peace:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • For all men (he has good will toward men)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • For specific men (he has peace for those he favours)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The one says that Jesus offers peace to all, and the other says that Jesus offers peace to the select few only:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    KJV<\/strong><\/td>ESV<\/strong><\/td>Differences<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.<\/td>ESV Luke 2:14 \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!\u201d<\/td>KJV: God is giving peace, God has good will toward men. ESV: God has peace for those that please him.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The root of this particular difference is that new Bible revisions follow the synthetic modern Greek “text” – generally derived from the bogus Sinaiticus and Vaticanus and Alexandrinus manuscripts to the exclusion of the real text of scripture. This was started in the 1800’s by names like Tregellis and Westcott and Hort, and continues to this day with names like Nestle and Alland, giving us editions like NA27 – the Nestle Alland 27th edition – and they are not done changing the text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For this verse, the difference is just one letter in Greek:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Received text<\/strong><\/td>Westcott & Hort & pals<\/strong><\/td>Differences<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Luke 2:14
    \u03b4\u03bf\u03be\u03b1 \u03b5\u03bd \u03c5\u03c8\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9 \u03b3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c5\u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03b1<\/td>    		WHNU Luke 2:14
    \u03b4\u03bf\u03be\u03b1 \u03b5\u03bd \u03c5\u03c8\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9 \u03b3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c5\u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>    		Just that last letter \u03c2<\/strong> changes from good will from one of the things that God has for men, to something that men must have as a condition for peace.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    And then the question came up (at least in my mind): why is this verse not in a list of differences between the KJV and the ESV? The lists that you know about are these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Verses omitted in the ESV and friends (e.g. Acts 8:37)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Differences in translation (the ESV has some kinky grammar ideas) – usually these make it in to a list when there are terrible doctrinal implications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      But the reason Luke 2:14 is not in the lists I found is because everything is different – there’s a difference in almost every single verse between the ESV and KJV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What you don’t know about is the continual shift in perspective that the ESV imposes on the text: every single verse is different – and it’s tiny things like tenses, adjectives, synonyms, and the ordering of words. Making a complete list is a fool’s errand. So here we go, but just for one of the very shortest books:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jude: KJV vs ESV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I went through the book of Jude, because it is short and controversial, and made some notes about the differences – shown in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      There are some themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Extra adjectives and adverbs where they do not belong: as if it was generated somewhat by AI, and the word did not have quite the twist that the AI thought. The Greek lexicons tend to add implied adjectives to every Greek word, such that you would think the Greeks were unable to communicate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Salvation is done vs salvation is not yet done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Here’s the table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        KJV<\/strong><\/td>ESV<\/strong><\/td>Differences<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:<\/td>ESV Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:<\/td>KJV sanctified, preserved called \u2192 ESV called, beloved, kept \u2013 ESV: not sanctified
        ESV: Not preserved in Jesus, but kept for him<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.<\/td>ESV: future mercy, KJV: current mercy<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.<\/td>KJV: this letter was prepared with dilligence (work) ESV: I was eager to write
        KJV: the common salvation \u2013 shared by everyone who is saved, ESV: it\u2019s only common to us
        KJV: earnestly contend ESV: nah, just contend
        KJV: once delivered ESV: once for all, because for all makes once more once-y<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.<\/td>KJV: watch out for men ESV: could me women or children too
        KJV: grace turned into something else ESV: change is not enough: gotta add the concept of perversion of grace.
        KJV: lasciviousness ESV: sensuality, because limiting outselves to bad use of the senses is too hard
        KJV: the only Lord God ESV: look, we don\u2019t want you to think that Jesus is actually God
        KJV: our Lord Jesus Christ ESV: he\u2019s only your Lord if he\u2019s your master<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.<\/td>KJV: you knew ESV: you fully knew, because just knowing is somehow inadequate in thesaurus world.
        KJV: saved the people \u2013 historical reference. ESV: saved a people \u2013 you never know which nation is going to get saved next, maybe your nation can make a covenant of your own
        KJV: The Lord saved and destroyed some ESV: No, Jesus saved and destroyed some (don\u2019t be sure about your salvation in Jesus!).<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day\u2014<\/td>KJV: angels had a starting place and role ESV: angels had authority \u2013 well, if they have authority, maybe we should be subject to them
        KJV: left their own place ESV: the place was a proper place, because gotta add stuff
        KJV: they are reserved \u2013 something in the future ESV: kept \u2013 just looking to the present
        KJV: darkness ESV: gloomy darkness \u2013 gotta add something (AI style)
        KJV: unto judgement \u2013 for the purpose of being judged ESV: until that future time \u2013 perhaps they will get off, who knows?<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.<\/td>KJV: fornication \u2013 no marriage ESV: sexual immorality \u2013 bad thoughts and stuff or talk or something
        KJV: strange flesh \u2013 doing specifically weird body stuff, ESV: unnatural desire: not specific
        KJV: vengeance \u2013 personal payback for wrong ESV: punishment: some measured sentence of an authority<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.<\/td>KJV: Nothing ESV: yet, because gotta add stuff
        KJV: filthy dreamers: dirty people with horrible imaginations, ESV people relying on dreams \u2013 because the humanity of them, and they were just leaning on dreams and stuff
        KJV: despise dominion \u2013 don\u2019t like the king ESV: reject authority \u2013 because they just turn it down: it\u2019s not that they have a bad attitude to actual rulers, they just don\u2019t like the concepts
        KJV: speak evil ESV: blaspheme \u2013 wow, the ESV is trying to make this about angels which are holy and stuff
        KJV: dignities ESV: the glorious ones \u2013 because we have no idea, so let\u2019s just make up new concepts as we go<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, \u201cThe Lord rebuke you.\u201d<\/td>KJV: he disputed: simple past tense ESV: was disputing: because the lexicon said that tense, and we pretend it is continuous
        KJV: he didn\u2019t dare \u2013 there would be consequences ESV: he didn\u2019t presume \u2013 it could have been a little awkward
        KJV: railing accusation aginst him: accusing him with wild words, ESV: pronounce blasphemous judgement: word salad, not even against the devil he disputed.<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.<\/td>KJV: But these \u2013 you know, the ones we\u2019re talking about ESV: they are people. People! The humanity!
        KJV: they speak evil ESV: they blaspheme: because everyone knows this simpler word
        KJV: the only thing they are accused of is speaking evil of things they do not understand. ESV: they are accused of speaking broadly, and making mistakes in some things they don\u2019t understand
        KJV: they corrupt the natural use, ESV: the natural use destroys them<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.<\/td>KJV: they\u2019s gone away ESV: they spent some time behaving like Cain \u2013 who knows, they might come back?
        KJV: greed: they served themselves ESV: abandoned themselves \u2013 they lost their senses
        KJV: Korah\u2019s problem was speaking against Moses, ESV: Nah, just general unspecific rebellion<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;<\/td>ESV Jude 1:12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;<\/td>KJV: spots \u2013 out damned spot, ESV: hidden reefs \u2013 because a feast of charity is suddenly a metaphor for sailing a ship
        KJV: feeding themselves ESV: they are promoted to shepherds that feed themselves, as if we only need to watch out for a bad leader
        KJV: carried about \u2013 aimless, ESV: swept along: directional
        KJV: fruit there, but withered ESV: no fruit, and add some autumn \u2013 they just got tired as the year wore on<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.<\/td>KJV: raging \u2013 angry and attacking, ESV: wild: natural \u2013 just not tame, because translating the word is for previous versions
        KJV: black ESV: gloom \u2013 because we need a little light to see how gloomy tha black is
        KJV: the blackness of darkness is reserved for them right now, ESV: way long ago they got their reservation<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,<\/td>ESV Jude 1:14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, \u201cBehold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,<\/td>KJV: of these, ESV: It was also about these \u2013 because gotta add extra words, and pretend as if we have been talking about Enoch all along
        KJV: Enoch prophesied of these, ESV: about these Enoch prophesied \u2013 because while it is English, it doesn\u2019t have to actually English
        KJV: saints, ESV: holy ones: technically this is the same thing, but it doesn\u2019t give offence to the Catholics<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\u201d<\/td>KJV: the ungodly among them, ESV: the ungodly \u2013 it\u2019s as if the ungodly live on another planet.
        KJV: hard speeches \u2013 they have a lot of forceful things to say, ESV: harsh things \u2013 they don\u2019t say things nicely<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.<\/td>KJV: lusts \u2013 they want stuff, ESV: sinful desires: they want sin \u2013 not something you can relate to -and the text doesn\u2019t say \u201csinful\u201d at all
        KJV: they puff people up and admire them, ESV: they puff themselves up, and have favourites<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;<\/td>ESV Jude 1:17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/td>KJV: the apostles spoke words, ESV: the apostles made predictions \u2013 technically, they did speak before, and that\u2019s a pre-dict-ion, but weird man<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:18 They said to you, \u201cIn the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.\u201d<\/td>KJV: How \u2013 remember how they spoke, ESV: omitted
        KJV: lusts: thing they want, ESV: passions: things they cling to<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.<\/td>KJV: separate themselves \u2013 we are better than hanging with you, ESV: cause divisions \u2013 but how?
        KJV: sensual \u2013 all about their senses, ESV: worldly \u2013 yeah, but how?
        KJV: having not the Spirit \u2013 they\u2019re not saved ESV: devoid of the Spirit \u2013 not just unsaved, but super-unsaved, because adding stuff is cool.<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,<\/td>ESV Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,<\/td>KJV: add to your faith ESV: just stay in your faith<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.<\/td>KJV: look for mercy: find someone to have mercy on, ESV: wait for mercy: it\u2019s all about you: it\u2019s not that you must get someone saved.
        KJV: mercy is the sufficient cause of eternal life, ESV: mercy starts the journey to eternal life<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:<\/td>ESV Jude 1:22 And have mercy on those who doubt;<\/td>KJV: have some pity, make a difference; ESV: your mercy will help some doubter ?<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.<\/td>KJV: use fear to save people from the fire; ESV: have fear as you show mercy<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,<\/td>ESV Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,<\/td>KJV: falling means hitting the ground, ESV: stumbling means you never even trip
        KJV: exceeding joy -really a lot. ESV: great joy: big, but not exceeding<\/td><\/tr>
        Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.<\/td>ESV Jude 1:25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.<\/td>KJV: God is wise. ESV: meh
        KJV: power \u2013 God is able to do anything, ESV: authority: someone allows God to do stuff
        KJV: nothing, ESV: though Jesus Christ our Lord \u2013 that\u2019s extra
        KJV: nothing, ESV: before all time \u2013 that\u2019s extra too<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        So sell your ESV for paper pulp, and get a KJV. Don’t worry if it’s hard: at least it’s right.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Luke 2:14 – peace to whom? A friend got this meme about Luke 2:14 in the ESV, NIV and KJV and asked about it. Just looking at it, it seems as if the KJV is leaving something out, because it … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":null,"sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[344,212,17,190],"class_list":["post-1695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stuff","tag-esv","tag-kjv","tag-rants","tag-stuff"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1695"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1699,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions\/1699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcgill.org.za\/stuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}