A Comparative Study of Bible Versions — Verses Present in KJB 1611 but Absent in Modern Translations
A Comparative Study of Bible Translations
Verses Present in the King James Bible (1611) and Missing or Bracketed in Modern Versions
Versions Compared: NIV • ESV • NASB • NLT • NRSV • NKJV
Introduction
The King James Bible of 1611 (KJV) was translated primarily from the Textus Receptus ("Received Text") for the New Testament, a Greek text compiled largely from later Byzantine manuscripts. Many modern translations — including the NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT, and NRSV — are based on a critical eclectic text (Nestle-Aland / United Bible Societies) that incorporates the oldest available Greek manuscripts, such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus (4th century AD). Because these ancient manuscripts often lack certain words, phrases, or entire verses found in the later manuscripts underlying the Textus Receptus, modern translations frequently omit those passages from their main text.
The New King James Version (NKJV), though a modern English revision, retains the same Textus Receptus base as the KJB and therefore generally includes the same verses. The table below catalogs the most significant passages present in the KJB that are omitted — either entirely or with footnotes indicating textual uncertainty — in major modern translations.
Bible Version Reference
Abbreviation |
Full Name & Year |
Textual Basis |
KJV 1611 |
King James Version (1611) |
Textus Receptus (Greek), Masoretic Text (Hebrew) |
NIV |
New International Version (2011) |
Eclectic critical text (NA28/UBS5) |
ESV |
English Standard Version (2016) |
Eclectic critical text (NA28/UBS5) |
NASB |
New American Standard Bible (2020) |
Eclectic critical text (NA28/UBS5) |
NLT |
New Living Translation (2015) |
Eclectic critical text |
NRSV |
New Revised Standard Version (1989) |
Eclectic critical text (NA27) |
NKJV |
New King James Version (1982) |
Textus Receptus (Greek), Masoretic Text (Hebrew) |
Key to Table Symbols
Symbol / Term |
Meaning |
Included |
Verse/passage is present in the translation text |
OMITTED |
Verse/passage is entirely absent from the translation |
OMITTED(footnote) |
Omitted from text but referenced in a footnote |
Included (brackets) |
Present in translation but enclosed in brackets indicating textual uncertainty |
Comparative Verse Study
The following table presents 25 significant passages from the New Testament that appear in the KJB 1611 but are absent or marked uncertain in one or more major modern translations. Each row shows the KJB content of the verse, the status in each compared version, and a brief note on the manuscript evidence.
Scripture Reference |
KJB 1611 Content |
NIV |
ESV |
NASB |
NLT |
NRSV |
NKJV |
Manuscript Notes |
Matthew 5:44b |
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Partial verse omitted; included in some form only in KJB/NKJV |
Matthew 6:13b |
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Doxology absent from oldest manuscripts; retained in KJB/NKJV |
Matthew 12:47 |
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without... |
Included |
OMITTED (brackets) |
OMITTED (brackets) |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Absent from some key manuscripts; ESV/NASB bracket it |
Matthew 17:21 |
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest Greek manuscripts |
Matthew 18:11 |
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Parallels Luke 19:10; absent from older manuscripts |
Matthew 21:44 |
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken... |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
Questioned in a few manuscripts; generally retained |
Matthew 23:14 |
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses... |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts; parallels Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47 |
Mark 7:16 |
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Not found in oldest manuscripts |
Mark 9:44 |
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Repetition of v.48; absent from earliest texts |
Mark 9:46 |
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Repetition of v.48; absent from earliest texts |
Mark 11:26 |
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts |
Mark 15:28 |
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from most reliable manuscripts |
Mark 16:9–20 |
The longer ending of Mark (resurrection appearances). |
Included (bracketed) |
Included (brackets) |
Included (brackets) |
Included (note) |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus); major textual issue |
Luke 17:36 |
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Parallels Matthew 24:40; absent from oldest Luke manuscripts |
Luke 22:43–44 |
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven...sweat as it were great drops of blood. |
Included (brackets) |
Included (brackets) |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
Absent from some manuscripts; most versions note uncertainty |
Luke 23:17 |
For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts; parallels Matt 27:15, Mark 15:6 |
Luke 24:12 |
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre... |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
NRSV brackets; generally accepted by modern versions |
John 5:3b–4 |
...waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season... |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Angel stirring the water; absent from oldest manuscripts |
John 7:53–8:11 |
The woman caught in adultery (Pericope Adulterae). |
Included (brackets) |
Included (brackets) |
Included (brackets) |
Included |
Included (footnote) |
Included |
Absent from earliest manuscripts; widely considered a later addition |
Acts 8:37 |
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest... |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included (footnote) |
Ethiopian eunuch's confession; absent from oldest manuscripts |
Acts 15:34 |
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts |
Acts 24:6b–8a |
...and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us... |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts |
Acts 28:29 |
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts |
Romans 16:24 |
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Absent from oldest manuscripts; benediction repeated from v.20 |
1 John 5:7b–8a |
...the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth... |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED (footnote) |
OMITTED |
OMITTED |
Included |
Comma Johanneum — absent from all early Greek manuscripts; widely regarded as a later Latin addition |
Colossians 1:14 |
in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: |
OMITTED Blood (footnote) |
OMITTED Blood (footnote) |
OMITTED Blood (footnote) |
OMITTED Blood |
OMITTED Blood |
Included |
Comma Johanneum — absent from all early Greek manuscripts; widely regarded as a later Latin addition |
Summary Observations
1. The NKJV most closely mirrors the KJB 1611 in verse inclusion, retaining all passages listed above.
2. The NIV, ESV, NASB, and NLT omit the majority of disputed passages from their main text, often relegating them to footnotes.
3. The NRSV frequently uses square brackets to signal textual uncertainty rather than removing verses entirely.
4. The single most significant textual difference is Mark 16:9–20, the longer ending of Mark, absent from the two oldest complete New Testament manuscripts (Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus).
5. 1 John 5:7b–8a (the Comma Johanneum) represents the most doctrinally debated omission — the only explicit Trinitarian formula in the New Testament — absent from all early Greek manuscripts.
6. Whether a reader prefers the KJB/NKJV tradition (Textus Receptus) or modern critical-text translations, both represent sincere scholarly efforts to faithfully transmit the Word of God.
This study is intended for educational, devotional, and comparative research purposes. Readers are encouraged to consult multiple translations and Bible commentaries for a fuller understanding.
