List of Verses where NKJV changes the meaning of the KJB

In case you thought the NKJV was just the KJV with updated language, you were wrong. Note- this list is not exhaustive. Just a brief overview, updated every now and then with more verses.

KJV > NKJV corruption


Genesis 1:1 KJV > Genesis 1:1 NKJV
(heaven > heavens)

Genesis 1:2 KJV > Genesis 1:2 NKJV
(moved upon > was hovering over)

Genesis 1:28 KJV > Genesis 1:28 NKJV
(replenish the earth > fill the earth)

Genesis 2:7 KJV > Genesis 2:7 NKJV
(man became a living soul > man became a living being)

Genesis 2:13 KJV > Genesis 2:13 NKJV
(the whole land of Ethiopia > the whole land of Cush)

Genesis 2:18 KJV > Genesis 2:18 NKJV
(I will make him a help meet for him > I will make him a helper comparable to him

Genesis 3:4 KJV > Genesis 3:4 NKJV
(in the day ye eat > in the day you eat)
Loss of clarity… “ye” = both Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:5 KJV > Genesis 3:5 NKJV
(as gods > like God)

Genesis 5:2 KJV > Genesis 5:2 NKJV
(and called their name Adam > and called them Mankind)

Genesis 10:11 KJV > Genesis 10:11 NKJV
(Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh > From that land he [Nimrod] went to Assyria and built Nineveh)

Genesis 21:33 KJV > Genesis 21:33 NKJV
(Abraham planted a grove > Abraham planted a tamarisk tree)

Genesis 20:16 KJV > Genesis 20:16 NKJV
(behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, > indeed this vindicates you)

Genesis 22:8 KJV > Genesis 22:8 NKJV
(God will provide himself a lamb > God will provide for Himself the lamb)

Genesis 22:17 KJV > Genesis 22:17 NKJV
(thy seed* shall possess the gate of his* enemies > your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.)
*Prophecy of Jesus Christ. See Galatians 3:16

Genesis 24:47 KJV > Genesis 24:47 NKJV
(earring upon her face, > nose ring on her nose)

Genesis 35:4 KJV > Genesis 35:4 NKJV
(the oak > the terebinth tree)

Genesis 36:24 KJV > Genesis 36:24 NKJV
(found the mules > found the water)

Genesis 49:6 KJV > Genesis 49:6 NKJV
(their secret … they digged down a wall. > their council … they hamstrung an ox.)


Exodus 6:3 KJV > Exodus 6:3 NKJV
(JEHOVAH > LORD)

Exodus 15:2 KJV > Exodus 15:2 NKJV
(I will prepare him an habitation; > I will praise Him;)

Exodus 22:28 KJV > Exodus 22:28 NKJV
(Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. > You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.)


Leviticus 18:4 KJV > Leviticus 18:4 NKJV
(Ye shall do my judgments > You shall observe My judgments)


Numbers 11:25 KJV > Numbers 11:25 NKJV
(they prophesied, and did not cease. > they prophesied, although they never did so again.)


Deuteronomy 16:21 KJV > Deuteronomy 16:21 NKJV
(a grove of any trees > any tree, as a wooden image,)

Deuteronomy 23:17 KJV > Deuteronomy 23:17 NKJV
(There shall be no whore … nor a sodomite > There shall be no ritual harlot … or a perverted one)


Judges 15:19 KJV > Judges 15:19 NKJV
(God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, > God split the hollow place that is in Lehi,)


1 Samuel 20:30 KJV > 1 Samuel 20:30 NKJV
(to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion > to your own shame and to the shame)


2 Samuel 5:21 KJV > 2 Samuel 5:21 NKJV
(burned them > carried them away)

2 Samuel 14:14 KJV > 2 Samuel 14:14 NKJV
(neither doth God respect any person > Yet God does not take away a life)


2 Kings 23:29 KJV > 2 Kings 23:29 NKJV
(went up against > went to the aid)


Psalm 4:4 KJV > Psalm 4:4 NKJV
(Stand in awe > Be angry)

Psalm 83:18 KJV > Psalm 83:18 NKJV
(JEHOVAH > the LORD)

Psalm 119:160 KJV > Psalm 119:160 NKJV
(Thy word is true from the beginning > The entirety of Your word is truth)


Proverbs 18:1 KJV > Proverbs 18:1 NKJV
(seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom > rages against all wise judgment.)

Proverbs 19:18 KJV > Proverbs 19:18 NKJV
(let not thy soul spare for his crying > do not set your heart on his destruction)

Proverbs 22:12 KJV > Proverbs 22:12 NKJV
(transgressor > faithless)


Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV > Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV
(he hath set the world in their heart > He has put eternity in their hearts)


Isaiah 7:14 KJV > Isaiah 7:14 NKJV
(a virgin > the virgin)

Isaiah 12:2 KJV > Isaiah 12:2 NKJV
(the LORD JEHOVAH > YAH, the LORD)

Isaiah 26:4 KJV > Isaiah 26:4 NKJV
(the LORD JEHOVAH > YAH, the LORD)


Hosea 11:12 KJV > Hosea 11:12 NKJV
(ruleth with God > walks with God)


Matthew 1:23 KJV > Matthew 1:23 NKJV
(a virgin > the virgin)

Matthew 2:12 KJV > Matthew 2:12 NKJV
(warned of God in a dream > divinely warned in a dream)

Matthew 7:14 KJV > Matthew 7:14 NKJV
(narrow > difficult)

Matthew 12:40 KJV > Matthew 12:40 NKJV
(whale > fish)

Matthew 23:10 KJV > Matthew 23:10 NKJV
(masters, Master > teachers, Teacher)


Luke 11:4 KJV > Luke 11:4 NKJV
(deliver us from evil > deliver us from the evil one)


John 1:3 KJV > John 1:3 NKJV
(by > through)

John 3:20 KJV > John 3:20 NKJV
(reproved > exposed)

John 4:24 KJV > John 4:24 NKJV
(God is a Spirit > God is Spirit) (in spirit and in truth > in spirit and truth)

John 4:32,4 KJV > John 4:32,4 NKJV
(meat > food)

John 8:35 KJV > John 8:35 NKJV
(the Son abideth ever > a son abides forever)

John 14:16 KJV > John 14:16 NKJV
(Comforter > Helper)


Acts 3:26 KJV > Acts 3:26 NKJV
(Son > Servant)

Acts 17:11 KJV > Acts 17:11 NKJV
(noble > fair-minded) (readiness of mind > readiness)

Acts 17:22 KJV > Acts 17:22 NKJV
(superstitious > religious)


Romans 8:24 KJV > Romans 8:24 NKJV
(are saved > were saved)


1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV > 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV
(are saved > are being saved)

1 Corinthians 15:2 KJV > 1 Corinthians 15:2 NKJV
(keep in memory > hold fast that word)


2 Corinthians 2:15 KJV > 2 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV
(are saved > are being saved)

2 Corinthians 4:14 KJV > 2 Corinthians 4:14 NKJV
(raise up us also by Jesus > also raise us up with Jesus)


Ephesians 2:5 KJV > Ephesians 2:5 NKJV
(are saved > have been saved)

Ephesians 3:9 KJV > Ephesians 3:9 NKJV
(by > through)


Colossians 1:16 KJV > Colossians 1:16 NKJV
(by > through)


2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV > 2 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV
(he > He)

2 Thessalonians 2:8 KJV > 2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV
(that Wicked > the lawless one)


1 Timothy 6:10 KJV > 1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV
(all evil > all kinds of evil)


2 Timothy 2:15 KJV > 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV
(Study > Be diligent)


Titus 2:4 KJV > Titus 2:4 NKJV
(teach > admonish) (to be sober > removed)


James 5:16 KJV > James 5:16 NKJV
(faults > trespasses)


1 John 3:16 KJV > 1 John 3:16 NKJV
(the love of God > love)


Revelation 3:10 KJV > Revelation 3:10 NKJV
(the word of my patience > My command to persevere)

Revelation 4:1 KJV > Revelation 4:1 NKJV
(a door was opened > a door standing open)

Revelation 13:16 KJV > Revelation 13:16 NKJV
(in their right hand… foreheads > on their right hand… foreheads)


Have any to add?
Please email them to Brandon at: peterson6x@gmail.com