King James Changed The Original Text Of The Bible To Control The English People & Hunt Witches

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The King James Bible, first published in 1611, quickly became the standard English translation of the Bible. However, numerous errors and mistranslations in the King James Version significantly altered the original text's meaning. For instance, a 1631 edition instructed people to commit adultery. Yes, you read that correctly.

The Bible has evolved over time, much like how depictions of Jesus have gradually become whiter. Each translation of the Bible introduces new changes, and the King James Bible is no exception.

It contains multiple mistranslations, errors, and other issues. Have you heard of the Holy Ghost? That's a translation error – it should be the Holy Spirit. The translation is always challenging, especially when the translators are unfamiliar with the original text's dialect, as with the King James Bible.

Time reports that the King James Bible was created in the early 17th century to appease England's Puritans, making it a highly political text. The King James Bible also includes fantastical creatures that seemed plausible in 1611, such as unicorns and giants.

It also condemns witches, whom King James despised and personally tortured – but who are not considered a significant threat today.

Who Was The King James?

King James I of England (or King James VI of Scotland before his cousin Queen Elizabeth I died) was the first Stuart king of England. He ascended to the throne during a tense religious period. The Reformation was ongoing, and his two predecessors, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary), had both engaged in religious persecutions.

Mary executed at least 250 Protestants, while Elizabeth banned Catholic Mass and confiscated the possessions of anyone found with a rosary.

By the time James became king, members of the Church of England who found existing versions inaccurate and insufficient were actively requesting a new English translation.

James approved a new translation of the Bible, a text Anglicans could more easily accept. To accomplish this, he commissioned a new version. Forty-seven Anglican scholars from Westminster, Cambridge, and Oxford, supervised by Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bancroft, were organized to translate the text.

The Goal Of The King James Bible Was Deeply Political

King James aimed to protect Britain from a religious war that devastated France and Germany in the 16th century. He appointed a committee of 54 scholars and clergymen to write the King James Bible to achieve this. It took them over seven years to finish the translation.

As writer and editor Charles McGrath notes, "From the beginning, the King James Bible was meant to be not a literary work but a political and theological compromise between the established church and the growing Puritan movement."

Essentially, James wanted a clear text with no room for doctrinal argument. However, the King James Bible still has several mistranslations that have puzzled readers for centuries.

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Minor Changes Like Removing A Comma Made Jesus Seem Like A Criminal

Translating the Bible is a huge task. The King James version of the Bible has 783,137 words, and the committee had to debate every single word. Even punctuation could significantly affect how people understood Scripture. Just consider the "blasphemous comma."

In some editions of the King James Bible, a single comma was removed that made Jesus appear like a criminal. In Luke 23:32 (NIV), the text should read, "And there were also two others, malefactors led with [Jesus] to be put to death."

But some editions dropped the comma, creating a blasphemous implication: "And there were also two other malefactors led with [Jesus]," making it seem like Jesus was also a criminal leading a criminal duo.

The King James Bible Really Confused Unicorn Enthusiasts

In 1611, no one was quite sure if unicorns were real. In his influential Histories of the Animals, 16th-century naturalist Conrad Gesner included unicorns. Gesner even gave readers tips on how to tell real unicorn horns from fake ones.

The King James Bible mentions unicorns nine times, such as when Isaiah 34:7 (NIV) warns about the doom coming to the enemies of God's church: "And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood."

The term is a mistranslation from the Hebrew re'em, which has also been translated as rhinoceros, wild ox, oryx, or aurochs. For over 400 years, readers of the King James Bible have been waiting for unicorns because of a mistranslation.

The "Wicked Bible" Told Men To Commit Adultery

In one 1631 edition of the King James Bible, a printing error completely changed the Ten Commandments. Instead of the usual – thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal – this Bible left out one critical word. It commanded, "Thou shalt commit adultery." Oops!

The printer, Robert Barker, was heavily fined, and his printing license was revoked. King Charles I ordered all 1,000 copies of the so-called "Wicked Bible" to be burned. Only about 10 copies remain; in 2015, one sold for over $40,000.

The Holy Ghost Was Never Supposed To Be A Ghost

In Matthew 28:19 (KJV), Jesus told his followers to spread his message and baptize new Christians "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

There's just one problem: the Greek New Testament never mentions a ghost. Instead, it uses the word pneuma, meaning breath or spirit. But the King James Bible translated pneuma as a ghost instead.

This likely happened because the translators of the King James Bible used various manuscript sources, including Latin versions of the New Testament. For instance, the Latin Vulgate used Spiritu Sancto, which some English translations rendered as Holy Ghost.

Jesus Orders Men To Hate Their Mothers & Fathers

Because the Greek New Testament was written in Koine Greek, certain words were mistranslated, leading to significant misunderstandings over the centuries! One of the trickiest words in this context is the Greek term "miseo."

The King James Bible translates this as “hate,” which has sparked considerable controversy and confusion. Take, for instance, Luke 14:26 (KJV). In this verse, Jesus appears to tell his followers, “If any man comes to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

It sounds so harsh and contrary to the message of love that Jesus preached! But wait, there's more to the story. Scholars of Koine Greek have delved deep into ancient texts and discovered that "miseo" does not entirely mean “hate” as we understand it today. Instead, it implies a sense of separation from, or to prefer less. This changes everything!

Imagine the relief and clarity this brings. Jesus was not advocating for hatred towards family members. Instead, he emphasized the importance of prioritizing one's spiritual journey and commitment to him. This interpretation aligns much better with the teachings of love, compassion, and self-sacrifice that Jesus is known for.

It’s like unveiling a hidden layer of meaning that brings us closer to the true essence of his teachings. Isn’t it fascinating how a single word can dramatically alter our understanding? This revelation underscores the importance of accurate translations and deep scholarly research in uncovering the actual messages within sacred texts.

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King James Hated Witches, Making Sure The Bible Reflected That Belief

One of the most famous lines of the King James Bible – at least in witchcraft studies – is Exodus 22:18 (KJV), “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

This potent verse fueled the fires of England's major witch hunts, casting a dark shadow over history. The notorious Witch-Finder General, Matthew Hopkins, wielded this line like a weapon, emblazoning it boldly on the front of his pamphlet about catching witches.

During the tumultuous 1640s, amidst the chaos of England's Civil War, Hopkins became an unstoppable force, single-handedly responsible for the deaths of 300 people. He justified his grim crusade with the authority of the King James Bible, using religious fervor to hunt and execute those he deemed witches.

But here's the twist that changes everything: the entire basis for these horrific acts was a mistranslation! The original Hebrew word "mekhashepha." didn't necessarily mean "witch" in the sense Hopkins understood.

Imagine the shockwaves through history if this mistranslation had been corrected sooner! The tragedy and terror of those dark times might have been averted. This revelation offers a powerful reminder of how critical and accurate translations are and how devastating misunderstandings can be when cloaked in religious justification.

The story of Exodus 22:18 (KJV) and Matthew Hopkins serves as a chilling testament to the perils of fanaticism and the importance of questioning and understanding our sources.

The Bible Warns Against Poisoners; Witches Are Never Mentioned

Isn't it fascinating how words evolve over time and across cultures? Take, for example, the Hebrew phrase mekhashepha. When Jewish sages around the 3rd century BCE translated the Old Testament into Greek, they rendered mekhashepha as pharmakeia, which meant herbalist or posioner.

Both terms describe someone who was a herbalist or a poisoner, not a witch. Fast forward to the 17th century, and we find ourselves in the throes of the European witch trials, an era marked by a heightened fear of witchcraft.

During this tumultuous period, the King James Bible was being translated. The translators, influenced by their contemporary context where witches were often accused of invisible killings—similar to poisoners—chose to translate mekhashepha and pharmakeia as "witches."

This choice forever altered our understanding of ancient texts! Imagine how different our cultural narrative around witches might have been if the translators had stuck with "herbalist" or "poisoner."

The term "witch" carries with it a heavy burden of superstition, fear, and persecution. Yet, at its root, it simply referred to someone who dealt with herbs and potentially poisons.

The King James Bible's translation decision was a product of its time, influenced by societal fears and the infamous witch hunts. Incredibly, a single translation decision could have lasting implications on our understanding of history and culture!

King James Had A Reason To Hate Witches

In 1590, King James of Scotland embarked on a crusade against witches that would become infamous in history! Convinced that witches had summoned a storm to threaten his life while aboard a ship with his new wife, James saw this as an act of treason.

Fueled by this conviction, he ordered the arrest of dozens of suspected witches, casting a dark shadow over Scotland. The drama heightened when one of the main suspects, Agnes Sampson, was seized and locked up in James' castle. The intensity of the situation skyrocketed as King James personally interrogated Agnes, delighting in her torture.

She was shaved, and her head was brutally wrenched with a rope while the King watched with "great delight." This grim spectacle was only part of James' broader obsession with witchcraft, culminating in his famous literary work, Daemonologie.

This book codified his beliefs and served as a guide for future witch hunts. The paranoia and zeal with which King James pursued alleged witches is a riveting chapter in history, blending royal intrigue with supernatural fears.

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King James Bible Warns About Giant Humans That 'Roam The Earth'

According to the King James Bible, giant humans once roamed the Earth! Genesis 6:4 (KJV) states, “There were giants in the earth in those days,” sparking imaginations and fueling countless legends.

But wait, hold onto your hats because there's a twist! The word “giants” is actually a mistranslation of the Hebrew term “N’filim,” which means “fallen ones.” This little mix-up led many to believe that fossils and even notorious hoaxes like the Cardiff Giant were remnants of these colossal beings.

People were convinced these fossils were the remains of biblical giants swept away by the great flood described in the Bible.

Scholars and the curious-minded alike debated and speculated about these supposed giants for years. Some even argued that fossils of large prehistoric creatures were evidence of these ancient beings annihilated by the cataclysmic flood.

Some hailed the Cardiff Giant, a famous 19th-century hoax, as proof of these biblical giants’ existence. However, there’s a significant catch – the original texts don’t mention giants at all!

That’s right; it was all a colossal misunderstanding! The actual Hebrew texts refer to "fallen ones," not giants. This revelation turns the story on its head and adds a thrilling twist to biblical interpretation and historical lore.

King James Bible Is The Most Quoted English Book

The King James Bible, written in 1611, was a monumental effort to prevent religious wars in England! It was commissioned by King James I to unify the diverse religious factions under one authoritative Scripture.

However, despite its noble intentions, it didn't quite achieve its goal. By the 1640s, England found itself embroiled in a brutal civil war that pitted Puritans and other religious minority groups against the Anglicans.

This was precisely the type of conflict King James had hoped to avoid! Yet, despite this turbulent history, the King James Bible has endured for over 400 years and has proven itself to be the most influential translation of the Bible into English.

Phrases like “Charity vaunteth not itself” seem like relics from another time, almost as if they haven’t been updated for centuries.

The King James Bible's unique linguistic style has enormously impacted English literature and culture, influencing everything from Shakespeare to contemporary writers. It's as if this ancient text carries a timeless quality that resonates deeply, even if navigating its language can feel like deciphering a historical puzzle.

So, while the King James Bible may not have succeeded in its original mission to prevent religious strife, its legacy as a cornerstone of English-speaking Christianity is undeniable. It is a testament to the enduring power of the written word and its ability to shape cultures and societies for generations to come!

Over 400 years later, the King James Version of the Bible is one of the bestselling books in history and the most quoted book in the English language.

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