A New Look at the 1560 Geneva Bible

After reading some of GenevanBaptist's claims concerning the Geneva Bible, I am again re-examining my edition of it. In recent years I had looked through much of the Geneva Bible for places where the Geneva Bible and the NKJV were in basic agreement while the KJV differed, compiling over 50 pages of examples. In some of those examples when compared to the preserved Scriptures in the original languages, the renderings in the Geneva Bible and in the NKJV could be considered better than those in the KJV.

Now I am looking at places where the Geneva Bible is different from both the KJV and the NKJV. I have found some interesting differences. Here are some examples from the NT book of Luke and the book of Acts.

Would the Geneva Bible's rendering "amend your lives" instead of "repent" relate to the matter of the doctrine of salvation?

Luke 2:5 Marie (Geneva) Mary (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:7 first begotten son (Geneva) firstborn son (KJV) firstborn Son (NKJV)

Luke 2:12 cratch (Geneva) manger (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:13 heavenly soldiers (Geneva) heavenly host (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:14 in the high heavens (Geneva) in the highest (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:16 Marie (Geneva) Mary (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:16 cratch (Geneva) manger (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 2:24 oblation (Geneva) sacrifice (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 3:8 worthy amendment of life (Geneva) worthy of repentance (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 4:5 in the twinkling of an eye (Geneva) in a moment of time (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 4:36 foul spirits (Geneva) unclean spirits (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 5:9 utterly atonied (Geneva) astonished (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 6:46 Master, Master (Geneva) Lord, Lord (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 10:39 Marie (Geneva) Mary (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 11:1 Master (Geneva) Lord (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 12:31 ministered (Geneva) added (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 12:41 Master (Geneva) Lord (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 13:3 amend your lives (Geneva) repent (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 13:5 amend your lives (Geneva) repent (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 15:14 dearth (Geneva) famine (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 15:23 fat calf (Geneva) fatted calf (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 15:25 heard melody (Geneva) heard musick (KJV) heard music (NKJV)

Luke 16:30 amend their lives (Geneva) repent (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 21:4 superfluity (Geneva) abundance (KJV, NKJV)

Luke 24:4 shining vestures (Geneva) shining garments (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 2:38 Amend your lives (Geneva) Repent (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 3:15 Lord of life (Geneva) Prince of life (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 3:19 Amend your lives (Geneva) Repent (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 6:14 Nazaret (Geneva) Nazareth (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 7:16 son of Sychem (Geneva) father of Sychem (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 8:2 certain men fearing God (Geneva) devout men (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 10:7 soldier that feared God (Geneva) devout soldier (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 10:10 waxed he an hungred (Geneva) he became very hungry (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 15:37 counseled (Geneva) determined (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 17:14 by and by (Geneva) immediately (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 17:19 Mars street (Geneva) Aropagus (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 18:4 disputed (Geneva) reasoned (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 19:32 assembly was out of order (Geneva) assembly was confused (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 21:8 the seven Deacons (Geneva) the seven (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 21:35 grieces (Geneva) stairs (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 24:3 We acknowledge it wholly (Geneva) We accept it always (KJV, NKJV)

Acts 26:20 do works worthy amendment of life (Geneva) works meet for repentance (KJV) works befitting repentance (NKJV)

 

Here are examples of interesting differences between the Geneva Bible and the KJV in the book of Proverbs.

Prov. 1:1 parables of Salomon (Geneva) proverbs of Solomon (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 1:6 a parable (Geneva) a proverb (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 1:17 without cause (Geneva) in vain (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 1:22 foolish (Geneva) simple ones (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 1:32 the foolish (Geneva) the simple (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 4:7 the beginning (Geneva) the principal thing (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 5:2 counsel (Geneva) discretion (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 6:1 neighbour (Geneva) friend (KJV, NKJV)

Ps. 6:6 pismire (Geneva) ant (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 6:15 destruction (Geneva) calamity (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 6:17 haughty eyes (Geneva) proud look (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 6:23 lantern (Geneva) lamp (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 7:20 silver (Geneva) money (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 8:5 foolish men (Geneva) simple (KJV) simple ones (NKJV)

Prov. 9:5 my meat (Geneva) my bread (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 9:13 troublesome (Geneva) clamorous (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 10:7 memorial (Geneva) memory (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 10:18 dissembleth hatred (Geneva) hideth hatred (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 11:25 person (Geneva) soul (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 12:7 God overthroweth the wicked (Geneva) The wicked are overthrown (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 12:27 The deceitful man (Geneva) The slothful man (KJV) The lazy man (NKJV)

Prov. 13:9 candle (Geneva) lamp (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 13:14 instruction (Geneva) law (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 14:15 The foolish (Geneva) The simple (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 14:18 The foolish (Geneva) The simple (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 14:34 Justice (Geneva) Righteousness (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 15:15 a good conscience (Geneva) he that is of a merry heart (KJV) he who is of a merry heart (NKJV)

Prov. 16:27 A wicked man (Geneva) An ungodly man (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 17:11 A sedicious person (Geneva) An evil man (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 18:15 A wise heart (Geneva) The heart of the prudent (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 20:29 beauty of young men (Geneva) glory of young men (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 20:29 glory of the aged (Geneva) beauty of old men (KJV) splendor of old men (NKJV)

Prov. 21:4 light of the wicked (Geneva) plowing of the wicked (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 21:11 the foolish (Geneva) the simple (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 21:12 teacheth (Geneva) considereth (KJV) considers (NKJV)

Prov. 22:3 seeth the plague (Geneva) forseeth the evil (KJV) foresees evil (NKJV)

Prov. 22:25 destruction (Geneva) a snare (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 25:1 parables (Geneva) proverbs (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 26:10 The excellent (Geneva) The great God (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 27:6 wounds of a lover (Geneva) wounds of a friend (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 27:20 The grave (Geneva) Hell (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 31:10 the pearls (Geneva) rubies (KJV, NKJV)

 

Some differences in the names for God or names of God between the Geneva Bible and the KJV:

Gen. 17:1 God all sufficient (Geneva) the Almighty God (KJV) Almighty God (NKJV)

Gen. 19:13 before the Lord (Geneva) before the face of the LORD (KJV, NKJV)

Gen. 23:6 a prince of God (Geneva) a mighty prince (KJV, NKJV)

Gen. 24:3 by the Lord God of the heaven (Geneva) by the LORD, the God of heaven (KJV, NKJV)

Gen. 28:3 God all sufficient (Geneva) God Almighty (KJV, NKJV)

Gen. 33:20 The mighty God of Israel (Geneva) El-elohe-Israel (KJV) El Elohe Israel (NKJV)

Gen. 35:7 The God of Bethel (Geneva) El-beth-el (KJV) El Bethel (NKJV)

Gen. 35:11 God all sufficient (Geneva) God Almighty (KJV, NKJV)

Exod. 15:3 his Name is Jehovah (Geneva) the LORD is his name (KJV) The LORD is His name (NKJV)

Deut. 31:23 And God (Geneva) And he (KJV) Then He (NKJV)

Deut. 32:4 the mighty God (Geneva) the Rock (KJV, NKJV)

Deut. 32:15 the strong God (Geneva) the Rock (KJV, NKJV)

Deut. 32:18 the mighty God (Geneva) the Rock (KJV, NKJV)

Deut. 32:30 their strong God (Geneva) their Rock (KJV, NKJV)

Deut. 32:31 For their god (Geneva) For their rock (KJV, NKJV)

Deut. 32:31 our God (Geneva) our Rock (KJV, NKJV)

Jud. 7:18 say, For the Lord (Geneva) say, The sword of the LORD (KJV, NKJV)

1 Sam. 2:2 no God like our God (Geneva) any rock like our God (KJV, NKJV)

1 Sam. 14:15 it was stricken with fear by God (Geneva) it was a very great trembling (KJV, NKJV)

1 Sam. 20:9 God keep that from thee (Geneva) Far be it from thee (KJV) Far be it from you (NKJV)

1 Kings 1:31 God save my lord King David for ever (Geneva) Let my lord king David live for ever (KJV) Let my lord King David live forever (NKJV)

Neh. 2:3 God save the King (Geneva) Let the king live (KJV) May the king live (NKJV)

Job 30:11 Because that God (Geneva) Because he (KJV) Because He (NKJV)

Ps. 2:2 his Christ (Geneva) his anointed (KJV) His Anointed (NKJV)

Ps. 118:27 The Lord is mighty (Geneva) God is the LORD (KJV, NKJV)

Prov. 12:7 God overthroweth the wicked (Geneva) The wicked are overthrown (KJV, NKJV)

Isa. 1:24 Lord God of hosts (Geneva) the Lord, the LORD of hosts (KJV, NKJV)

Isa. 3:1 the Lord God of hosts (Geneva) the Lord, the LORD of hosts (KJV, NKJV)

Isa. 10:33 the Lord God of hosts (Geneva) the Lord, the LORD of hosts (KJV, NKJV)

Isa. 17:10 God of thy strength (Geneva) rock of thy strength (KJV) Rock of your stronghold (NKJV)

Jer. 10:10 the God of truth (Geneva) the true God (KJV, NKJV)

Ezek. 8:3 Divine vision (Geneva) visions of God (KJV, NKJV)

Ezek. 40:2 a divine vision (Geneva) the visions of God (KJV, NKJV)