Should all archaic words have been left in text of KJV?

It was a list that I made from my comparison of the pre-1611 English Bibles and the KJV. It is not a complete list since I keep finding more examples. I copy information from my own computer from my study and research.

 

I have found over 30 pages of examples where the KJV makes simpler, revised, or updated renderings in the 1568 Bishops' Bible. Some of those updated renderings likely came from the 1560 Geneva Bible. Here are examples from 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.

2 Kings 2:1 And it chanced (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Kings 2:8 part the one way (Bishops) hither (KJV)
2 Kings 2:9 ere I be taken away (Bishops) before I be taken away (KJV)
2 Kings 2:11 And it fortuned (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Kings 3:19 every good plat of ground (Bishops) every good piece of land (KJV)
2 Kings 3:21 was able to put on harness (Bishops) were able to put on armour (KJV)
2 Kings 4:1 to fet my two sons (Bishops) to take unto him my two sons (KJV)
2 Kings 4:28 did I not require thee (Bishops) did I not say (KJV)
2 Kings 4:11 And it fortuned on a day (Bishops) And it fell on a day (KJV)
2 Kings 5:1 given health unto Syria (Bishops) given deliverance unto Syria (KJV)
2 Kings 6:9 Syrians are lurking (Bishops) Syrians are come down (KJV)
2 Kings 6:25 great dearth (Bishops) great famine (KJV)
2 Kings 6:27 do not succour thee (Bishops) do not help thee (KJV)
2 Kings 6:32 Be circumspect when the messenger (Bishops) Look when the messenger (KJV)
2 Kings 7:10 as they were wont to be (Bishops) as they were (KJV)
2 Kings 9:4 gat him to Ramoth Gilead (Bishops) went to Ramoth-gilead (KJV)
2 Kings 9:16 Jehu gat up into a charet (Bishops) he arose (KJV)
2 Kings 10:2 and harness (Bishops) and armour (KJV)
2 Kings 10:7 threescore and ten (Bishops) seventy (KJV)
2 Kings 10:15 coming against him (Bishops) coming to meet him (KJV)
2 Kings 13:17 arrow of health against Syria (Bishops) arrow of deliverance from Syria (KJV)
2 Kings 15:19 stablish the kingdom (Bishops) confirm the kingdom (KJV)
2 Kings 17:5 and gat up against Samaria (Bishops) and went up to Samaria (KJV)
2 Kings 17:14 like to the stubbornness of their fathers (Bishops)
like to the neck of their fathers (KJV)
2 Kings 18:4 all to brake the brasen serpent (Bishops) brake in pieces the brasen serpent (KJV)
2 Kings 18:8 the coasts (Bishops) the borders (KJV)
2 Kings 18:17 gat them up and stood (Bishops) came and stood (KJV)
2 Kings 19:4 Peradventure (Bishops) It may be (KJV)
2 Kings 19:12 mine ancestors (Bishops) my fathers (KJV)
2 Kings 19:23 lusty fir trees (Bishops) choice fir trees (KJV)
2 Kings 19:26 the inhabiters of them (Bishops) their inhabitants (KJV)
2 Kings 21:6 tellers of fortunes (Bishops) wizards (KJV)

2 Kings 21:16 replenished Hierusalem (Bishops) filled Jerusalem (KJV)
2 Kings 22:11 And it fortuned (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Kings 22:19 thine heart did melt (Bishops) thine heart was tender (KJV)
2 Kings 23:4 the inferior priests (Bishops) priests of the second order (KJV)
2 Kings 24:15 his chamberlains (Bishops) his officers (KJV)
1 Chron. 4:41 And these now afore written (Bishops) And these written (KJV)
1 Chron. 5:18 exercised in war (Bishops) skilful in war (KJV)
1 Chron. 7:10 pavilions of the Syrians (Bishops) camp of the Syrians (KJV)
1 Chron. 10:4 his harness bearer (Bishops) his armourbearer (KJV)
1 Chron. 10:9 his harness (Bishops) his armour (KJV)
1 Chron. 10:10 his harness (Bishops) his armour (KJV)
1 Chron. 10:12 fet away the body (Bishops) took away the body (KJV)
1 Chron. 11:5 inhabiters (Bishops) inhabitants (KJV)
1 Chron. 13:11 was out of quiet (Bishops) was displeased (KJV)
1 Chron. 15:3 to fetch the ark (Bishops) to bring up the ark (KJV)
1 Chron. 15:3 ordained for it (Bishops) prepared for it (KJV)
1 Chron. 16:3 a flacket (Bishops) a flagon (KJV)
1 Chron. 17:1 And it fortuned (Bishops) Now it came to pass (KJV)
1 Chron. 17:11 stablish (Bishops) establish (KJV)
1 Chron. 19:13 let us play the men (Bishops) let us behave ourselves valiantly (KJV)
1 Chron. 19:15 gat them into the city (Bishops) entered into the city (KJV)
1 Chron. 28:1 chamberlains (Bishops) officers (KJV)
1 Chron. 28:10 play the man (Bishops) do it (KJV)
2 Chron. 1:1 waxed strong (Bishops) was strengthened (KJV)
2 Chron. 1:6 And Solomon gat up (Bishops) And Solomon went up (KJV)
2 Chron. 2:8 I wot (Bishops) I know (KJV)
2 Chron. 4:10 the great lavatory (Bishops) the sea (KJV)
2 Chron. 5:9 within the quier (Bishops) before the oracle (KJV)
2 Chron. 5:11 And it fortuned (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Chron. 10:16 all Israel gat them (Bishops) all Israel went (KJV)
2 Chron. 12:13 waxed mighty (Bishops) strengthened himself (KJV)
2 Chron. 13:3 pickt men (Bishops) chosen men (KJV)
2 Chron. 13:5 a salted covenant (Bishops) a covenant of salt (KJV)
2 Chron. 13:7 lewd men (Bishops) vain men (KJV)
2 Chron. 15:14 shawmes (Bishops) cornets (KJV)
2 Chron. 18:8 chamberlains (Bishops) officers (KJV)
2 Chron. 20:20 gat them out (Bishops) went forth (KJV)
2 Chron. 20:30 was in tranquility (Bishops) was quiet (KJV)
2 Chron. 24:6 the chiefest (Bishops) the chief (KJV)
2 Chron. 24:9 the taxation of money (Bishops) the collection (KJV)
2 Chron. 24:18 came the wrath of God (Bishops) wrath came (KJV)
2 Chron. 25:16 And it chanced (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Chron. 27:7 his conversation (Bishops) his ways (KJV)
2 Chron. 28:22 very time of his tribulation (Bishops) time of his distress (KJV)
2 Chron. 29:7 quenched the lamps (Bishops) put out the lamps (KJV)
2 Chron. 29:24 to make satisfaction (Bishops) to make an atonement (KJV)

2 Chron. 31:1 all to brake the high places (Bishops) threw down the high places (KJV)
2 Chron. 31:14 the things most holy (Bishops) the most holy things (KJV)
2 Chron. 32:11 shall rid us (Bishops) shall deliver us (KJV)
2 Chron. 32:27 And he gat him (Bishops) and he made himself (KJV)
2 Chron. 32:31 wonder that chanced (Bishops) wonder that was done (KJV)
2 Chron. 33:19 he was meekened (Bishops) he was humbled (KJV)
2 Chron. 33:23 had meekened (Bishops) had humbled (KJV)
2 Chron. 34:19 And it fortuned (Bishops) And it came to pass (KJV)
2 Chron. 34:20 For because (Bishops) because (KJV)
2 Chron. 34:27 weepedst before me (Bishops) weep before me (KJV)
2 Chron. 34:28 all the mischief (Bishops) all the evil (KJV)
2 Chron. 35:7 thirty thousand by tale (Bishops) number of thirty thousand (KJV)
2 Chron. 35:11 they slew passover (Bishops) they killed the passover (KJV)
2 Chron. 35:13 dressed the passover with fire (Bishops) roasted the passover with fire (KJV)
2 Chron. 35:19 holden (Bishops) kept (KJV)
2 Chron. 36:14 trespassed wonderfully (Bishops) transgressed very much (KJV)

 

Although the KJV could be said to have updated many renderings in the Bishops' Bible, the KJV kept also keep a good number renderings from the Bishops’ Bible at other places where another pre-1611 English Bible already had simpler, clearer, more up-to-date, or perhaps more accurate language. Therefore, the first rule given the KJV translators may be responsible for some of the words used with a now archaic or obscure meaning, some of the less clear or more difficult words, a couple possibly anachronistic words, or some of the archaic words that are found in the KJV. The updating or revising in the KJV could be considered inconsistent since words updated in a number of cases were not updated every time they were used in the pre-1611 English Bibles. It would be possible that the archaic words were overlooked in some cases or perhaps they were sometimes intentionally kept.


Here are some examples from the book of Genesis. Every earlier Bible that has a certain rendering is not always listed.


Gen. 1:28 fill (Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Geneva) replenish (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 9:1 fill (Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Matthew‘s) replenish (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 9:13 sign (Geneva) token (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 11:4 Come (Coverdale’s) Go to (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 11:28 where he was born (Coverdale’s, Matthew‘s) of his nativity (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 14:3 valley (Coverdale’s) vale (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 16:6 dealt roughly (Geneva) dealt hardly (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 19:1 in the evening (Geneva) at even (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 19:29 wherein (Geneva) in one of the which (Bishops’) in the which (KJV)
Gen. 21:26 know (Geneva) wot (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 22:1 prove (Geneva) tempt (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:5 What if (Geneva) peradventure (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:21 till he knew (Coverdale’s) to know (1599 Geneva) to wit (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:55 maid (Geneva) damsel (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:57 ask her consent (Geneva) inquire at her mouth (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:63 toward the evening (Geneva) at the eventide (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 24:64 lighted down from the camel (Geneva) lighted off the camel (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 25:7 seventy and five (Geneva) threescore and fifteen (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 27:15 clothes (Geneva) raiment (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 27:28 wheat (Geneva) corn (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 27:41 thought in his mind (Geneva) said in his heart (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 29:14 a month long (Coverdale’s) space of a month (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 31:29 yesterday (Coverdale’s) yesternight (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 31:42 yesterday (Coverdale’s) yesternight (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 34:22 to (Coverdale’s) for to (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 37:14 valley (Coverdale’s) vale (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 37:22 deliver (Geneva) rid (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 39:8 knoweth (Geneva) wotteth (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 40:4 prison (Coverdale’s) ward (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 41:5 full (Coverdale’s) rank (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 41:36 provision (Geneva) store (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 41:42 garments (Geneva) vestures (KJV)
Gen. 41:49 wheat (Geneva) corn (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 41:54 famine (Geneva) dearth (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 42:25 wheat (Geneva) corn (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 44:15 Know (Geneva) Wot (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 45:6 plowing (Coverdale’s) earing (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 46:15 These are (Coverdale’s) These be (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 46:27 seventy (Geneva) threescore and ten (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 47:29 near (Geneva) nigh (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 50:3 seventy (Geneva) threescore and ten (Bishops’, KJV)
Gen. 50:15 It may be (Geneva) peradventure (Bishops’, KJV)

 

Another factor to be considered at least in the New Testament is the fact of the influence of the 1582 Rheims New Testament on the KJV. At times the KJV may seem more archaic than the earlier pre-1611 English Bibles because of its use of Latin-based renderings taken from the 1582 Rheims. Perhaps surprisingly the 1582 Rheims actually could have contributed some more up-to-date renderings than found in the pre-1611 English Bibles in other cases.

Here are examples from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1:80 wilderness (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) deserts (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 6:49 fall of that house (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) ruin of that house (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 9:1 heal (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) cure (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 10:14 be easier (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) be more tolerable (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 12:26 remnant (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Geneva, Bishops’)
other (Coverdale’s) rest (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 12:27 royalty (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) glory (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 12:27 clothed (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) arrayed (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 12:29 ask (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) seek (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 14:28 perform (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) finish (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 15:14 dearth (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) famine (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 19:4 wild fig (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) sycomore (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 19:21 strait (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Geneva, Bishops’)
hard (Coverdale’s) austere (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 19:22 strait (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Geneva, Bishops’)
hard (Coverdale’s) austere (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 19:23 vantage (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) usury (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 21:4 superfluity (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Geneva, Bishops’)
excess (Coverdale’s) abundance (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 21:5 garnished (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) adorned (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 21:20 besieged (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) compassed (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 21:20 host (Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Bishops’)
soldiers (Whittingham’s, Geneva) army (Rheims) armies (KJV)
Luke 21:34 overcome (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Bishops’)
overlade (Coverdale’s) oppressed (Geneva) overcharged (Rheims, KJV)

Luke 22:30 seats (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) thrones (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 23:19 insurrection (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) sedition (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 23:32 evil doers (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) malefactors (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 23:39 evil doers (Tyndale’s to Bishops’) malefactors (Rheims, KJV)
Luke 24:8 remnant (Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Great, Whittingham’s, Geneva, Bishops’)
other (Coverdale’s) rest (Rheims, KJV)

 

I am not sure whether it would be accurate to say that "the KJV was the most modern English BV when it was made." It may be possible that it was in the most up-to-date English overall although either Tyndale's or the Geneva could possibly be ahead of it overall.

At least it is very obvious that Tyndale's, the Geneva Bible, or one of the other pre-1611 English Bibles used more up-to-date English in some renderings or in some verses than the KJV used.

 

What is the evidence that shows that the KJV translators used the rendering "unicorn" to mean "the wild ox?"

There was a picture of a unicorn in the 1611 edition of the KJV in the Royal Coat of Arms of King James I, and that picture was of the "mythical" beast.

In the 1680's or later at least one book or commentary maintained that the Hebrew word reem could have referred to some type "ox." A good number of Bible scholars from the 1700's until this day consider the Hebrew word reem to refer to "the wild ox." Identification of the Hebrew word reem with "the wild ox" is not evidence that the rendering "unicorn" was intended to mean "wild ox."