the english speakers understand Bible version of Kind James?

Question

Hello I have a bible in english I dont know if my question is right in this section but the english language that uses the kind james Bible version it's Middle English I think so .. well I am not english speaker, I speak spanish but I am learning english and I have a subject about history of the english language..this Bible version uses some words like Ye, Unto,Thee, Listeth,thereof,cometh, you know the spelled it's so different I dont know if all the english speakers need to learn something about Middle english spelled for understanding this Bible.. or everybody understand without to take a class of middle english spelled.. I mean middle english cuz the spelled it's similar with this.. even as well it's part of the early modern english when the British empire started to conquest the world in special The USA

Answer 1

The King James version is more difficult for English speakers to understand than most of the more modern versions. It uses words and forms of words that are no longer in common usage as you pointed out. It also uses words that have changed meanings. Suffer, for example used to mean something like allow. Now it means to experience pain or discomfort. A sentence like "suffer the children" can be very confusing to someone who doesn't study in a class with a well informed teacher or use a good commentary.

Answer 2

Hi. Its not Middle English or even Victorian English. The King James Bible was translated in 1603 - 400 years ago. There have been updated editions but not a lot has changed. You could check inside yours to see when it was printed. If you are a native English speaker its not too difficult to understand. For children the Good News Bible is more popular as it is in modern English. I do not know if young children would understand the King James version but most adults would.

Answer 3

If the King James Bible is the crowning glory of the English language, why aren't we speaking it today? Man's languages, just like many other things, do not remain static; they change. The King James Bible was made to update the English language of the 17th century. Living in the 21st century, wouldn't it make sense to update the Bible into modern English so it could be better understood today, just as long as the meaning does not change?

Answer 4

Yes the King James Version is written in middle English . Which is becoming a forgotten language.and therefore is hard to follow. The English language has changed since then . and there is a difference between British English and American English in the names of things.
i don't know if its available in your country . But there is more than one book on the evolution of the English language. And there should be translations into modern British and American English for you to compare them with. The New Jerusalem Bible is one such example.No we do not have to learn Middle English to read it yet. Just have to use our knowledge of the language to translate it in our minds.

Answer 5

Not sure what your question is, but there are plenty of places that sell Spanish Bibles. Also, you should get a newer English translation - the two most accurate are The New American Standard Bible and The New International Version. The NIV is easier to read than the NASB, but the NASB is supposed to be more accurate to the original manuscripts. King James is okay . . . .but it's a bit rough to read.

Answer 6

The NIV is incomplete. It does not include the Deuterocanonicals (or apocrypha if you prefer), which most Latin-speakers would consider part of the Bible.

I would suggest the NRSV, an ecumenical translation which combines ease of use with accuracy, and is a descendant of the King James line of "authorized" translations.

Answer 7

Try the following site it has all the versions and in many languages. It should be a big help. You could open two windows and reduce them so they are side by side then have one in English and the other window in your preferred language.
By the way your English as I read it in your question was already very good.

http://www.biblegateway.com/

Answer 8

I would recommend the New International Version for any level of English.

Answer 9

We don't really "learn" it, we just pick it up from hearing it so much. It's used in Shakespears and other English Literature. And it's not Middle English, that is almost incomprehensible to us, like Beowulf.

Answer 10

i hardly understand regular, everyday english let alone all the eth, ath, ith in the KJV bible. no wonder nobody wants to read or fully understand that book.