If one has trouble "understanding" the KJV, the problem is with the individual and not with God's word. One problem is that people do not grow up reading and studying the word of God like days past. The believer has been commanded to study the word of God precept upon precept, line by line, precept upon precept, line upon line. Any effort to try and make God's word "easier" to read always ends up corrupting the text. Instead of changing God's word we should try reading and studying it more asking for the Holy Spirit's guidance. People live such busy lives today that they are always looking for the easy way out.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
When anyone confuses the word of God with a specific translation of the Bible, they are delusional. Moreover, the English language is an exceedingly dynamic language that is changing so rapidly that English language dictionaries become obsolete about every 15-20 years. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary was first published in 1898, and in 2003 the eleventh edition was published. In my study, I have the following editions,
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1936
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Sixth Edition,
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Sixth Edition
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Seventh Edition
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Eighth Edition
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Ninth Edition,
*Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, 2003
By comparing these eight editions that span only 67 years, we can see changes in the meaning expressed by the words that they define.
A substantial number of the words used in the KJV have a distinctly different meaning today than they did in 1611. Many readers, unaware of this, error in their interpretation of Biblical passages that include these words. Other readers, who may suspect that a certain word used to mean something different than what they are accustomed to, would find very little help in most dictionaries.
Those readers who nonetheless rely heavily upon the KJV will find the most help in a recent edition (9th or later) of Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary published by Merriam-Webster. This dictionary lists the meanings of words chronologically according to the date the various meanings came to be used in print, and includes the date when the word first appeared in print in a source known to Merriam-Webster (Their databank of English word usage is massive!). Meanings that were once established but are no longer current, are included, but are labeled “archaic.” Reading in the KJV, we read,
Acts 17:2. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3. Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Some readers might suspect that the word “alleging” doesn’t seem quite right here. If they were to look up “allege” in the Eleventh Edition of
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, they would find that Merriam-Webster has in its files a citation of the word “allege” dating from the 14th century and that it meant at that time “to adduce or bring forward as a source or authority.” They would also learn that the word now means “to assert without proof or before proving”, and that the former meaning is labeled “archaic.” In Acts, Luke was writing that Paul was bringing forward the Scriptures as an authority that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead.
