You will notice that verse 44 and 46 is not here in most modern translations. This is a good time to explain why. If you are a “King James is the only authorized version” person, It would do good to ask why verses were left out instead of flatly proclaiming that other versions leave out part of the Bible. At least know why.
I submit that the translators of the King James Version worked with, in most cases, the best knowledge that they had available at the time. No fault to them. However, older manuscripts have become available through archeological research.
Mark 9:43-48 (TNIV)
43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where ” ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
The King James (KJV) was translated on a set of Hebrew/Greek manuscripts and fragments. These are called “witnesses” in the this scholarly field of study. The KJV was translated in the 1600’s. Since that time, many manuscripts and fragments have been found that date OLDER than the manuscripts the King James was translated from. In these witnesses, interestingly enough (that were copied hundreds of years before the King James set of witnesses), there were differences. When multiple witnesses are in agreement that are older than the KJV witnesses…..what to do, what to do? Interestingly enough, scholars have common sense. Note the differences and make a determination as to why the differences exist.
In the case of verse 44 and verse 46, these verses are not only identical to each other, they say the same thing as verse 48. This appears to be a scribal addition from v. 48 and is almost certainly not an original part of the Greek text of Mark. But, if you would insist on having to have these later additions there, here you go:
Mark 9:43-48 (KJV)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Want to read , know and understand more? Here is a link to a Wikipedia article listing all the verses that are in the King James version that are not included in most modern translations as well as a list of major textual variants in the New Testament. This list include citations as to the reason for each instance.
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