« | Exodus 7 | » |
1 And Jehovah said to Moses, See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh. And Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
2 You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, he will send the sons of Israel out of his land.
3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh shall not listen to you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring My armies, My people the sons of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah when I stretch forth My hand upon Egypt, and bring out the sons of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded them; so they did.
7 And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8 And Jehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:
9 When Pharaoh shall speak to you saying, Give a miracle for yourselves, you shall say to Aaron, Take your rod, and throw it in front of Pharaoh. It shall become a snake.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh. And they did so, as Jehovah had commanded. And Aaron threw down his rod in front of Pharaoh and in front of his servants, and it became a snake.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers. And they, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.
12 For each man threw down his rod, and they became snakes. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And He hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he did not listen to them, as Jehovah had said.
14 And Jehovah said to Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened. He refuses to let the people go.
15 You go to Pharaoh in the morning. Lo, he goes out to the water. And you shall stand by the river's brink until he comes. And you shall take in your hand the rod which was turned to a snake.
16 And you shall say to him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, Let My people go so that they may serve Me in the wilderness. And, behold, until now you would not hear.
17 Thus says Jehovah, In this you shall know that I am Jehovah. Behold! I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish in the river shall die, and the river shall stink. And the Egyptians shall hate to drink of the water of the river.
19 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their canals, and upon their pools, and upon every reservoir of their waters, that they may become blood. And blood shall be throughout all the land of Egypt, both in wooden and in stone vessels.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah commanded. And he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters in the river were turned to blood.
21 And the fish in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their secret arts. And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as Jehovah had said.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house; And he did not set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were completed after Jehovah had stricken the river.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.