Those who advocate for modern translations often claim that the King James Version contains too many difficult words.
While there are some difficult words in the KJV, the modern translations contain just as many. In fact, they often choose more difficult words than appear in the KJV. This is proven in the chart below.
If you have more examples, use the contact form at the bottom of the page to submit them.
| ESV | KJV | VERSE |
|---|---|---|
| Aghast | Amazed | Isaiah 13:8 |
| Apostacy | Backsliding | Hosea 14:4 |
| Armlets | Chains | Numbers 31:50 |
| Asherim | Groves | Isaiah 27:9 |
| Bewildered | Confounded | Acts 2:6 |
| Biting fly | Destruction | Jeremiah 46:20 |
| Blunted | Cut in pieces | Psalm 58:7 |
| Brooches | Bracelets | Exodus 35:22 |
| Burnished | Polished | Daniel 10:6 |
| Calyxes | Knops | Exodus 25:31 |
| Castanets | Cornets | 2 Samuel 6:5 |
| Cors | Measures | 1 Kings 4:22 |
| Curds | Butter | Genesis 18:8 |
| Cushites | Ethiopians | Daniel 11:43 |
| Debauchery | Riot | 1 Peter 4:4 |
| Deluded | Deceived | Isaiah 44:20 |
| Denarius | Penny | Matthew 20:2 |
| Disheartened | Sad | Ezekiel 13.22 |
| Embittered | Grieved | Psalm 73:21 |
| Embodiment | Form | Romans 2:20 |
| Figurehead | Sign | Acts 28:11 |
| Filigree | Inclosings | Exodus 28:20 |
| Flinging | Threw | Acts 22:23 |
| Goiim | Nations | Genesis 14:1 |
| Grapevine | Vine | James 3:12 |
| Hades | Hell | Revelation 20:14 |
| Impaled | Hanged | Ezra 6:11 |
| Incited | Provoked | 1 Chronicles 21:1 |
| Incurs | Getteth | Proverbs 9:7 |
| Indestructible | Endless | Hebrews 7:16 |
| Indignant | Displeased | Mark 10:41 |
| Indispensable | Necessary | 1 Corinthians 12:22 |
| Insolence | Wrath | Jeremiah 48:30 |
| Insolent | Despiteful | Romans 1:30 |
| Jeered | Mocked | 2 Kings 2:23 |
| Magistrates | Sherrifs | Daniel 3:3 |
| Mainstay | Chief | Jeremiah 49:35 |
| Malcontents | Complainers | Jude 16 |
| Maxims | Remembrances | Job 13:12 |
| Mina | Pound | Luke 19:16 |
| Muster | Numbers | 2 Chronicles 17:14 |
| Naive | Simple | Romans 16:18 |
| Negeb | South | Genesis 12:9 |
| Nephilim | Giants | Genesis 6:4 |
| Noonday | Noon | 2 Samuel 4:5 |
| Offspring | Children | Isaiah 57:4 |
| Ore | Stone | Job 28:2 |
| Parapet | Battlement | Deuteronomy 22:8 |
| Pinions | Wings | Deuteronomy 32:11 |
| Porphyry | Red | Esther 1:6 |
| Portent | Sign | Isaiah 20:2 |
| Prefects | Governors | Daniel 3:3 |
| Proconsul | Deputy | Acts 13:8 |
| Revening | Destroying | Jeremiah 2:30 |
| Sachet | Bundle | Song of Solomon 1:13 |
| Satraps | Princes | Daniel 3:3 |
| Sheol | Grave | Psalm 6:5 |
| Surpasses | Passes | Philippians 4:7 |
| Terebinth | Elms | Hosea 4:13 |
| Tresses | Galleries | Song of Solomon 7:5 |
| Tumult | Noise | 1 Samuel 14:9 |
| Under pretense | As though | Acts 27:30 |
| Vassal | Servant | 2 Kings 17:3 |
| Vestiblue | Porch | 1 Kings 6:3 |
| Vestments | Apparel | Ezra 3:10 |
| Vexed | Sad | 1 Kings 21:5 |
| Whirlind | Storm | Isaiah 29:6 |
