EXPLORING THE KING JAMES VERSION November 3, 1980 Issue

5 A deeper look at "conversation" and "communication"

CORA MASON

It is interesting to know that the fiery "neesings" of leviathan, the water monster in Job (41:18), are actually sneezings; that when Jacob—setting up a trick to get due wages out of his uncle Laban—"took... rods of green poplar... and pilled white strakes in them" (Gen. 30:37), he was peeling the bark to make white stripes; and that "nephews" in the King James Version are likely to be grandchildren. In Judg. 12:14 the Hebrew reads "sons of sons."

But what are some of the really challenging words in the KJV—words that can put the reader significantly off course if he doesn't perceive their earlier meaning?

Certainly "conversation" belongs in the list. The wise man, James tells us, must "shew out of a good conversation his works"—not words—"with meekness of wisdom" (3:13). And Paul is referring to something much more strenuous than sermons when he reminds the Galatians (1:13), "Ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God."

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