'Missing' Verses in Modern Translations (ESV, NIV, etc.)

There are several verses included in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible that are not included in the main text of some modern translations, such as the NIV and ESV. For example, Matthew 18:11 appears in the KJV but is typically included as a footnote or omitted from the main text in many modern translations.

As a Bible software company, Olive Tree does not make decisions about the text of the Bibles we offer. We publish each Bible exactly as we receive it from its publisher, without altering the text in any way.

Since the King James Version was translated in the early 1600s, many additional biblical manuscripts have been discovered. Some of these manuscripts are significantly older than those that were available to the KJV translators. Modern translation committees use this broader manuscript evidence, along with other textual evidence, when determining the wording of the biblical text.

Because some verses found in later manuscripts do not appear in many of the oldest manuscripts, modern translations may place those verses in footnotes rather than include them in the main text. Scholars generally believe these differences arose when explanatory notes or similar additions were copied into the biblical text over time.

It is important to note that these textual differences do not affect the central teachings or core doctrines of the Christian faith. We recommend reading the introduction to your Bible translation, as it often explains the translators' approach to questions like these and the manuscript evidence they used.

If you prefer a Bible that includes these verses in the main text, consider the King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), or Modern English Version (MEV).

The translation team behind the NIV has also created an article and video that explain the manuscript evidence and translation process behind modern Bible translations. You can find them here.

We hope this information is helpful!