Table Of ContentNKJV FOUNDATION
STUDY BIBLE
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NKJV FOUNDATION
STUDY BIBLE
www.ThomasNelson.com
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NKJV Foundation Study Bible
Copyright © 2015 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Holy Bible, New King James Version®, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The text of the New King James Version® (NKJV®) may be quoted or reprinted without prior
written permission with the following qualifications: (1) up to and including 1,000 verses may be
quoted in printed form as long as the verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book
of the Bible and make up less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all NKJV
quotations must conform accurately to the NKJV text.
Any use of the NKJV text must include a proper acknowledgement as follows:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
However, when quotations from the NKJV text are used in church bulletins, orders of ser vice,
Sunday school lessons, church newsletters, and similar works in the course of religious instruction
or serv ices at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the following notice may be used at
the end of each quotation: NKJV.
For quotation requests not covered by the above guidelines, write to Thomas Nelson, Inc., Atten-
tion: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214 – 1000.
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Table of Contents
Abbreviations of Books of the Bible ................vi
Introduction to the NKJV Foundation Study Bible ...vii
Preface to the New King James Version ........... viii
Old Testament
Genesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Ecclesiastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .723
Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Song of Solomon . . . . . . . . . .735
Leviticus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Isaiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .742
Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 Jeremiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .818
Deuteronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Lamentations . . . . . . . . . . . . 890
Joshua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Ezekiel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 898
Judges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .957
Ruth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Hosea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .977
1 Sam uel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 Joel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989
2 Sam uel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .327 Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 994
1 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 Obadiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1004
2 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397 Jonah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1007
1 Chroni cles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 Micah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1010
2 Chroni cles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467 Nahum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1018
Ezra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 Habakkuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1022
Nehemiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520 Zephaniah . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1026
Esther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .537 Haggai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1030
Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 546 Zechariah . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1033
Psalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .582 Malachi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1045
Proverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687
New Testament
Matthew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1053 1 Tim othy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1323
Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1093 2 Tim othy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1330
Luke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1120 Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1334
John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166 Philemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1337
Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1202 Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1339
Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1241 James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1355
1 Co rin thi ans . . . . . . . . . . . .1259 1 Peter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1360
2 Co rin thi ans . . . . . . . . . . . .1277 2 Peter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1367
Galatians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1288 1 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1371
Ephesians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1296 2 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1378
Philippians . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1304 3 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1380
Colossians . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1310 Jude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1381
1 Thes salo nians . . . . . . . . .1315 Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1383
2 Thes salo nians . . . . . . . . .1320
Theological Notes Index by Location ............ 1407
Theological Notes Index by Title ................ 1410
Concordance ................................ 1413
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Abbreviations of Books
of the Bible
The Old Testament
Genesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gen. Ecclesiastes . . . . . . . . . . . . Eccl.
Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ex. Song of Solomon . . . . . . . . Song
Leviticus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lev. Isaiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Is.
Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Num. Jeremiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jer.
Deuteronomy . . . . . . . . . . .Deut. Lamentations . . . . . . . . . . . Lam.
Joshua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh. Ezekiel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ezek.
Judges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judg. Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan.
Ruth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Hosea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hos.
1 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Sam. Joel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel
2 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Sam. Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amos
1 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Kin. Obadiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obad.
2 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Kin. Jonah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jon.
1 Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chr. Micah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mic.
2 Chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chr. Nahum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nah.
Ezra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ezra Habakkuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hab.
Nehemiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neh. Zephaniah . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zeph.
Esther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Esth. Haggai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hag.
Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Job Zechariah . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zech.
Psalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ps. Malachi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mal.
Proverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov.
The New Testament
Matthew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matt. 1 Timothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tim.
Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark 2 Timothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Tim.
Luke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Titus
John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Philemon . . . . . . . . . . . .Philem.
Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Acts Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heb.
Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rom. James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James
1 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cor. 1 Peter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Pet.
2 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . 2 Cor. 2 Peter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Pet.
Galatians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gal. 1 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 John
Ephesians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eph. 2 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 John
Philippians . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil. 3 John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 John
Colossians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. Jude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude
1 Thessalonians . . . . . 1 Thess. Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rev.
2 Thessalonians . . . . . 2 Thess.
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Introduction to the
NKJV Foundation Study Bible
As its name implies, the NKJV Foundation Study Bible is de-
signed to provide a foundation for Bible study. It is intended for
both beginning and experienced students of the Scriptures who
want a Bible that contains the key features of a study Bible in a
convenient, compact, and concise form.
• The full text of the New King James Version is used, in a
format that shows paragraphs, poetry, and other special
formats. Based on the time-honored King James Version,
the NKJV is preferred by many Bible readers for its un-
paralleled accuracy, beauty, and clarity. The NKJV uses
up-to-date English while maintaining the literary quality
of the KJV.
• Concise study notes are based on the notes originally pre-
pared for The NKJV Study Bible, providing succinct com-
ments on passages of Scripture.
• Theological notes draw attention to the most important
doctrinal content of the Bible. These notes are signified
by a bold roman heading followed by a dash. They are in-
dexed in the back of the Bible both by title and by location.
• New King James Version translators’ footnotes offer clari-
fication and information about original language texts.
• In-text subject headings help to organize and illuminate
Bible reading and study.
• Words of Jesus are printed in red to assist identification.
• Book introductions give background information about
each of the Bible’s 66 books.
• Cross-references direct attention to other passages for fur-
ther study of words and concepts in Scripture. Conceptual
cross-r eferences are indicated by square brackets.
• A concordance provides an alphabetical listing of impor-
tant passages by key words.
• Full-color maps of Bible lands are included in the back of
the Bible.
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Preface to the
New King James Version®
Purpose no means a paraphrase or a broadly
In the preface to the 1611 edition, approximate rendering. On the one
the translators of the Authorized Ver- hand, the scholars were almost as fa-
sion, known popularly as the King miliar with the original languages of
James Bible, state that it was not their the Bible as with their native English.
purpose “to make a new translation On the other hand, their reverence for
. . . but to make a good one better.” In- the divine Author and His Word as-
debted to the earlier work of William sured a translation of the Scriptures
Tyndale and others, they saw their in which only a principle of utmost ac-
best contribution to consist in revising curacy could be accepted.
and enhancing the excellence of the In 1786 Catholic scholar Alexander
English versions which had sprung Geddes said of the King James Bible,
from the Reformation of the sixteenth “If accuracy and strictest attention to
century. In harmony with the purpose the letter of the text be supposed to
of the King James scholars, the trans- constitute an excellent version, this
lators and editors of the present work is of all versions the most excellent.”
have not pursued a goal of innovation. George Bernard Shaw became a lit-
They have perceived the Holy Bible, erary legend in the twentieth century
New King James Version, as a con- because of his severe and often hu-
tinuation of the labors of the earlier morous criticisms of our most cher-
translators, thus unlocking for today’s ished values. Surprisingly, however,
readers the spiritual treasures found Shaw pays the following tribute to
especially in the Authorized Version the scholars commissioned by King
of the Holy Scriptures. James: “The translation was extraor-
dinarily well done because to the
translators what they were translating
A Living Legacy
was not merely a curious collection
For nearly four hundred years, of ancient books written by different
and throughout several revisions of authors in different stages of culture,
its English form, the King James Bi- but the Word of God divinely revealed
ble has been deeply revered among through His chosen and expressly in-
the English-speaking peoples of the spired scribes. In this conviction they
world. The precision of translation for carried out their work with boundless
which it is historically renowned, and reverence and care and achieved a
its majesty of style, have enabled that beautifully artistic result.” History
monumental version of the word of agrees with these estimates. There-
God to become the mainspring of the fore, while seeking to unveil the ex-
religion, language, and legal founda- cellent form of the traditional English
tions of our civilization. Bible, special care has also been taken
Although the Elizabethan period in the present edition to preserve the
and our own era share in zeal for tech- work of precision which is the legacy
nical advance, the former period was of the 1611 translators.
more aggressively devoted to classi-
cal learning. Along with this awak-
Complete Equivalence in
ened concern for the classics came a
flourishing companion interest in the Translation
Scriptures, an interest that was enliv- Where new translation has been
ened by the conviction that the man- necessary in the New King James Ver-
uscripts were providentially handed sion, the most complete representation
down and were a trustworthy record of the original has been rendered by
of the inspired Word of God. The King considering the history of usage and
James translators were committed etymology of words in their contexts.
to producing an English Bible that This principle of complete equivalence
would be a precise translation, and by seeks to preserve all of the information
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Preface (cid:31) ix
in the text, while presenting it in good Version. This devotional quality is
literary form. Dynamic equivalence, a especially apparent in the poetic and
recent procedure in Bible translation, prophetic books, although even the
commonly results in paraphrasing relatively plain style of the Gospels
where a more literal rendering is need- and Epistles cannot strictly be lik-
ed to reflect a specific and vital sense. ened, as sometimes suggested, to mod-
For example, complete equivalence ern newspaper style. The Koine Greek
truly renders the original text in ex- of the New Testament is influenced by
pressions such as “lifted her voice and the Hebrew background of the writ-
wept” (Gen. 21:16); “I gave you clean- ers, for whom even the gospel narra-
ness of teeth” (Amos 4:6); “J esus met tives were not merely flat utterance,
them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ ” (Matt. 28:9); but often song in various degrees of
and “Woman, what does your concern rhythm.
have to do with Me?” (John 2:4). Com-
plete equivalence translates fully, in The Style
order to provide an English text that
is both accurate and readable. Students of the Bible applaud the
In keeping with the principle of timeless devotional character of our
complete equivalence, it is the policy historic Bible. Yet it is also universally
to translate interjections which are understood that our language, like all
commonly omitted in modern lan- living languages, has undergone pro-
guage renderings of the Bible. As an found change since 1611. Subsequent
example, the interjection behold, in revisions of the King James Bible have
the older King James editions, contin- sought to keep abreast of changes in
ues to have a place in English usage, English speech. The present work is
especially in dramatically calling at- a further step toward this objective.
tention to a spectacular scene, or an Where obsolescence and other read-
event of profound importance such ing difficulties exist, present-day vo-
as the Immanuel prophecy of Isaiah cabulary, punctuation, and grammar
7:14. Consequently, behold is retained have been carefully integrated. Words
for these occasions in the present edi- representing ancient objects, such as
tion. However, the Hebrew and Greek chariot and phylactery, have no mod-
originals for this word can be trans- ern substitutes and are therefore re-
lated variously, depending on the cir- tained.
cumstances in the passage. Therefore, A special feature of the New King
in addition to behold, words such as James Version is its conformity to the
indeed, look, see, and surely are also thought flow of the 1611 Bible. The
rendered to convey the appropriate reader discovers that the sequence
sense suggested by the context in each and selection of words, phrases, and
case. clauses of the new edition, while much
In faithfulness to God and to our clearer, are so close to the traditional
readers, it was deemed appropriate that there is remarkable ease in lis-
that all participating scholars sign tening to the reading of either edition
a statement affirming their belief in while following with the other.
the verbal and plenary inspiration of In the discipline of translating bib-
Scripture, and in the inerrancy of the lical and other ancient languages, a
original autographs. standard method of transliteration,
that is, the English spelling of un-
Devotional Quality translated words, such as names of
The King James scholars readily persons and places, has never been
appreciated the intrinsic beauty of commonly adopted. In keeping with
divine revelation. They according- the design of the present work, the
ly disciplined their talents to render King James spelling of untranslat-
well-chosen English words of their ed words is retained, although made
time, as well as a graceful, often mu- uniform throughout. For example, in-
sical arrangement of language, which stead of the spellings Isaiah and Elijah
has stirred the hearts of Bible readers in the Old Testament, and Esaias and
through the years. The translators, Elias in the New Testament, Isaiah
the committees, and the editors of the and Elijah now appear in both Testa-
present edition, while sensitive to the ments.
late-twentieth-century English idiom, King James doctrinal and theolog-
and while adhering faithfully to the ical terms, for example, propitiation,
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, justification, and sanctification, are
have sought to maintain those lyri- generally familiar to English-s peaking
cal and devotional qualities that are peoples. Such terms have been retained
so highly regarded in the Authorized except where the original language
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