I love punctuation. You should too. Everyone should love punctuation. It clarifies what is written and may even save lives. For instance, the following sentence has the same words but much different meanings and very different consequences:
Let’s eat kids!
Let’s eat, kids!
One comma makes all the difference in the world!
I love punctuation and I am thankful for it. If you have been reading my blog posts and other writings for very long, you know I don’t always get it right, but I try.
When I sit down to read, I love to read a text that has proper punctuation. This includes when I read my Bible. But believe it or not, punctuation is relatively new. This is true in the English.
When I read Genesis 2:23–24 in the KJV:
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Now here is Genesis 2:23–24 in the LSB:
23 Then the man said, “This one finally is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called Woman, Because this one was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
I believe the LSB has the quotation marks in the correct spot. Many other new versions do the same. As smart as Adam was, he would have had no concept of a man leaving his father and mother, etc….but Yahweh God knew and that is why it is in His Word.
Why did the KJV translators not have these quotations there? The answer is because English has changed! Our ancestors did not use quotations and other forms of punctuation like we do. But I am sure thankful for this improvement in our language.
And actually, the Greek/Hebrew language changed over time too. It’s a fascinating study really.
As Dr. James White points out, “…the New Testament manuscripts were first written in all capital letters (and therefore are called “uncial” texts) without punctuation or spaces between words. This literary form prevailed until about the ninth century, when a different writing style called the “minuscule” form became predominant. ”
White, J. R. (2009). The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? (p. 54). Bethany House.
And he goes on…..
“Over the years we have discovered examples of such texts buried in the earth or stored away in libraries. For example, one of the earliest records of Paul’s writings is found in Papyrus 46 (abbreviated 46). This work, dated to around AD 175–200, originally contained Romans, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians on about one hundred four leaves, eighty-six of which still exist today. 46 certainly is among the most important witnesses to Paul’s letters.”
Can you imagine trying to read that? Or how about copying it? There were no machines like we have today. This is one of the reasons why there are variations in the manuscripts and our English translations but praise the Lord these are minimal. God’s Word has been preserved through the centuries and even into our own English language.
Check out the KJV Parallel Bible online to see what I mean when I say these variations are minimal. And thank God for your modern translation with its proper punctuation!