Bible Verses
Translation comparison

1 Maccabees 10:49 in 2 translations

2 distinct wordings, grouped by what each translation is trying to do. Differences from the King James text are marked below.

Early modern English

Seventeenth-century wording and sentence shape. Familiar, rhythmic, and the version most quotations you have heard are taken from.

King James Version
KJV

And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.

1611 / 1769 · Public domain · The Authorised Version, revised to the 1769 Blayney text. Includes the Apocrypha as printed in 1611.

Modern English

Contemporary vocabulary and punctuation, aiming for the sentence a present-day reader would write while staying close to the source.

World English Bible
WEB

And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled; and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them.

2000s · Public domain · A modern-English update of the ASV. Reads close to contemporary speech while staying in the literal tradition. Includes the Apocrypha.

What changes between the King James and modern wording

The modern rendering is printed below with every word that differs from the King James text marked, so the actual divergence is visible rather than left for you to spot.

And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled; and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them.

Word-for-word swaps

  • butand

The verses either side

King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.

48Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.
50And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.

Not shown for this verse: American Standard Version, Darby Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Open English Bible (US), Open English Bible (Commonwealth), Bible in Basic English. Most modern translations do not include the Apocrypha.