WEB and KJV Wording: Compare John 1:5 and 1:14

Two translations can be recognizable as the same passage while using different vocabulary. John 1 provides a useful short comparison. This is a wording exercise, not a ranking of translations or a claim that one choice suits every reader.

John 1:5: one verb to notice

The KJV ends John 1:5 with “the darkness comprehended it not.” The World English Bible Classic reads “the darkness hasn’t overcome it.” The WEB page’s footnote also gives “comprehended” as an alternative sense.

Read the whole verse in both editions. Then read verses 1–9 around it. A translation comparison is more useful when you notice both the chosen wording and the context than when you decide from one isolated English word.

John 1:14: old and current vocabulary

The KJV uses “dwelt among us” where WEB has “lived among us.” This is an easy example of how familiar older wording and more current phrasing can feel different when read aloud.

Neither example tells you every difference between the editions. Translation comparisons can involve vocabulary, sentence structure and textual notes. If a particular passage matters to your study, compare that passage directly rather than extending a conclusion from these two verses to the whole Bible.

Try a two-minute reading comparison

Read John 1:1–18 aloud in one translation. Pause and summarize it in your own words. Read it in the other translation, and note which expressions are easier for you to follow and which you recognize from memory. Keep questions about meaning separate from preferences about sound.

If your study group uses KJV, that shared wording may matter more to you than your reaction to a sample. If you are new to either translation, spend time with a complete chapter before choosing.

What this means for our products

Our physical Black and White New Testaments use WEB. The KJV option is in the digital collection. Choosing a white cover or black pages does not change a printed WEB edition into KJV. Check the selected product and translation before paying, especially when buying for someone who has requested a specific version.