Matthew 1:1
KJV
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
NIV
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Since Joseph’s line is detailed in Matthew 1, the word “genealogy” implies that Christ himself had a human lineage. The KJV’s reading, “the generation of Jesus Christ” has an entirely different meaning. To better contemplate the difference, compare these titles: “The Generation of George Washington” vs “The Genealogy of George Washington.” To know for sure that the KJV translators did not intend for “genealogy” to be used, see 1 Chron. 5:7 KJV, where both words are used: “…when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned…”
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