Missing Verses in Modern Bibles – Explanation

Missing Verses in Modern Translations

Matthew 17:21

KJV: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Reason: The verse closely resembles Mark 9:29, but it is lacking in Matthew in א (original handwriting), B, θ, some Italic & Syriac & Coptic & Ethiopic manuscripts. It is, however, found in this place in some Greek mss not quite so ancient – CD, K, L – as well as some other mss of the ancient versions. It is believed to have been assimilated from Mark.[13]

Matthew 18:11

KJV: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Reason: This verse is lacking in א,B,L (original handwriting), θ, ƒ1, ƒ13, some old Italic & Syriac & Coptic & Georgian mss, and such ancient sources as the Apostolic Canons, Eusebius, Jerome, and others. It is found in some other sources, not quite so ancient, such as D,K,W,X, and the Latin Vulgate. It is not found in any manuscript before the 5th century.[14] According to Bruce Metzger, “There can be little doubt that the words … are spurious here, being omitted by the earliest witnesses representing several textual types… [This verse was] manifestly borrowed by copyists from Luke 19:10.”[15]

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