Matthew 27:42

Matthew 27:42
(KJV) He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
(1611 KJV) He saued others, himselfe he cannot saue: If he be the King of Israel, let him now come downe from the Crosse, and we will beleeue him.
(1568 Bishops Bible) He saued other, hym selfe can he not saue. If he be the kyng of Israel, let him nowe come downe from the crosse, and we wyll beleue hym.
(1526 Tyndale) He saved other him sylfe he can not save. If he be ye kynge of Israel: let him now come doune from the crosse and we will beleve him.

Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
1901 ASV) He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
(AMP) He rescued others from death; Himself He cannot rescue from death. He is the King of Israel? Let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Him.
(CEB) “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. He’s the king of Israel, so let him come down from the cross now. Then we’ll believe in him.
(CSB) “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
(ERV) They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! People say he is the king of Israel. If he is the king, he should come down now from the cross. Then we will believe in him.
(ESV) “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
(GNB) “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Isn't he the king of Israel? If he will come down off the cross now, we will believe in him!
(HCSB) “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
(THE MESSAGE) “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!
(NASV) “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
(NCV) They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He says he is the king of Israel! If he is the king, let him come down now from the cross. Then we will believe in him.
(NET) “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him!
(NIV) “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
(NLV) “He saved others but He cannot save Himself. If He is the King of the Jews, let Him come down from the cross. Then we will believe in Him.
(NLT) “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!
(RSV) “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) “Others he saved; himself he cannot save! He is King of Israel; let him now come down off the torture stake and we will believe on him.

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι ει βασιλευς ισραηλ εστιν καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου και πιστευσομεν αυτω

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι βασιλευς ισραηλ εστιν καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου και πιστευσομεν επ αυτον

Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Omit “if”
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
L 019 - Seventh century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
892 - (Minuscule) - Ninth century

Changes “him” to “upon or in him”
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
L 019 - Seventh century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
892 - (Minuscule) - Ninth century

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Retains “if”
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
W 032 - Fourth/fifth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century

Retains “him”
Stephanus (1550 A.D.)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “if”
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

Changes “him” to “upon or in him”
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

Affected Teaching
This verse has been corrupted in two places. The first place is where the modern versions omit the word “if,” turning the question into a declarative statement. (John 19:21 KJV) Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. The Jews did not see Jesus as the King of the Jews and for those at the cross to make a declaration that He was King of the Jews does not fit the context of this verse nor the mindset of those who had Him crucified. Then the second place where there is corruption is where the modern versions change “him” into “in him.” This verse is not a question of salvation but it is a question of “if Jesus comes down from the cross, then we will believe Him that He is the Son of God.” The modern versions turn this into a works salvation that if Jesus does a miracle by coming down from the cross and saving Himself, then those who are present will claim to be saved by believing in Him. No one is saved in that manner and those at the crucifixion did not have salvation on their mind, it was the last thing they would have thought of.

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