why is matthew 17 21 not in some bibles
Matthew 17:21's Absence in Modern Bibles Matthew 17:21 ("Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting") appears in some Bibles like the King James Version (KJV) but is omitted or footnoted in many modern translations such as the NIV, ESV, and RSV. This stems from textual criticism, where scholars compare ancient Greek manuscripts to determine the original wording.
Manuscript Evidence
Early, reliable manuscripts like the 4th-century Codex Sinaiticus and Codex
Vaticanus exclude the verse entirely. Later manuscripts include it, likely
because scribes added it as a marginal note drawn from the parallel account in
Mark 9:29 ("This kind can come out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting").
Over time, these notes were copied into the main text during hand-copying,
harmonizing Matthew with Mark.
Historical Translation Choices
- KJV (1611) : Relied on later Byzantine manuscripts (e.g., Textus Receptus), which contained the verse, so it stayed in.
- Modern Bibles : Use older Alexandrian manuscripts (e.g., Sinaiticus, Vaticanus) deemed more accurate due to fewer additions and earlier dating. Translators often bracket it or add footnotes for transparency.
Scholars like Grant Osborne note it's a "scribal assimilation from Mark," not original to Matthew.
Why It Matters
This isn't about "removing" scripture but refining accuracy—no core doctrine
changes, as the teaching appears in Mark. Textual variants like this occur in
about 1-2% of the New Testament, but 99.8% remains stable across manuscripts.
Forum Discussions and Trending Views
Recent Reddit threads (e.g., r/Catholicism, r/TrueChristian) echo this, with
users debating KJV vs. modern texts—some see omission as suspicious, others
trust scholarly consensus. A 2025 X post by Chad Bird breaks it down simply,
gaining traction amid ongoing Bible version debates.
"Q: Why do some Bibles still include the verse? A: Some translations, like the KJV, use later manuscripts... in brackets or as a footnote."
TL;DR Bottom Line
It's missing because top scholars prioritize earliest manuscripts without it;
added later from Mark. Check footnotes in your Bible for the full picture.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.