HOW CAN THE KING JAMES BIBLE SAY HORSES ARE “IN” THE CHARIOTS OF ZECHARIAH 6:2-3?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The first three verses of Zechariah chapter 6 thus read: “[1] And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. [2] In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; [3] And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled [grizzled, dappled with grey spots] and bay [reddish-brown] horses.” King James Bible critics find fault with the prepositional phrase “in the… chariot.” After all, they claim, why and how could horses be in chariots instead of before chariots? Why does the Authorized Version not say the horses are pulling these chariots?

Let us imagine, for a moment, a children’s cartoon film wherein the characters are anthropomorphic animals (animals behaving like humans). Not only do these animals speak, they also sit in the driver’s seat of chariots! (Who or what is pulling the chariots though?!) This is going to sound rather strange, but this author thinks the King James Bible scholars had a little more sense than to make such a glaring mistake as to teach horses are riding in the cab of the chariots.

If the 1611 translators meant that the horses were occupying the seats of the chariots, situated where the people would be riding in them, then why did the translators not reveal who or what was pulling the chariots? See, this is not the implication of the horses being “in” the chariots. The horses can be both simultaneously (1) pulling the chariots and (2) in the chariots. How would this scenario be possible? As long as we have believing hearts, and are not interested in critiquing the Word of God, it really is not that difficult of a situation to fathom.

For horses to pull chariots in the physical world, harnesses are needed to attach them to each other. A series of straps, cords, and/or chains is used to tie the chariots and horses together. We would expect the Prophet Zechariah saw a similar scene in the spirit world as he received this end-times vision in chapter 6. The horses stood between the two arm-like projections—called “shafts”—located at the front of the chariot. These “arms” are part of the chariot itself, thus not making it inappropriate to say the horses are “in” the chariot (that is, in between the shafts section of the chariot’s harness). Unfortunately for the King James Bible critics, there is nothing erroneous about horses being “in” chariots in Zechariah. Scripture does not have the problem; we have the problem because we are not using critical thinking skills!

Here is yet another case in point as to the absurd depths trifling King James Bible critics will go in order to be their own authority. Whether they know it or not, Roman Catholic minds have influenced them to attack the Protestant Bible in the silliest of ways. They have been trained in seminary (Bible cemetery) or Bible college to approach the Authorized Version with great suspicion. If it says something they did not expect it to say, then they change it to force it to suit their preconceived notions and denominational biases. They will then lead their congregations and audiences to adopt similar attitudes, the students passing on the anti-King James sentiment to their own pupils. Yes, it is sad and bizarre to say it, but the result of this pattern is as follows: the average church member will believe the Bible preacher or Bible teacher long before he or she will believe the Bible. The teacher cannot err, it is commonly assumed; he or she has “special insight” into the Bible text, “revelation” the translators themselves supposedly did not have!! Such is the lunacy of Bible “scholarship”—nay, it is rank unbelief in the sneakiest form! It drives the formation of cults, denominations, and sects of all kinds.

Friends, we had better watch King James Bible correctors with great suspicion. They are generating doubt not faith, and their methods of “Bible study” are far more insidious than people who outright discard the Scriptures altogether. Far better they keep quiet and keep studying than carelessly complain about matters too advanced for them.

Also see:
» Should “church” be changed to “called-out assembly” in Acts 7:38 in the King James Bible?
» Why does the King James Bible say, “pisseth against the wall?”
» Is “excellent” a King James mistranslation in Philippians 1:10?
» Is the King James word “borrow” a mistranslation in Exodus 3:22?
» Which belongs in Romans 8:16 and Romans 8:26 in the King James Bible—“the Spirit itself” or “the Spirit Himself?”
» Is “God forbid” a “poor translation” in the King James Bible?
» The “judgment seat” or the “bema seat?”