“I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” ([Jeremiah xxiii, 5, 6]).
The correct rendering of this passage is as follows:
“I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby they shall call themselves: The Eternal is our righteousness.”
To make a Messianic prophecy of this passage and give it effect no less than eight pieces of deception were employed by the editors of our Authorized Version:
1. The word “branch” is made to begin with a capital letter.
2. The word “king” also begins with a capital.
3. “The name” is rendered “his name.”
4. The pronoun “they,” relating to the people of Judah and Israel, is changed to “he.”
5. The word “Eternal” is translated “Lord.”
6. “The Lord our righteousness” is printed in capitals.