The following is a summary of the earlier explanation for how these "omissions" will be addressed. (a) denotes the shorter text in the NRSV; (b) represents the harmonized or copied verse (written in the KJV); (c) represents the primary source of the harmonized verse from the NRSV.

   13. a) Mark 8:26 (NRSV): {B}

          Then he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."

       b) Mark 8:26 (KJV):

          And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

       c) Matt. 9:30 (NRSV):

          And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this."

   These are cases of "conflation", a term which Westcott and Hort used to refer to instances where copyists likely saw two slightly different meanings in the texts they consulted. Rather than make a judgement about which was the most credible wording, they simply combined the two meanings and made the copy fuller than the sources.

Dr. Hort explained about the word conflation in his book Introduction to the New Testament in the Original Greek (pp. 49 through 51 and pp. 93 through 105). He cites many more New Testament examples of conflation. This term was discussed in more detail in Chapter VII in the section on Westcott and Hort.

We will see more about conflation in variant 76 (Mark 6:33), 105 (Matt. 16:13) and 107 (Col. 2:2).