The translation of the King James Version (KJV), or King James Bible (KJB), or today's Authorized Version (AV), was completed in 1611 under the imposition and printing of King James Charles Stuart (VI/I). King James found earlier translations insufficient for his ecclesiastical intentions for the Church of England.
Two panels of scholars produced the New Testament portion of the Bible from the Greek. The second Oxford company translated the gospels and Acts. The second Westminster company translated the epistles. They used the Greek text of Theodore Beza and Textus Receptus.
Puritan language was excised (Bishop's Bible was a reference point), as were marginalia. Footnotes with variant readings and more literal renderings numbered in the thousands. Thousands of cross-references were added.
The KJV had an incalculable effect on the English language. Translators avoided contemporary idiom to produce a "timeless" diction. Its now-archaic words (it came to pass, ye, thou, verily, -eth) still bring immense pleasure when read aloud.
However, this translation was produced for a Greek text no longer in favor.
A Visual History of the King James Bible by
Includes informative photos, illustrations, charts, and sidebars, to explore the KJV's mysterious beginnings, the men who translated it, the manuscripts upon which that translation was based, and the important people and places that influenced its production.
Bible: The Story of the King James Version by
Offers a history of this renowned translation, ranging from the Bible's inception to the present day.
Manifold Greatness: The Making of the King James Bible by
Details the story of the production and immediate reception of what would become the most printed book in history.
The King James Bible Translators by
An account of the King who ordered the making of the KJV, the actors that set the new translation effort in motion and the revising, editing, printing, reception and influence of the finished work.
The King James Version At 400 by
Thirty scholars from diverse disciplines offer their unique perspectives on the genius of the King James Version.
The Shadow of a Great Rock: A Literary Appreciation of the King James Bible by
A reading of the King James Bible as a literary masterwork, published for the text's 400-year anniversary.
Under USA jurisdiction, the KJV falls in the public domain. Quotations and use do not require formal permissions.
Publications under United Kingdom jurisdiction using the KJV (aka the Authorized Version) must follow permissions requirements. For educational or liturgical purposes, a maximum of 500 verses may be used, provided that the extent of usage does not incorporate a complete book of the NT book or 25% of its target material. The following acknowledgement must be included with any usage:
For noncommercial materials (e.g. bulletins), acknowledgement may be omitted but "(KJV)" must follow quotations. For more consult:
YDL Special Collections grants students access to materials from KJV times. Consider the following:
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