History of the King James Bible
From a royal commission to the most influential book in the English language
The King James Bible is more than a translation — it is a cornerstone of the English language and a testament to the power of Scripture.
First published in 1611 under the authority of King James I of England, the King James Version was the work of 47 scholars over seven years. It drew on a century of English Bible translation — from William Tyndale’s pioneering work in the 1520s to the Bishops’ Bible of 1568 — and produced a text of extraordinary literary beauty and theological depth.
For over 400 years, the KJV has been the Bible that believers turn to for comfort, guidance, and worship. Its rhythms echo through English literature, its phrases have become part of everyday speech, and its words continue to shape the faith of millions around the world.
The Story Begins
Why King James Commissioned a New Bible
When James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603, the English church was divided. The Bishops’ Bible was the official version used in churches, but most ordinary believers preferred the Geneva Bible — a popular Calvinist translation full of marginal notes that some considered politically subversive. Neither side was fully satisfied.
In January 1604, James convened the Hampton Court Conference to hear Puritan grievances. Among the proposals was a suggestion from Puritan scholar John Reynolds for a new, authoritative translation — one that could unite the church and replace the patchwork of competing versions. James seized on the idea.
The king envisioned a translation that would be scholarly, faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek, beautiful in its English, and free of controversial marginal notes. It would be a Bible for the whole nation — read aloud in every parish church, studied in every home, and trusted by all.
The Translators
The 47 Scholars Who Translated the Bible
King James assembled the finest biblical scholars in England — a remarkable feat of intellectual collaboration. The 47 translators included professors, clergymen, and linguists drawn from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Westminster.
First Westminster Company
Genesis through 2 Kings
Lancelot Andrewes — Andrewes was fluent in 15 languages and considered one of the greatest preachers of his age.
First Cambridge Company
1 Chronicles through Song of Solomon
Edward Lively — Lively was Regius Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge, though he died before the work was completed.
First Oxford Company
Isaiah through Malachi
John Harding — This company handled the prophetic books — among the most challenging Hebrew texts.
Second Cambridge Company
The Apocrypha
John Duport — The Apocrypha was included in the original 1611 edition, following the practice of earlier English Bibles.
Second Oxford Company
The Gospels, Acts & Revelation
Thomas Ravis — This company translated the life of Christ and the early church — the heart of the New Testament.
Second Westminster Company
Romans through Jude
William Barlow — Barlow had recorded the proceedings of the Hampton Court Conference where the translation was proposed.
The process was rigorous. Each scholar first translated independently. Then the company met to compare and debate. Completed sections were circulated to the other companies, and a final review committee of twelve polished the entire text. The result was not the work of one mind, but the refined consensus of England’s best.
Timeline
From Commission to Legacy
1604
The Hampton Court Conference
King James I convened bishops and Puritan leaders to discuss grievances about the Church of England. Puritan scholar John Reynolds proposed a new English translation of the Bible — one that would be faithful to the original languages and acceptable to all.
1604
47 Scholars Appointed
James approved the project and appointed 47 of England's finest scholars, organized into six translation companies. Two companies met at Westminster, two at Cambridge, and two at Oxford. Each was assigned specific books of the Bible.
1604–1608
Translation Rules Established
Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, drafted 15 rules to guide the translators. The Bishops' Bible served as the base text, and scholars were instructed to consult Tyndale, Coverdale, and the Geneva Bible. The work was painstaking — every word debated and cross-checked.
1608–1610
Review & Revision
After each company completed its initial translation, the work was sent to the other companies for review. A final committee of 12 — two from each company — met in London to resolve remaining disagreements and polish the text.
1611
Publication of the King James Bible
The completed Bible was published by Robert Barker, the King's Printer. The first edition — a large pulpit folio — was designed for public reading in churches. It included an elaborate dedication to King James and a preface by translator Miles Smith.
1629–1638
Early Revisions at Cambridge
Cambridge University Press issued corrected editions in 1629 and 1638, fixing many printing errors from the original 1611 edition and standardizing some inconsistencies in spelling and punctuation.
1769
The Oxford Standard Edition
Benjamin Blayney at Oxford produced the definitive revision, modernizing spelling and correcting accumulated errors. This 1769 edition is essentially the text used in King James Bibles printed today — preserving the original translation while making it more readable.
1885–Present
Enduring Legacy
Despite the arrival of the Revised Version (1885), American Standard Version (1901), and dozens of modern translations, the KJV has never gone out of print. It remains the most printed book in history and the preferred Bible for millions of Christians worldwide.
Lasting Impact
How the KJV Shaped the English Language
The King James Bible did not merely translate Scripture — it forged the English language as we know it. At a time when English was still finding its literary voice, the KJV gave it rhythm, gravity, and a shared vocabulary of moral and spiritual expression.
Phrases that originated in the KJV (or were popularized by it) are woven into everyday English. We speak of “a drop in the bucket,” “the skin of my teeth,” “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” “the salt of the earth,” “fight the good fight,” and “the powers that be” — often without realizing we are quoting Scripture.
Phrases from the King James Bible
“A drop in the bucket”
Isaiah 40:15
“The skin of my teeth”
Job 19:20
“A wolf in sheep's clothing”
Matthew 7:15
“The salt of the earth”
Matthew 5:13
“Fight the good fight”
1 Timothy 6:12
“The powers that be”
Romans 13:1
“A labour of love”
1 Thessalonians 1:3
“The root of all evil”
1 Timothy 6:10
“Set your house in order”
2 Kings 20:1
“The writing on the wall”
Daniel 5:5
“A thorn in the flesh”
2 Corinthians 12:7
“Go the extra mile”
Matthew 5:41
Shakespeare, Milton, Bunyan, and countless writers since have drawn on the cadences of the King James Bible. Its influence extends beyond literature into law, politics, and culture — a shared inheritance of the English-speaking world.
The Source Texts
What the KJV Was Translated From
The King James translators worked from the best manuscripts available in the early 17th century. For the Old Testament, they relied primarily on the Masoretic Hebrew text — the authoritative Hebrew Bible preserved by Jewish scribes — and consulted the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate.
For the New Testament, they used the Textus Receptus, a Greek text based on the work of Erasmus, Stephanus, and Beza. This was the standard Greek New Testament of the Reformation era. The translators also consulted earlier English versions, including Tyndale’s New Testament (1526), the Great Bible (1539), the Geneva Bible (1560), and the Bishops’ Bible (1568).
The KJV was not a fresh start — it was the culmination of nearly a century of English Bible translation. William Tyndale, who was executed for his translation work in 1536, is estimated to have contributed up to 84% of the New Testament wording and 76% of the Old Testament portions he translated. The King James translators honored his legacy while refining the text into its final, majestic form.
By the Numbers
The King James Bible at a Glance
66
Books
1,189
Chapters
31,102
Verses
783,137
Words
Old Testament
39 books, from Genesis to Malachi. Translated primarily from the Masoretic Hebrew text. Contains the Law, History, Poetry, and Prophets.
New Testament
27 books, from Matthew to Revelation. Translated from the Textus Receptus Greek text. Contains the Gospels, Epistles, and Prophecy.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the King James Bible written?
The King James Bible was translated between 1604 and 1611. King James I of England authorized the translation in 1604 at the Hampton Court Conference, and the finished Bible was first published in 1611.
Who translated the King James Bible?
The KJV was translated by a committee of 47 scholars organized into six companies — two at Westminster, two at Oxford, and two at Cambridge. These scholars were experts in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and other ancient languages.
What language was the King James Bible translated from?
The Old Testament was translated primarily from the Masoretic Hebrew text, with reference to the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate. The New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus, a Greek text compiled by Erasmus and later editors.
Why is the King James Bible so important?
The KJV is one of the most influential books in the English language. It shaped English literature, introduced hundreds of phrases still used today, and remained the dominant English Bible for over 300 years. It is still the preferred translation for millions of believers worldwide.
Is the King James Bible still accurate?
The KJV is a faithful translation of the source texts available to its translators. While modern translations benefit from manuscript discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls, the KJV remains a reliable and beloved translation that has stood the test of time for over 400 years.
What is the difference between the 1611 KJV and modern editions?
The 1611 edition used older spelling conventions, included the Apocrypha, and contained some printing errors. Modern editions use updated spelling and punctuation but preserve the same translation. The most widely used standard text today is the 1769 Oxford edition.
How many words are in the King James Bible?
The King James Bible contains approximately 783,137 words across 31,102 verses in 1,189 chapters. The Old Testament contains about 592,439 words and the New Testament about 181,253 words.
What common English phrases come from the King James Bible?
Many everyday English phrases originated in the KJV, including "a drop in the bucket" (Isaiah 40:15), "the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20), "a wolf in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15), "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), "fight the good fight" (1 Timothy 6:12), and "the powers that be" (Romans 13:1).
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
— Isaiah 40:8
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