The King James Bible


The King James Bible, also known as the Authorized Version, is a translation of the Christian Bible into English that was first published in 1611. It was commissioned by King James I of England and produced by a group of scholars in the Church of England, with the aim of creating a new translation that would be more accurate and faithful to the original Hebrew and Greek texts than previous English translations.


At the time of its publication, the King James Bible was not the only English translation of the Bible available, but it quickly became the most widely used and influential translation. It was well-received for its poetic language and elegant style, which was influenced by the Elizabethan era in which it was written.


The King James Bible includes 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament, and it follows the Protestant canon of scripture. Its translation was based on previous English translations of the Bible, including the Bishop’s Bible and the Geneva Bible, as well as the original Hebrew and Greek texts.


One of the notable features of the King James Bible is its use of Elizabethan English, which can be challenging for modern readers. The translators used many words and phrases that were common in the 17th century but are no longer in use, and they also employed a poetic and formal style that is not commonly used in modern English. Despite these challenges, the King James Bible remains one of the most widely used and influential translations of the Bible, and its impact on English language and literature cannot be overstated.