THE BIBLE INTO ENGLISH: THE KING JAMES VERSION

It is arguably the most influential book in the English language. It has formed much of our diction, our thought patterns and our ways of expression. The famous playwright, George Bernard Shaw, said, “To this day the common Britisher or citizen of the U.S.A. accepts and worships it as a single book by a single author, the book being the Book of Books and the author being God.” Shaw was referring, of course, to the King James Version of the Bible which helped shape the Western English-speaking world.

The translations of John Wycliffe, William Tyndale and others already had shaken off the dogmatic grip of the Medieval Church. Gradually the ignorant clergy and laity were being introduced to the actual words of the Bible instead of an overlay of dogma and tradition. It was a liberating, invigorating experience.

However, as English translations began to proliferate, the need was felt for one standard English translation to be read in all the churches, schools and homes.

So in 1604, King James I of England responded positively to Puritan John Reynolds’ proposal for a new translation. The King appointed 54 translators to complete the new translation “as soone may be.”

Six companies of translators – two each from Oxford, Westminster and Cambridge – began their work. By 1610 they met to pass final approval on their work. And in 1611 (403 years ago) the famous King James Version was published and widely distributed.

The translators were outstanding linguistics, many of them being proficient not only in the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek, but also in French, Spanish, Italian, Aramaic and Arabic. They read their translations aloud to assess their use for public reading. They made recommendations for improvements, and as a result, produced a masterpiece of English literature.

I still like the cadence and rhythms of the Psalms. Consider Psalm 8 which begins, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth.” Or Psalm 121 which starts, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Try reading aloud the Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5, or reading Paul’s famous ode to love in I Corinthians 13.

So after 403 years, the King James Version is still influential, though many new translations gradually have taken its place. None the less, we all are greatly indebted to this masterpiece of English literature.