The King James Bible
1611 King James Bible
1611 King James Bible title page
When the King James Bible was first completed in 1611 no one could have predicted the profound impact it would have on the English-speaking world. Also known as the Authorized Version, it was the unrivaled and unchallenged translation of the English Bible by the beginning of the 18th century. It became known for its majestic style and its impact upon English culture.
Its roots stem from a Hampton Court conference in 1604 where the king sought to reduce tension between Anglicans and Puritans. When the idea of a new version was proposed, the king jumped at the opportunity to issue a new translation without the controversial notes that reside in the Geneva Bible. Teams of university scholars were commissioned by the king to work in six companies. The work was overseen by Richard Bancroft and printed by the King’s printer, Robert Barker. Numerous printing errors occurred during the first few years and the text of the King James Bible witnessed revisions and corrections until Blayney’s standard text of 1769.
A Peculiar Beginning
James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne in 1603 and instantly became the head of the Church of England. At the time, the Great Bible was the only authorized version though the Bishops’ Bible was licensed for church use. The Geneva Bible was legal to own but banned from use in church services. As King James assumed the throne, everyone wondered about his religious affiliations. His mother, Mary Stuart, was Catholic and the Anglicans he would align himself with their views. Yet his Calvinistic upbringing and 34 years as the head of the Protestant church in Scotland gave the Puritans hope. The religious landscape was tense and both sides hoped to sway the new king toward their own ambitious agendas. It soon became clear that two guiding principles would aide King James in navigating the complicated tension between Anglicans, Puritans, and Catholics. First, his strong belief in the divine appointment of monarchs. Second, his desire for peace between the religious factions of his country.
Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603)
Hampton Court Conference
King James I (1566 - 1625)
Neither side wasted much time to push their agenda forward. Puritans sought out James on his triumphal route from Edinburgh to England before he was even crowned king. They presented him with the Millenary Petition, so called because it represented the request of more than a thousand ministers seeking further church reform. In this cleverly crafted letter, Puritans affirmed their loyalty to the monarch then requested changes to the wearing of surplices, confirmation, making the sign of the cross at baptism, and the necessity of a ring for marriage. Anglicans were vehemently opposed to the contents of the petition. They accused the Puritans of limiting monarchial power. Neither side was certain of King James’ support.
King James responded with an astute political move. He called a conference at Hampton Court to let each side present their views. Puritans found themselves outnumbered with four representatives to the Anglicans’ eighteen, including the powerful archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of London. On the afternoon of the final day of the conference, a Puritan leader named Dr. John Reynolds suggested replacing the poorly received Bishops’ Bible with a different translation. This was a surprising proposal, and likely one that Reynolds hoped would result in the adoption and authorization of their beloved Geneva version.
King James was already familiar with the Geneva Bible from his time as King of Scotland. A 1579 first edition Geneva Bible printed in Scotland was dedicated and presented to him. He authorized its use throughout Scotland and ordered one copy to be kept in every Scottish church. Despite this, he harbored reservations regarding the anti-monarchial marginal notes. James felt that his title as King provided him with a unique relationship between the divine Creator and his subjects. The contents of the marginal notes which promoted Presbyterianism were, at times, in direct opposition to this conviction. For example:
The note in Exodus 1:19, on midwives who did not follow the Pharaoh’s command to kill the Israelite boys, states: “their disobedience was lawful, but their disassembling evil.”
The note in Exodus 1:22 states: “when tyrants cannot prevaile by craft, they burst forth into outrage.”
James jumped at the opportunity to bring forth a new translation. He would support a translation that was crafted by committee, incorporated contributions from both Anglicans and Puritans, and did not contain any marginal notes.
The King James Bible contains no marginal notes
Principles to Guide the Work
A 1602 Bishops’ Bible was used as the base text for the translation of the King James version
Archbishop Bancroft, a leading scholar, and a strong supporter of the Church of England wrote the rules for translation and oversaw the work. The Rules to be observed in the Translation of the Bible lays out fifteen guiding principles which reveal a clear bias against the Puritans, guaranteeing a version that favored Anglicans. A few rules prohibit the alteration of name or chapter divisions; others address the protocols for making groups decisions and the appeals process. There are five guiding principles of particular interest.
Rule one required the Bishops’ Bible, a revision of the Great Bible, to be used as the base text for the new version. Even though the Geneva Bible was by far more popular and utilized a more modern language style, the archaic forms of the 1539 Great Bible would remain in the new translation. The Geneva Bible was a great step forward both in style and utility, but the King James Bible took an intentional step backwards to archaic style and form, and of course, Anglican conformity.
Rule three addressed the desire to preserve the old terms and ecclesiastical words. Going against Tyndale and the Geneva translations, the standard term Church would be favored over Congregation, charity over love, priest over minister, Baptism over washing.
Rule six asserted that no marginal notes of any kind would be included in the new translation, aside from short explanations of Hebrew or Greek words. This removal of notes that King James saw as questioning the authority of governmental powers and allegiance to the monarchy were a significant step in supporting Anglicanism. The King James version would contain no notes unless the text was so ambiguous that one was needed for clarity.
Rule seven allowed for the use of cross-references in the margins between Old and New Testament verses or fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament.
Process of the Work
While some work began as early as 1604, labor began in earnest around 1607 and was completed in 1611. The men who completed the translation task received little if any compensation. King James approved a list of fifty-four men to work on the project, forty-seven of whom ultimately participated. King James sought to maintain balance between Anglican and Puritan representatives and scholars. They were split into six panels: two at Oxford, two at Cambridge, and two at Westminster. Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, oversaw the panels. Each translator completed about a chapter per week. This chapter was then circulated and revised by comparing each translator’s work within the panel. The panel’s collaborative revision was then circulated to other panels and revised further. Next, the text was shared with other scholars outside of the original fifty-four translators and updated again. Finally, the text was sent to the general meeting in London, and there the final version was established. This meticulous revision process ensured accuracy and clarity in the final translation.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Oftentimes when Christians think back to an old version of the Bible, the King James Version comes to mind. While its contribution to English language and culture is unparalleled, it is certainly not the earliest version of the Bible in English. The King James Version followed works from Tyndale, Coverdale, John Rogers in the Matthew’s Bible, the scholars at Geneva, Gregory Martin in his Rheims’ New Testament, and the Bishops’ revision of the Great Bible. Though translators based their work on the Bishops’ Bible, the impact of linguistic genius and martyr William Tyndale is evident throughout the final text of the King James Version. A computer-based study by Jon Nielson and Royal Skousen revealed that Tyndale’s contribution to the KJV accounts for 83% of the New Testament and 76% of the Old Testament.
“Whether the wonderful felicity of phrasing should be attributed to the dexterity with which, after meanings had been settled and the important words in each passage chosen, either the board of twelve or the two revisers put their touches to the work, or whether, as seems more likely, the rhythm, first called into being in Tyndale and Coverdale, reasserted itself after every change, only gathering strength and melody from the increasing richness of the language, none can tell. All that is certain is that the rhythm and the strength and the melody are there.” – A.W. Pollard
William Tyndale (1494 - 1536)
The Printing Monopoly
For a Bible that was to be distributed to the masses, it is ironic that the printing privileges were protected by copyright. Prior to 1500, thousands of printers were known throughout continental Europe. England had only two. The situation improved only slightly throughout the sixteenth century. As a result, the majority of paper and printing was imported from France, and some from Holland. Ever since 1589, the Barker family had an exclusive patent to print Bibles in England from Queen Elizabeth.
Despite his status as the royal printer Robert Barker’s work was often error-laden, and he was plagued by financial problems. Around the time of printing the 1611 King James Bible he was in a partnership with two other men, Bonham Norton and John Bill. Responsibilities of printing and the office of the King’s printer seemed to pass between them during this time, as lawsuits between the parties ensued. Barker himself spent the last decade of his life in debtor’s prison.
The royal printing house was certainly a busy place. Within two years of the first King James edition, royal printers produced thirteen King James Bibles, four Geneva Bibles, three Geneva New Testaments, and a Bishops’ Bible. With the startling quantity of Bibles printed during this time horizon, it is no wonder that the quality began to slip.
The history of the early printing of the King James version is obscure and complex. Both the amount of printing that was done at the printing house and the apparent legal challenges that the Barkers were facing contributed to the challenges of printing the early King James Bibles. Numerous complaints regarding the monopoly of English Bible printing and the quality of the work in England emerged by the middle of the seventeenth century. During this time period, many Geneva Bibles and even some King James Bibles were printed abroad and imported at a lower price and on higher quality paper.
The He Bible and the She Bible
In the earlier versions of the King James Bible the text of Ruth 3:15 read “and hee went into the citie.”
The first printing of the King James Bible was a 59-line folio in large black letter, designed to rest upon the pulpit. Five printings of this version occur with dates 1611, 1613, 1617, 1634, and 1640-39. The first edition from 1611 is known as the Great He Bible, because the text of Ruth 3:15 reads “and he went into the citie…” Experts such as David Norton confirm that the 1611 He Bible is a distinct first edition printing that is entirely uniform. Printings after 1611 change the reading to “She” and are often found in a mixed state. Various Biblical passages on numerous leaves allow the reader to distinguish a first edition printing from the subsequent second edition printings from later years. Rather than improving the text, subsequent printings compounded on the errors from the first edition.
There are two factors that contribute to the likelihood of a second distinct edition of the pulpit folio Bible beginning in 1613. First, the unique engraved title page by Cornelius Boel is only found in the 1611 folio. The engraved title is clearly superior to the title page with woodcut border that is found in subsequent 59-line folios. We can garner greater confidence that Boel’s engraving was preferred since Barker had Jasper Isaac design a similar quarto size engraving for the first quarto edition issued in 1612. It is possible that a fire at the print house destroyed Boel’s engraving and Isaac’s engravings, forcing the printers to return to the title with woodcut border. Only the 1611 He Bible and the 1612 first quarto edition contain steel engraved general title pages.
Second, the pulpit folio King James Bibles after 1611 are almost always found in a mixed state. To optimize printing efficiency, each leaf was set and printed in large quantities. These leaves were then stacked in piles throughout the printing house. Sheets were then collected and arranged in signatures as orders for the Bibles came in. Since Barker was struggling financially there are claims that he sold incomplete Bibles and even single sheets to facilitate cash flow. These factors together account for a distinct second edition She Bible that is so often in a mixed state with sheets from various years. He and She Bibles were produced in folio, quarto, and octavo versions from 1611 to 1613.
Subsequent Revisions and Corrections
The text of the King James Bible saw a number of revisions and corrections. The first of these is in the first small folio (1616), which reveals evidence of light scholarly revision and some simplification. Cambridge University was eager to establish a reputation as a fine printing house that minimized typographical errors. They began printing the King James Bible (1629) by invoking printing rights granted by a charter in 1534 by Henry VIII. Comparison with the original languages, spelling updates, and the addition of apostrophes led to an edition that improved upon the prior versions. A second folio edition was issued thereafter (1639) improving yet again on previous versions. So confident were the Cambridge printers of their accuracy that they claim to have promised that anyone who could find an error in the 1638 edition would be given a complete copy of the Bible for free. Though the veracity of this story is questionable, it does provide credence to the accuracy of the 1638 edition.
Over one hundred years passed before the King James Bible underwent any more revisions. In the 1760s, three important Bibles arrived on the scene. One of these three is the Baskerville Bible (1763) which is known as one of the finest printed books in England. The perfection of the work relates, however, more to its lack of typographical error than to any scholarly textual revision. Cambridge released a revised folio version, mostly the work of F.S. Parris (1762), with textual correction and modernization of the language. It was the Oxford revision (1769) by Benjamin Blayney just a few years later that became the standard text for centuries.
The Title Page of the King James Bible
Whereas the Geneva Bible title page invites the reader into the text, the King James Bible title page carries tones of stately authority and stature, causing the reader to pause and reflect. The title page, like the text itself, is an intentional step backwards.
The pillars within its architectural frame highlight Moses and Aaron, as well as the four evangelists with their gospel symbols in the corners of the page. The Pelican below the letterpress represents the Eucharist. Along the top of the page is featured the Tetragrammaton, the dove, as well as various apostles including Peter who holds the keys, and Paul who is equipped with the sword of the Spirit.
Only the 1611 folio He Bible and the 1612 quarto He Bible contain this engraved title page by Cornelius Boel and Jasper Isaac respectively.
The Vinegar Bible
The title page of the book of Judges from the 1717 Vinegar Bible
The 1717 Vinegar Bible is renowned for both its exquisite workmanship and its glaring errors. It was printed by John Baskett (1664-1742), a man of significant influence in the world of printing. Though he produced one of the most magnificent Bibles ever printed in England, he had a shady business reputation and was often criticized for his business dealings, carrying significant debts, and facing numerous legal challenges.
The presentation quality of the Vinegar Bible is truly stunning. With a richly decorated gold gilt spine and numerous engravings throughout, it served as an ideal status symbol for the elite. Unfortunately, once it made its way into the hands of the clergy, numerous errors and omissions in the text were discovered. One of the famous misprints for which the Bible is named is the heading of Luke 20 which reads “the parable of the Vinegar” instead of “Vineyard”.
The Macklin Bible
Extensively illustrated Macklin Bible
The largest and most impressive Bible printed—a multi-volume set (usually six or seven volumes) that weighs well over 100 pounds! Each volume is illustrated with multiple copper plate engravings after paintings by some of the foremost artists of the day. This amazing set was the work of Thomas Macklin (1752-1800), a British 18th-century print seller and picture dealer.
Among the 700 subscribers to the enormous production was the royal family. Macklin died on October 25, 1800, just five days after the last large engraving was finished for his Bible. According to the Dictionary of National Biography, “The Macklin Bible endures as the most ambitious edition produced in Britain, often pirated but never rivaled.”
The Harper Bible
Some of the over 1600 engravings in the 1846 Harper Bible
The engraver Joseph Adams (1803-1880) began the most innovative of all American Bibles. He convinced the Harper and Brothers publishers to take on “the most splendidly elegant edition of the Sacred Record ever issued.” It was originally announced in 1843, and printed in magazines in 54 issues for 25 cents each. The 1846 Harper Bible had an initial subscriber list of 50,000. Once all issues were released, subscribers could have them bound together into one volume. The finished product includes over 1600 historical engravings and in-line illustrations.
Adams is credited with having taken the first electrotype in America from a woodcut. Many illustrations in this Bible are done this way. Artists were engaged for more than six years in the preparation of the designs and engravings included in this Bible, at a cost of over $20,000, a small fortune in those days.
References for further reading
Brake, Donald. A Visual History of the King James Bible. Baker Books, 2011.
Daniell, David. The Bible in English: Its History and Influence. Yale University Press, 2005.
Dore, J. R. Old Bibles: Or an Account of the Early Versions of the English Bible. Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1888.
Hamel, Christopher De. The Book: A History of the Bible. Phaidon, 2001.
Herbert, A.S. Historical Catalogue of Printed Editions of the English Bible, 1525-1961. London and New York, 1968.
Norton, David. A Textual History Of The King James Bible. Cambridge, 2005.
Pope, Hugh. English Versions of the Bible. B. Herder Book Co., 1952.