On May 2, 1611, the King James Bible was published, becoming the most famous version of the world’s most influential book. Commissioned by King James I of England in 1604, it is known for its artfully written versions of Old and New Testament tales, bringing the Word of God to English-speaking commoners, and influencing the American colonies. The King James Bible remains the most widely published text in the English language, according to the British Library and continues to have a significant impact on society.
King James I played a crucial role in the growth of the future United States as he chartered the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in the American colonies in 1607. The King James Bible was widely read in the American colonies during the First Great Awakening of the mid-1700s, fueling the American independence movement. Robert Aitken, a Philadelphia bookseller, published a version of the King James Bible in the American colonies in the 1770s, earning it the nickname “Bible of the Revolution” for its distribution to soldiers in the Colonial army.
The King James Bible’s history is filled with political and religious intrigue, reflecting the conflict that defined the British monarchy for centuries. King James VI of Scotland ascended the throne at a young age and became King James I of England following the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. The translation of the King James Bible involved a team of about 50 scholars who worked for seven years to produce the new tome under King James’s order. While it was not the first English-language Bible, it was the first one with the stamp of approval of the monarchy, making it widely read by commoners in Britain.
Previous English versions of the Bible were written clandestinely, often putting the authors at risk of death. William Tyndale, a notable early English Bible writer, fled England for Germany in the 16th century to work on translations of the Bible. He cried out before his execution, “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes,” showing his desire for the Bible to be accessible to the broader population. Tyndale’s legacy lives on today, with the British Library attributing 80% of the King James Bible to his translations. Despite the hardships faced by early translators like Tyndale, their work played a significant role in shaping the English language and spreading the Word of God to a wider audience.
