The KJV Translators

In January 1604, King James I convened the Hampton Court Conference to address disputes within the Church of England. During the proceedings, Puritan scholar John Rainolds proposed a new English Bible translation. King James enthusiastically agreed, seeing an opportunity to produce a Bible that would be accepted by all English-speaking Christians. James appointed 54 of the finest scholars in England — though records suggest around 47 actually participated — and divided them into six companies, each responsible for a portion of Scripture. The work began in 1604 and was completed in 1611.

The translators were organized into six groups, meeting at three locations: Westminster (2 companies): • Genesis–2 Kings (led by Lancelot Andrewes) • Romans–Jude (led by William Barlow) Cambridge (2 companies): • 1 Chronicles–Ecclesiastes (led by Edward Lively, then Roger Andrewes) • The Apocrypha (led by John Duport) Oxford (2 companies): • Isaiah–Malachi (led by John Harding) • The Gospels, Acts, Revelation (led by Thomas Ravis) Each company worked through their assigned text, then submitted their work for review by the other five companies. Disagreements were resolved by a committee of senior revisers. This multi-layered review process ensured no individual bias or error could survive.

The KJV translators were not ordinary scholars — they were among the most learned men in the world. Their combined expertise was staggering: Lancelot Andrewes — Master of 15 languages. Dean of Westminster. So devoted to prayer and study that he spent five hours each morning in private devotion. John Bois — Read the Hebrew Old Testament at age 5. Wrote his own Hebrew letter to the professor at age 6. Was fluent in Greek by 12. Sir Henry Savile — One of the most learned Englishmen alive. Edited the complete works of John Chrysostom (8 volumes in Greek). Founded the Savilian Professorship of Mathematics at Oxford. Miles Smith — Wrote the famous Preface to the KJV ("The Translators to the Reader"). Proficient in Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic in addition to Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. These men were not producing a fresh translation but refining generations of English Bible work — Tyndale (1526), Coverdale (1535), Matthew (1537), the Great Bible (1539), the Geneva Bible (1560), and the Bishops' Bible (1568). They stood on the shoulders of martyrs.

King James gave the translators 15 rules to govern their work. The most significant: 1. The Bishops' Bible was to be the base text, altered only where the original languages required it 2. Old ecclesiastical words were to be retained (e.g., "church" not "congregation," "baptism" not "washing") 3. No marginal notes except for necessary cross-references and explanations of Hebrew and Greek words 4. When a word was added for clarity (not in the original), it was to be printed in a different type (italics in modern editions) 5. The translators were to consult previous English translations: Tyndale, Matthew, Coverdale, Great Bible, Geneva Rule 3 was particularly important. The Geneva Bible (1560) had extensive Calvinist marginal notes that had irritated King James. The KJV would let the text speak for itself.

The translation took approximately seven years (1604–1611). The process was meticulous: 1. Each translator worked through the assigned text individually 2. The company met to compare and discuss each translation 3. When a company finished their section, it was sent to all other companies for review 4. A committee of 12 senior scholars (two from each company) reviewed the entire Bible 5. Final review by Miles Smith and Thomas Bilson The result was published in 1611 as "The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall tongues: & with the former Translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesties speciall Commandement." It was not immediately popular — the Geneva Bible remained the favorite for decades — but by the mid-1700s, the KJV had become the undisputed English Bible. It has since been the most printed, most read, and most influential book in the English language.