King James Bible
The printing of the King James Bible influenced great linguistic changes during the Middle English period. A brief biography of King James will help us to understand how greatly the distribution of the Bible changed the way linguists, grammarians, writers, royalty, nobility, and the common people approached written and spoken English.
King James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley. He came to the throne of England in 1603. King James was an educated ruler and abundant writer during his reign. In regards to the pre-production of the King James Bible, David Norton, the author of A Textual History of the King James Bible states, “James I, who had been on the throne for less than a year, had called the conference to try to establish a degree of religious uniformity in his kingdoms.” That conference, referred to by Norton, was the conference of 1604 that took place in the Hampton Court. This important conference was held for King James to gradually begin the process of bringing his people in consensus with religious beliefs. While at the conference, the suggestion for production of the King James Bible was brought forth; hence, the King James Version of the Bible came about.
Although the exact history regarding the specific dare of production of the King James Bible is still in question, most scholars agree that it was bound in 1611. Norton suggests that the King James Bible is a “culmination of translated work” by numerous translators of that time. Several of the most prominent translators include Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, and William Tyndale, though they did not all work on King James’ version. The original published version of the King James Bible has been edited a number of times for the purpose of “modernizing” the text. The New Testament of the King James Bible was translated from Greek; the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew. There are secondary references to the Latin Vulgate and Aramaic languages.
The second version of the King James Bible was printed in 1760. We can see the linguistic changes that occurred between the two versions by looking at a passage in 1 Corinthians 13.
Version 1: Though I speake with the tongues of men & of Angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophesie, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge: and though I have all faith, so that I could remoove mountaines, and have no charitie, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestowe all my goods to feede the poore, and though I give my body to bee burned, and have not charitie, it profiteth me nothing.
Version 2: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift ofprophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
These three verses include eleven changes of spelling, three changes of punctuation, and one change in text—where “not charity” is replaced with “no charity” to clear up what is believed to be a misprint from the original interpretation.
Although the text has been revised following the linguistic trends of Early Modern English, scholars agree that the King James Bible has been most influential in the continual development of the English language and literature. In fact, the King James Bible is the most referenced work as a piece of literature. One can look to other masterpieces such as John Milton’s Paradise Lost, William Shakespeare’s dramas, William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Songs of Innocence and Experience to understand the permeating scope of the Bible. To this day, the Bible continues to shape the way the English language is spoken and written.
King James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley. He came to the throne of England in 1603. King James was an educated ruler and abundant writer during his reign. In regards to the pre-production of the King James Bible, David Norton, the author of A Textual History of the King James Bible states, “James I, who had been on the throne for less than a year, had called the conference to try to establish a degree of religious uniformity in his kingdoms.” That conference, referred to by Norton, was the conference of 1604 that took place in the Hampton Court. This important conference was held for King James to gradually begin the process of bringing his people in consensus with religious beliefs. While at the conference, the suggestion for production of the King James Bible was brought forth; hence, the King James Version of the Bible came about.
Although the exact history regarding the specific dare of production of the King James Bible is still in question, most scholars agree that it was bound in 1611. Norton suggests that the King James Bible is a “culmination of translated work” by numerous translators of that time. Several of the most prominent translators include Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, and William Tyndale, though they did not all work on King James’ version. The original published version of the King James Bible has been edited a number of times for the purpose of “modernizing” the text. The New Testament of the King James Bible was translated from Greek; the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew. There are secondary references to the Latin Vulgate and Aramaic languages.
The second version of the King James Bible was printed in 1760. We can see the linguistic changes that occurred between the two versions by looking at a passage in 1 Corinthians 13.
Version 1: Though I speake with the tongues of men & of Angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophesie, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge: and though I have all faith, so that I could remoove mountaines, and have no charitie, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestowe all my goods to feede the poore, and though I give my body to bee burned, and have not charitie, it profiteth me nothing.
Version 2: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift ofprophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
These three verses include eleven changes of spelling, three changes of punctuation, and one change in text—where “not charity” is replaced with “no charity” to clear up what is believed to be a misprint from the original interpretation.
Although the text has been revised following the linguistic trends of Early Modern English, scholars agree that the King James Bible has been most influential in the continual development of the English language and literature. In fact, the King James Bible is the most referenced work as a piece of literature. One can look to other masterpieces such as John Milton’s Paradise Lost, William Shakespeare’s dramas, William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Songs of Innocence and Experience to understand the permeating scope of the Bible. To this day, the Bible continues to shape the way the English language is spoken and written.