The 47 Translators

The 47 King James Version translators were known as humble men, who loved the word of God, loved the King, were berated (abused) by the Catholic religion, and they desired a translation for the common man who was kept in darkness. Some of the translators where killed for their faith. This book was forged in blood, sweat, and tears.

Translation Guidelines

The New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) series of the Greek texts. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek Septuagint (LXX), except for 2 Esdras, which was translated from the Latin Vulgate.

Rather than working together all at one location, these men were divided into six separate groups, which worked at three separate locations. There were two at Westminster, two at Oxford, and two at Cambridge.

Each group was given a selected portion of Scripture to translate. Each scholar made his own translation of a book, and then passed it on to be reviewed by each member of his group. The whole group then went over the book together. Once a group had completed a book of the Bible, they sent it to be reviewed by the other five groups.

All objectionable and questionable translating was marked and noted, and then it was returned to the original group for consideration. A special committee was formed by selecting one leader from each group. This committee worked out all of the remaining differences and presented a finished copy for the printers in 1611. This means that the King James Bible had to pass at least fourteen examinations before going to press.

Throughout this entire process, any learned individuals of the land could be called upon for their judgment, and the churches were kept informed of the progress

Go to the Translators Letter to the Reader