Know the contributions of the King James Bible in shaping the English language
Learn about the King James Version's contributions to the English language.
© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The Kiddush is recited before the Sabbath meal.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The Hamotzi accompanies the breaking of bread.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The search for knowledge never ends—but it started somewhere.Media Editor: Lauren Sims
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Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library; CC-BY-SA 4.0 (A Britannica Publishing Partner)A look at misprinted early editions of the King James Bible, including the “He and She Bibles,” “Judas Bible,” and “Wicked Bible.”
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© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)An informal look at the lexicographic history of Great Britain, from Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language to The Oxford English Dictionary.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.A mongoose (Herpestes species) attacking an Asian cobra (Naja naja).
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© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Learn about the concurrent growth of the British Empire and the English language.
Transcript
The History of English in Ten Minutes. Chapter Four: The King James Bible, or Let There be Light Reading.
In 1611, the powers that be turned the world upside down with a labor of love, a new translation of the Bible. A team of scribes, with the wisdom of Solomon, went the extra mile to make King James' translation all things to all men. Whether from their hearts' desire, to fight the good fight or just for the filthy lucre.
This sexy new Bible went from strength to strength getting to the root of the matter in a language even the salt of the Earth could understand. The writing wasn't on the wall, it was in handy little books with fire and brimstone preachers reading it in every church. It's words and phrases took root to the ends of the earth, or at least the ends of Britain.
The King James Bible is the book that taught us that a Leopard can't change its spots, that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that a wolf in sheep's clothing is harder to spot than you would imagine, and how annoying it is to have a fly in your ointment. In fact, just as Jonathan begat Merib-Baal and Marib-Baal begat Micah, the King James Bible begat a whole glossary of metaphor, and morality, that still shapes the way English is spoken today. Amen.
In 1611, the powers that be turned the world upside down with a labor of love, a new translation of the Bible. A team of scribes, with the wisdom of Solomon, went the extra mile to make King James' translation all things to all men. Whether from their hearts' desire, to fight the good fight or just for the filthy lucre.
This sexy new Bible went from strength to strength getting to the root of the matter in a language even the salt of the Earth could understand. The writing wasn't on the wall, it was in handy little books with fire and brimstone preachers reading it in every church. It's words and phrases took root to the ends of the earth, or at least the ends of Britain.
The King James Bible is the book that taught us that a Leopard can't change its spots, that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that a wolf in sheep's clothing is harder to spot than you would imagine, and how annoying it is to have a fly in your ointment. In fact, just as Jonathan begat Merib-Baal and Marib-Baal begat Micah, the King James Bible begat a whole glossary of metaphor, and morality, that still shapes the way English is spoken today. Amen.