The King James Translators’ Thoughts on Bible Translations

by Doy Moyer

I recommend reading the translators' preface to the King James Version of 1611. It’s easily found online, and some older King James Bibles may contain it. It helps provide some context when trying to see the value in various translations.

People today make claims about KJV that the translators did not make. The translators seemed to be reasonable in their explanation and in answering detractors. What they accomplished was great for their time and for what they had to work with. There is just so much more to work with now than what they had, and this makes their work at the time impressive.

When the King James Bible was being assembled, it was criticized greatly. Even after it was initially done, many changes were made, and it took decades before it was more generally accepted and surpassed the Geneva Bible. The panning of new translations is nothing new, and the KJV was no exception to facing harsh criticism either then or now.

In answering critics, the translators of the King James Bible defended the making of translations in general. They said, “Now to the latter we answer; that we do not deny, nay we affirm and avow, that the very meanest translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession, (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God.” They were not claiming that the KJV was the only proper translation, but were wanting to improve upon what was already available (e.g., the Bishop’s Bible, as the KJV was not the first Bible in English).

They further state: “No cause therefore why the word translated should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current, notwithstanding that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it. For whatever was perfect under the Sun, where Apostles or Apostolic men, that is, men endued with an extraordinary measure of God's spirit, and privileged with the privilege of infallibility, had not their hand?”

They defended the idea that translations were necessary and they should not be forbidden “to be current,” even if there are some imperfections. They saw value in updating where needed, and this is one reason why newer translations today should have a seat at the table.

They defended the changes they were making: “Yet before we end, we must answer a third cavil and objection of theirs against us, for altering and amending our Translations so oft; wherein truly they deal hardly, and strangely with us. For to whomever was it imputed for a fault (by such as were wise) to go over that which he had done, and to amend it where he saw cause?”

Later, they write, “But the difference that appeareth between our Translations, and our often correcting of them, is the thing that we are specially charged with; let us see therefore whether they themselves be without fault this way, (if it be to be counted a fault, to correct) and whether they be fit men to throw stones at us…”

In stating their purpose, they say this: “But it is high time to leave them, and to show in brief what we proposed to ourselves, and what course we held in this our perusal and survey of the Bible. Truly (good Christian Reader) we never thought from the beginning, that we should need to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one, (for then the imputation of Sixtus had been true in some sort, that our people had been fed with gall of Dragons instead of wine, with whey instead of milk:) but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principal good one, not justly to be excepted against; that hath been our endeavor, that our mark.”

They say, “We desire that the Scripture may speak like itself, as in the language of Canaan, that it may be understood even of the very vulgar.”

They were not claiming perfection, and they were not claiming this to be the one and only final translation, never to be touched again. They saw value in translations for reaching the common people.

It’s fascinating to me. I recommend reading the KJV. It’s beautiful. But also read other translations, for in them all there is much to learn and appreciate.