The King James is woven into our lives. It was read in churches and family devotionals for centuries, and today its language laces hundreds of everyday phrases. Consider: “How the mighty are fallen” (Samuel 1:19), and “Can a leopard change its spot?” (Jeremiah 13:23), and “The writing is on the wall” (Daniel 5: 5/6), and “The blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14).
“These phrases have become part and parcel then of the general usage in the English language,” says [David Lyle] Jeffrey. “We do not recognize them any longer perhaps as biblical unless we have a pretty good memory for the language of the KJV.”
[Gordon ] Campbell adds that this Bible is foundational to the English-speaking world. “It’s in the texture of our society rather than on the surface of it, I think. But if you trace back who we are, how we speak, how we think, many of those things have their origins in the King James Bible.”
When asked about modern translations of the Bible, my grandfather used to say, “The King James Version was good enough for Jesus, so it’s good enough for me!” I think this attitude shows just how ingrained the KJV was in American (and English) Protestantism.
While admittedly not the most accurate translation, the KJV is still arguably the most beautiful and when it speaks it speaks with authority… such is the loftiness and majesty of the language used.
Just bought both KJV and NIV. NIV is said to be written for the eighth grade reader. Dropped that like a rock. All my study and notes are going into my KJV. Love it. In my Bible class the pastor uses ESV but always asks us what other versions say because he wants to see words like “seed” and others. Great Bible, love it. Read it every night. Great words, great power, makes for great faith. Hope I can know it someday.
Amen lostdesert. Until somewhat recently, I read English transations based on the so-called “Critical Text.” Then for certain reasons I became a “Byzantine text-type” sort of person, and began reading the New King James Version. Only weeks ago, I picked up another copy of the AV (my other ones are in storage) to read devotionally. No contest.
One of the reasons is that, despite their differing backgrounds, the committee largely agreed on keeping the words of one man for much of the text – William Tyndale.
Estimates vary as to how much of the King James is attributable to Tyndale, usually in a range of 70%-90%.
This one man, strangled and burned for “heresy” 75 years before the KJV was issued, had probably greater influence on the development of modern English than any other. He ranks with Chaucer and Shakespeare (and a greater scholar than either).