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Authorized Version

Authorized Version

7.2
An English Bible translation first published in 1611 and called the King James Version
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɔːθəraɪzd ˈvɜrʒən/
translation icon : Versión Autorizada
  • The impact of the Authorized Version on English and North American culture, religion, and language is well known and need not be rehearsed here.
  • Authorized Version of the Bible

Examples

  • Speaking of the body at the time of the Resurrection, the Geneva Bible says that it "ryseth in honour," while the Rheims-Douai and the Authorized Version both use the word "glorie"—the same word Moulsworth uses in line 95.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The Authorized Version is one of the most influential translations of the Bible in English history.

  • The Geneva Bible, the Bishops' Bible, and the Authorized Version contained comparable numbers of similarities to Moulsworth's text.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Evelyn Tribble associates the Authorized Version with what she calls a "domestication" of the margin.

    Academic text (2006)
  • After nearly 100 years of competing annotations, the scholars who labored on the Authorized Version produced a Bible with no annotations at all, but only variant readings placed in the margins.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Therefore, only the remaining four versions (the Geneva Bible, the Bishops' Bible, the Rheims Douai, and the Authorized Version) will be used in addressing the scriptural references in the "Memorandum."

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Many people still read the Authorized Version because of its poetic language and historical significance.

  • In literature classes, we often analyze passages from the Authorized Version to understand its impact on English literature.

Synonyms

King James Bible
vsAuthorized Version
  • Literature
3 5.5

An English translation of the Bible first published in 1611, known for beautiful language and its influence

is the same translation but named in a more formal historical way
King James Version
vsAuthorized Version
1 4.1

An English translation of the Bible first published in 1611

is the same translation known by a traditional alternative name

Surface Forms

Morphology

authorized + version

The phrase transparently combines 'authorized' (officially permitted) and 'version' (an edition), so a learner who knows both words can infer it means an officially approved edition. However, recognising that this proper name specifically refers to the 1611 English Bible (the King James Version) requires cultural/historical knowledge beyond the constituents, so the connection is only partial.

Etymology

The name Authorized Version comes from the English Bible that King James ordered in 1604 and that the church approved for use in services in 1611. Because leaders 'authorized' this translation, people began to call the book the Authorized Version, and today the name means that famous English Bible translation.