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King James Version

King James Version

1 4.1
An English translation of the Bible first published in 1611
  • proper noun
  • /kɪŋ dʒeɪmz ˈvɜrʒən/
translation icon : Versión Reina-Valera
  • I don't want you to use the old translation such as the King James Version or the Catholic Douay version.
  • the King James Version of the Bible

Examples

  • That's the King James Version.

  • In the King James Version, the end of Verse 21 reads:

    Blog text (12)
  • The King James Version is a little more honest:

    Blog text (12)
  • The King James Version is in the public domain in the United States; you may copy and quote from it without restriction.

    Blog text (24)
  • Psalm 83:1-5 (King James Version) - Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

    Blog text (24)
  • The other day in a Bible study group I help to lead, I was noting that none of the modern English translations of the Bible -- though in many ways easier to understand -- has achieved anything close to the influence and the soaring poetic language of the King James Version, first published in 1611.

    Blog text (1)
  • Many people prefer the King James Version of the Bible for its poetic language.

  • In his sermon, the pastor quoted several verses from the King James Version.

  • The King James Version is widely regarded as a classic translation of the Bible.

Synonyms

King James Bible
vsKing James Version
  • Literature
3 5.5

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

is the famous label stressing royal commission and publication date
Authorized Version
vsKing James Version
7.2

An English Bible translation first published in 1611 and called the King James Version

is the more commonly used modern name for the same 1611 translation

Surface Forms

Morphology

king + James + version

The phrase is compositionally clear: a B1 learner who knows 'king', 'James' (a name), and 'version' can infer it is an edition associated with King James. However, identifying it specifically as the canonical English Bible translation requires cultural/historical knowledge beyond the literal constituents, so the meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

King James Version was made in 1611 when King James I asked scholars to produce a new English Bible. Because the king ordered it and its language became famous and poetic, the name now means that English 'translation' of the 'Bible'.