King James Bible

American  

[king jeymz bahy-buhl] / ˈkɪŋ ˈdʒeɪmz ˈbaɪ bəl /

noun

1. an English version of the Bible prepared in England under James I and published in 1611.

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King James Bible ¹ Cultural  

1. The best-known English translation of the Bible (see also Bible), commissioned by King James I of England and published in the early seventeenth century. It is also known as the Authorized Version. In the late nineteenth century, the Revised Version was published in England.

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King James Bible ² Cultural  

1. (1611) The best-known English translation of the Bible (see also Bible). Most biblical quotations in English literature come from the King James Bible. (See also under “Bible.”)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

King James Bible

Arias, recitatives and choruses are more like ruminations from the King James Bible, as part of a spiritual journey.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

As the historian Daniel Dreisbach has observed, the King James Bible was “the most accessible, authoritative, and venerated text in early colonial society.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

The Bible, one of the very first printings of the 1611 King James Bible, was bought by book dealer Simon Finch from Norfolk.

From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2025

But Mr. Kirkpatrick has a backup plan — the Authorized Version, better known as the King James Bible.

From Washington Times ● May 26, 2021

Two days later, I tell Mother I’m going to pick up a new copy of the King James Bible since I’ve worn mine so thin and all.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett