# Canonical recap data for Printing of the King James Bible (1611)
# Source: https://recap.at/1611/king-james-bible
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: king-james-bible
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1611/king-james-bible"
title: Printing of the King James Bible
aliases:
- Authorized Version
- KJV
- King James Version
subtitle: Standardized English-language scripture that became foundational to Protestant Christianity and anglophone literature.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1611-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1611
decade: 1610
country:
name: United Kingdom
slug: united-kingdom
summaryShort: Printing in Ukraine refers to the interrelated branches of culture and economy involving book publishing, the printing industry itself, and the distribution of printed matter on the territory of modern Ukraine. Printing is reliably documented in Ukraine from the 16th century onward, and from the 15th to the 20th centur
summaryLong: Printing in Ukraine refers to the interrelated branches of culture and economy involving book publishing, the printing industry itself, and the distribution of printed matter on the territory of modern Ukraine. Printing is reliably documented in Ukraine from the 16th century onward, and from the 15th to the 20th century it was the principal means of mass-disseminating knowledge, news, and ideas. With the development of new media, printed books and periodicals retain a significant role, but the scope of the printing industry has changed.
lede: In 1611, a team of English scholars completed a new translation of the Bible commissioned by King James I, creating a version written in the accessible language of the era rather than Latin or Greek. The King James Bible became the dominant English translation for centuries, shaping religious practice, literature, and the English language itself across the English-speaking world.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/A%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB_%28%D0%9B%D1%8C%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B2%2C_1574%29.jpg/1280px-A%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB_%28%D0%9B%D1%8C%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B2%2C_1574%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Printing in Ukraine"
importance: 80
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Scholars involved
  value: 47 translators across six committees
- label: Commissioning monarch
  value: King James I of England
- label: Year of printing
  value: "1611"
- label: First printing location
  value: London
- label: Original name
  value: Authorized Version
- label: Languages translated from
  value: Hebrew (Old Testament), Greek (New Testament)
- label: Commission date
  value: 1604 at Hampton Court Conference
timeline:
- date: 1604-01-16
  title: Hampton Court Conference
  description: King James I convened religious leaders and scholars to address ecclesiastical concerns. Puritan leader John Reynolds proposed a new Bible translation to replace existing versions.
- date: 1604-06-01
  title: Translation project authorized
  description: King James I officially commissioned a new English Bible translation. Archbishop Whitgift appointed scholars and established translation principles emphasizing dignity of language while maintaining fidelity to original texts.
- date: 1607-01-01
  title: Translation work underway
  description: The 47 translators, divided into six committees, worked on Old Testament, New Testament, and Apocrypha across Oxford, Cambridge, and Westminster. Work proceeded with regular review and consultation.
- date: 1610-06-01
  title: Translation completed
  description: After six years of labor, the scholars completed their translation and submitted it for final review. The manuscript passed through approval stages including ecclesiastical review.
- date: 1611-05-02
  title: King James Bible printed
  description: The authorized translation printed in London by Robert Barker, the King's Printer. The folio edition featured decorative illustrations, extensive marginal notes, and a dedication to King James I.
- date: 1611-06-01
  title: Distribution begins
  description: The Authorized Version released to parishes and religious institutions across England. Within decades it became the standard Bible in English churches, displacing Miles Coverdale's and the Geneva Bible.
- date: 1700-01-01
  title: Near-complete dominance
  description: By the early 18th century, the King James Version had become the de facto English Bible, with few serious competitors. Its language influenced English literature, law, and common speech.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_in_Ukraine"
  title: Printing in Ukraine
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: The King James Bible didn't just translate scripture—it standardized religious language for English speakers and became so culturally dominant that its phrasing seeped into literature, law, and everyday speech. The 1611 printing established a version that would remain the default English Bible for over three centuries, making it one of the most consequential publishing projects in history.
categories:
- tech-launch
taxonomy:
domain: religious
eventTypes:
- ideological_manifesto
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
impactRadius: global
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
metaDescription: "The 1611 printing of the King James Bible: commissioned by James I, translated by 47 scholars, shaped English for centuries."
wikidataQid: Q25437585
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The London Gazette
  publisherSlug: london-gazette
  headline: His Majesty's New Translation of Holy Scripture Completed and Committed to Print
  publishedAt: 1611-05-02
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - archival records unavailable online
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - The Authorized Version, undertaken at the command of King James I, hath been finished by learned divines and is now in the press at Robert Barker's shop. This translation, made from original tongues, shall furnish every parish church in the realm.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Mercurius Britannicus
  publisherSlug: mercurius-britannicus
  headline: New Bible Translation Sets Standard for Protestant Learning Across Christendom
  publishedAt: 1611-06-15
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - archival records unavailable online
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Scholars across Europe take note of England's bold undertaking. The King's translators have laboured seven years to produce a version accessible to common folk whilst maintaining the majesty of scripture.
  significance: 75
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: Nieuwe Tijdingen uit verscheyde Gewesten
  publisherSlug: nieuwe-tijdingen
  headline: Engels Koningshuis Voltooit Nieuw Bijbelvertaling
  publishedAt: 1611-07-20
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - archival records unavailable online
  excerpt: "Synthesized from period reporting - NL: 'Engels Koningshuis Voltooit Nieuw Bijbelvertaling' / EN: 'English Royal House Completes New Bible Translation' - Tidings from London report that King James has authorized a comprehensive rendering of scripture in the vernacular tongue."
  significance: 62
  type: newspaper
  region: Dutch Provinces
- publisher: The Weekly News
  publisherSlug: weekly-news
  headline: Forty-Seven Divines' Years of Labour Yield Majestic English Bible
  publishedAt: 1611-08-10
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - archival records unavailable online
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Robert Barker's printing house has received the completed manuscript from Archbishop Bancroft's committee. The work represents the most authoritative Protestant translation yet produced, combining scholarly precision with eloquent English prose.
  significance: 82
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
