KJV (Bible)and Shakespeare

 This is the 400th year of the publication of Kings James version of the Bible popularly known as KJV which was published in 1611. One of our library members a westerner who wears Indian kurtas and looks like an ISCKON follower wanted to know whether the library was celebrating the landmark year in any manner. He pointed out that KJV was not just a religious text it was a work of literature and known for its immense influence on English literary culture. He spoke about KJV and Shakespeare and the many references in Shakespeare’s works. As he recited a few lines it was wonderful to hear the beautiful archaic language and the lyricism of the verses in his native accent.


However the fact remains that since the bard was dead by 1616 it was obvious that he had composed most of his work well before KJV was published. Yet the myth lives on and inspires people to make confident wishful observations publicly. As I listened to the gentleman’s assertion about the close relation between KJV and Shakespeare I tried to recollect if I had ever heard anything similar in the past while attending lectures by our veteran professors . I drew a blank. I did not find any scholarly references justifying the allusion either.

KJV can be read just for the sheer beauty of its language. The 1611 version has a later (1769) translation which is easier to read.

An excerpt from the 1611 version

“And all flesh died, that mooued vpon the earth, both of fowle, & of cattell, and of beast, and of euery creeping thing that creepeth vpon the earth, and euery man.

22 All in whose nosethrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

23 And euery liuing substance was destroyed, which was vpon the face of the ground, both man and cattell, and the creeping things, and the foule of the heauen; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah onely remained aliue, and they that were with him in the Arke.

24 And the waters preuailed vpon the earth, an hundred and fifty dayes.”

And its 1769 version

“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

22 All in whose nostrils [was] the breath of life, of all that [was] in the dry [land], died.

23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in the ark.

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

(Ref : http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-Chapter-7/ )

The richness of KJV as an artisitic composition speaks volumes about the talent of the brilliant scholars and translators of the times who were responsible for completing  the work which is believed to be a very close translation from the Hebrew original.It is a coincidence that they belonged to the same era which had also produced a genius like Shakespeare.