eet a Translator
About four dozen men translated the King James Bible. Some were in their 20s or 30s, while the oldest translators were in their 70s. Most were members of the clergy. Many of the translators could read and write several languages, and were experts in Greek or Hebrew, the two main languages of the original Bible.
The translators worked carefully to make sure the new Bible they were creating was accurate. They also wanted it to sound majestic when it was read out loud. In fact, the translators often tested out words or phrases with each other to decide which one sounded the best!
Lancelot Andrewes
(1555–1626)
Laurence Chaderton
(1536 (?) - 1640)
Sir Henry Savile
(1549-1622)
Lancelot Andrewes was the son of a sailor and grew up in London. He was the oldest of twelve children. A bright student, he won a scholarship to Cambridge. He learned eighteen languages and studied theology. Eventually, he became a priest and Queen Elizabeth I made him dean of Westminster Abbey, one of the highest honors in the kingdom for a clergyman. He was known for giving good sermons and was a popular preacher.
Andrewes worked with one of the two translating companies based in London at Westminster Abbey. These men translated some of the books from the Old Testament.
Laurence Chaderton was skilled in languages and theology. He was also a very well-liked preacher. One congregation was so impressed that they asked him to keep going with one of his sermons after he had already been speaking for two hours.
Chaderton was among the older King James Bible translators. He turned 75 in the year the Bible was printed. But he still lived much longer than many of the other translators. He was 103 when he died! He worked in Cambridge to translate books of the Old Testament, including 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and The Song of Solomon.
Sir Henry Savile was the only King James Bible translator who was not a member of the clergy. He had many interests, including geometry, astronomy, and literature. In his 20s, he traveled to many different countries in Europe, including Bohemia and Poland. When he came back to England, he became Queen Elizabeth’s Greek tutor. In 1604, he was made a knight by King James.
Sir Henry Savile and the other members of his company worked at the University of Oxford, translating the Gospels and the books of Acts and Revelation from Greek into English.
Sir Henry and his wife Margaret had two children, Henry, who died very young, and Elizabeth.
John Layfield was the only translator who visited the New World (what we call North and South America and the Caribbean today). In 1596, he traveled to Puerto Rico with an expedition led by the earl of Northumberland.
Where Did the Translators Work?
Help a translator start his work day.
Hear and see translations from different Bibles.
