Hengwrt: 400 Years of the King James Bible

23 April - 10 September 2011

This exhibition is to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible.  This edition of the English Bible was named after King James I of England who commissioned a new translation in 1604, and it was subsequently published in 1611.  Known as the ‘authorised version’, it was not the earliest English translation of the Bible but became the dominant edition in the English speaking world and still remains in widespread use.

The King James Bible is acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose.  As with Shakespeare’s works, many of the phrases and idioms used in the Bible have been absorbed into modern everyday language such as ‘by the skin of your teeth’, ‘flesh and blood’ and ‘labour of love’. The language of the Bible however was not as innovative as some perceive, as many of these idioms can be traced back to other versions such as William Tyndale’s translation in 1525 and subsequently the Geneva Bible in 1560. However such earlier versions laid the foundations for the new translation, which seemed to have more of an impact in popularising some archaic phrases into the English language.  

Across the border, the translation of the Bible into Welsh in 1588 by Bishop William Morgan (1545 – 1604) became one of the most significant events in Welsh history. As with the King James Bible, it served to standardise the language and became the foundation of religious faith. Up until the mid 16th century, Welsh was not considered the ‘official language’ of religion and law and was in decline. The translation of the Bible was only realised by an Act of Parliament in 1563 brought upon by the pressure from Welsh scholarly Protestants. The first translation of the New Testament and Book of Common Prayer was completed in 1567 by William Salesbury (c.1520-1584), and William Morgan used these as the basis for translation of the complete Bible in 1578.   No other Welsh book has had such linguistic and literary significance.

The 1588 Welsh Bible was revised at the beginning of the 17th century, largely through the efforts of Dr John Davies (c. 1570-1644) of Mallwyd. It was his edition, published in 1620, that became the ‘authorised version’ in Welsh until the publication of the New Welsh Bible in 1988.

Language is constantly changing and responding to current culture and events.  Just as Shakespeare and the Bible had a profound affect on the English & Welsh languages in the 16th and 17th centuries, today the Internet and advancements in technology continue to shape the language of today. 

Drawing on the Library’s own prestigious collection of rare books and manuscripts, here you can see one of the original surviving first editions of the King James Bible alongside William Morgan’s 1588 Welsh translation and other religious texts.


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