The Authorized Version
Preserved but no longer current.
This, the version in general use in England, was made by a body of scholars working at the command of King James I (hence sometimes called "King James's Bible") from 1604 to 1611, and was published in 1611. The modern "Authorized Version" is, however, by no means an exact reprint of that authorized by King James; a large number of typographical errors which occurred in the first edition have been cor- rected, the orthography, punctuation, etc.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Authorized Version” mean?
This, the version in general use in England, was made by a body of scholars working at the command of King James I (hence sometimes called "King James's Bible") from 1604 to 1611, and was published in 1611. The modern "Authorized Version" is, however, by no means an exact reprint of that authorized by King James; a large number of typographical errors which occurred in the first edition have been cor- rected, the orthography, punctuation, etc.
Is “The Authorized Version” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.