Today is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (my favorite translation). I thought I’d give a short list of some of my all-time favorite KJV Bibles.
Note-Takers from Local Church Bible Publishers. This Bible has the most space in the margin (2.5 inches), a nice 9-point font, thick paper, and one of the softest and most flexible covers I’ve ever seen. All for $57. LCBP sales their Bibles at cost. Buy one. Tell them Randy sent you.
Cambridge Concord Wide Margin from Baker Publishing (published by Cambridge in the UK). Nice 1.5 inch margins, thick paper, bold 8-point text, center-column references, a large concordance, a glossary, 15 maps, and plenty of paper in the back to write on- 26 blank pages and 56 ruled pages. This is an awesome study and carry Bible because the paper allows you to have your notes with you without carrying a separate notebook.
Thompson Chain Reference from Kirkbride. The Thompson is a very good topical study Bible, but isn’t perfect. It doesn’t include the Rapture and several other doctrines, but what it does have makes it my favorite topical study Bible. It places the topics in the margin with a link to the next verse in the chain. Many times, when I go to write a topic in the margin the Thompson already has it. Topical study is what I do the most and I wouldn’t want to be without this Bible.
KJV Archaeological Study Bible from Zondervan. I love archaeology and the study of the Biblical texts. This Bible has that and more. It covers archaeology, the canon of Scripture, customs, cultures, ancient writers and more. The concordance isn’t as nice as the NIV edition but it’s better than many KJVs. You don’t get many choices for covers (Bonded leather and hardcover only), but the content is so amazing that I simply can’t do without it.
Life in the Spirit Study Bible from Zondervan. This Bible is Pentecostal and has a strong focus on Holiness standards. It includes many articles that cover Pentecostal studies, healing, faith, Creation, the end times, word studies in Hebrew and Greek, and so much more.
Hebrew Greek Keyword Study Bible from AMG. This Bible is the work of Spiros Zodhiates. It includes word studies in both Hebrew and Greek and includes both a Hebrew and Greek dictionary. It includes definitions, parts of speech, word usage, and more. It is a must-have for students of the original Biblical languages.
There are many more, but this will do as my top six. I know I’m leaving out many Bibles and publishers. I haven’t even touched on software and audio. I will save those, as well as other KJVs in print, for other articles.
Do you have a favorite KJV?
I am awaiting the KJV Longprimer from Allans [limited edition, atlantic blue calfskin] and I suspect that it will be my favourite KJV!
Congratulations! I like the blue Long Primer. It’s a beautiful Bible. Mark Bertrand has written a fine review with lots of pictures:
R. L. Allan’s KJV Long Primer in Atlantic Blue Calfskin
Randy, I was not aware of the; KJV 400th Anniversary Edition in Dry Stamp Lambskin (LCBP), Local Church Bible Publishers, until I saw the information here. If it followed word for word the Authorized Version of AD 1611, then of necessity it will have the false name of: “Elizeus” the prophet, in Luke 4:27, [which name when literally translated is, “Zeus is my God”] substituted for the real name of Yah’s prophet, “EliYah,” which name when literally translated is, “Yah is my God.” The use of the Grecian god, “Zeus,” reveals the Grecian influence on the translators.
Randy, since you have the LCBP would you examine Luke 4:27 and tell us if it has the name “Elizeus”?
I have the digital scanned copy of the original AD 1611 Authorized Version of the first King James Bible, which is published by Zondervan Bibles ISBN: 978-0-310-44029-1.
A digital scanned copy of the AD 1611 AV leaves no room for the hand of man to change the content of the pages produced by the original translators and producers of their version of the English Bible. I purchased several of the Holy Bible 1611 King James Version 400th Anniversary Edition at Wal-Mart in 2011 for about $7.99 each. Since it is a digital scanned copy of the original AD 1611 AV, the test does not have any words spelled with the letter (J) because the letter (J) did not exist in any KJV until the 1769 edition of the RKJV, the edition where the hybrid English names, “JAH,” “Elijah,” and all other names spelled with a letter (J).
I say, “hybrid English” because neither the Hebrew language or the Greek language have a phonic sound in their alphabets that will match the English phonic required by the letter (J). Example: “Hal-le-lu Yah” is the correct spelling and it means, “Praise Yah,” but “hallelujah” is of late English transliteration as of 1769.
The eleven page preface of The Translators to the Readers is of great value because we do not have to take anyone’s word for what those translators had to say about their labors in making the 1611 AV. One thing for sure in their preface they never claimed that they or their work was “inspired” but I have heard some modern ministers say: “The KJV translators were inspired and their work is infallible.” The 1611 AV preface the translators stipulated their belief that God’s prophets and apostles spoke (or wrote) by inspiration. They also stipulated they wrote as scholars and made many mistakes but corrected all their mistakes they found in their translation work, and they promised the Readership that after the 1611 AV was published and when more mistakes were brought to their attention they would correct those mistakes and published a revised edition, which they did.
It’s my hope that Yahweh will guide us into his original message contained in the ancient manuscripts because His Words will judge us in the last day.
Larry Stone, a son of Yah.