Download the original 1611 King James Bible — the Authorized Version commissioned by King James I and first printed in 1611. This free PDF contains the complete text of the historic KJV translation: all 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation, ready to read offline or print.
In 1604, King James I of England convened the Hampton Court Conference, where a new English translation of the Bible was proposed. Over the next seven years, six committees of 47 scholars — fluent in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and other ancient languages — worked across Cambridge, Oxford, and Westminster. The result was the 1611 Authorized Version, a masterpiece of Early Modern English that would shape the English language for centuries. The 1611 edition included the 14 Apocryphal books between the Old and New Testaments, decorative woodcut initials, and extensive marginal notes. The edition you download here uses the standardized 1769 Blayney revision — the same text found in virtually every KJV Bible today, with modernized spelling and punctuation so it reads smoothly while preserving the original translation.
For historians, pastors, and serious students of Scripture, having the original King James text on hand is invaluable. The KJV's vocabulary — over 12,000 distinct words — shaped English hymnody, literature, and public speech for 400 years. Words like 'peacekeeper,' 'long-suffering,' and 'brokenhearted' entered common English through this translation. A PDF gives you offline access to this historic text. Search instantly for any word or phrase, print chapters for study groups, or keep the entire Bible on your phone or tablet. Because the King James Version is in the public domain, you can quote, print, and distribute it freely.
The 1611 first edition used Gothic (Blackletter) type for the text and Roman type for proper names. Spellings were not yet standardized: 'fhewed' for 'showed,' 'vnto' for 'unto,' and 'fonne' for 'son.' Pronunciation guides helped readers with unfamiliar words. The original also included a dedicatory epistle to King James, a genealogical table, a map of the Holy Land, and detailed marginal notes explaining translation choices. This PDF uses the 1769 Blayney standard text — the translation itself is identical, but spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are modernized for easy reading. You get the same words the 47 translators chose, in a format that works on any modern device.
Yes and no. The translation text is identical to the 1611 Authorized Version — the same words chosen by the 47 scholars. However, this PDF uses the 1769 Blayney revision, which modernized spelling and punctuation (for example, 'vnto' became 'unto'). The translation itself is unchanged. If you want the original 1611 typography and spelling, you would need a facsimile edition.
Yes. The original 1611 edition printed the 14 Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical books between the Old and New Testaments. This PDF contains the standard 66-book Protestant canon used today. If you want the Apocrypha, see our free KJV Apocrypha PDF download page.
King James I commissioned and authorized the translation for use in the Church of England. 'Authorized Version' (AV) was the official name; 'King James Version' (KJV) became common later, especially in America. Both names refer to the same 1611 translation.
Forty-seven scholars, organized into six companies at Cambridge, Oxford, and Westminster. They drew on earlier English translations — especially Tyndale (1526), Coverdale (1535), the Geneva Bible (1560), and the Bishop's Bible (1568) — as well as the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.
The Old Testament was translated primarily from the Masoretic Hebrew text. The New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus, a Greek manuscript tradition compiled by Erasmus and later refined by Stephanus and Beza. The translators also consulted the Septuagint, Vulgate, and other ancient versions.
Absolutely. The King James Version is in the public domain worldwide. You may quote, print, publish, distribute, and even sell copies without permission or royalty. This is one reason the KJV remains the most widely distributed Bible translation in history.
The New King James Version (NKJV, 1982) is a modern translation that keeps the KJV's literal philosophy but updates the vocabulary to contemporary English. The NKJV is copyrighted. The original KJV (1611) uses classical Early Modern English ('thee,' 'thou,' 'verily') and is public domain.
It is the 1769 Blayney KJV. Benjamin Blayney of Oxford produced the standardized edition in 1769, fixing spelling inconsistencies and regularizing punctuation. Since then, virtually every KJV Bible printed has followed this standard. The words of the translation are the same as 1611; only the presentation is modernized.
No — this PDF contains the Bible text alone, with bookmarks by book and chapter for easy navigation. For the full 1611 front matter, including 'The Translators to the Reader' and the dedicatory epistle, see a specialized facsimile edition or archive.org.
Yes. The text is fully embedded, not scanned images, so you can use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) in any PDF reader to search for words, phrases, or verse references anywhere in the Bible.
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
The First Martyr Apostle
The First Gentile Convert
KJV Epiphany readings for January 6: the wise men, the star, the gifts, and what
A study of Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians in the King James Version.
Test your Bible knowledge with this free 40-question KJV quiz. Instant grade, ev
Free KJV quiz — which Old Testament king matches your leadership style? David, S
All 66 books in one free download — the canonical hub page.
View pageFocused guide to the 39 books of the OT — download, print, study.
View pageThe 27 books of the NT — Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation.
View pagePrint or save just the book you're studying — Genesis through Revelation.
View pageEasy-to-read KJV — print settings, font scaling, and accessibility tips.
View pagePrint the KJV 4-up or as a booklet to carry the whole Bible in your pocket.
View pageStep-by-step home-print settings — paper, scale, double-sided, and binding.
View pageFree printable plans — Bible-in-a-year, 30-day, Advent, and Holy Week.
View pageListen to the King James Bible — free public-domain recordings.
View page