The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is not a new English Bible in the usual sense. It is a revision of the King James Version made by Joseph Smith in the 1830s, and it reads at roughly the same level as the KJV because it keeps the KJV’s vocabulary and sentence patterns while adding or altering passages. Readers who are comfortable with the King James will find the JST manageable, while readers who want a plainer modern English text will likely find it harder going than a contemporary translation.
Background
Joseph Smith began his work on the King James Version in 1830 and continued revising it until his death in 1844. He worked from the KJV text and made corrections and additions that he believed restored meaning lost over time. The result was never published as a complete Bible during his lifetime, and it was not an effort to produce a fresh translation from the original Hebrew and Greek.
The Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, published the JST in full in 1979 under the title Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publishes excerpts in its footnotes and study materials but does not present the JST as a replacement for the KJV in its own worship.
Translation Method
The JST sits in a different category from the translations most readers compare it with. It is a revision of an existing English text rather than a translation made directly from the ancient languages. Because of this, the JST keeps the King James wording wherever Smith saw no reason to change it, which means the reading experience is closely tied to the KJV.
Where Smith made changes, they range from single words to long additions, such as expanded passages in Genesis and Matthew. This gives the JST a mixed character: familiar in most places, but occasionally departing from the text readers know by heart. Anyone reading it side by side with the KJV will notice these differences quickly.
Reading Level and Style
Because the JST retains the King James syntax, its reading level is generally considered to be upper-intermediate, with long sentences, archaic verb forms such as “thou art” and “hath,” and an elevated vocabulary. Adults who read Shakespeare or older literature without much effort will find it comfortable. Younger readers and those new to the Bible may need a study guide or a glossary.
The added passages often use a similar style to the surrounding KJV text, so the shifts in voice are usually subtle. This consistency helps the reader stay oriented, though it also means that the additions inherit the same density of language. Readers who want a clearer modern sentence structure may prefer to pair the JST with a contemporary translation for daily reading.
A Verse to Compare
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(WEB)
The opening verse of Genesis shows how closely the JST follows the KJV in most places. Readers who know the King James will recognize the rhythm and phrasing immediately, with the same archaic forms and sentence shape. Where the JST expands the creation account in its surrounding chapters, the opening line stays familiar, which gives the reader a sense of continuity from one text to the other. Comparing this verse with a modern English rendering quickly reveals how much the older style shapes the reading experience.
Who Should Use It
The JST suits readers who already know the King James Version well and want to see where Joseph Smith’s changes differ from it. It is also useful for students of Latter-day Saint and Community of Christ history, who will encounter it in study and historical contexts. Its strength lies in its familiarity to KJV readers and its distinctive additions, which give insight into how one nineteenth-century reader approached the text.
Its limits are equally clear. The JST is not a modern translation of the original languages, and its archaic style can be demanding for newer readers. For daily devotional reading or for those seeking a plainer English text, a contemporary translation alongside the JST for comparison will usually serve better than the JST alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Joseph Smith Translation a complete Bible?
Yes, the Community of Christ published the full Joseph Smith Translation in 1979. It covers the entire Bible but works as a revision of the King James Version rather than a fresh translation from the original languages.
Is the JST harder to read than the King James Version?
It is about the same, since the JST keeps the King James vocabulary and sentence patterns. The added passages use a similar style, so readers familiar with the KJV will find little extra difficulty.
Should I use the JST for daily Bible reading?
It can work well for readers who want to study how Joseph Smith revised the King James text. For everyday devotional reading, many people prefer a modern translation for clarity, using the JST as a companion for comparison.
