The King James Version (KJV) is a 1611 English translation of the Protestant Bible, widely read for its traditional and literary style. The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is not a separate Bible in the usual sense but a revision of the King James text made by Joseph Smith between 1830 and 1833, which he produced by reviewing the English text against his own understanding of its meaning. The KJV suits readers who want the familiar text used across most English-speaking churches for centuries, while the JST suits readers who are studying the revisions made within the Latter-day Saint tradition.
Background
The KJV was commissioned by King James I of England and published in 1611 by a large committee of scholars working from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek sources. It became the standard English Bible for generations of Protestants and remains one of the most influential books in the English language. Its wording shaped hymns, sermons, and everyday speech long after newer translations appeared.
The JST grew out of Joseph Smith’s study of the King James text beginning in 1830. He worked through the Bible over several years and made changes he believed restored lost or corrupted material, along with clarifications and expansions. The Latter-day Saint church, which Smith founded, has never adopted the JST as its main Bible, but it includes selected JST passages in its scriptural canon, and the complete revised text is published by the church as the Joseph Smith Translation.
Translation Method
The KJV works in an older formal style, staying close to the structure of the original languages where it can while still reading as English. Its word order often follows Hebrew and Greek patterns, which is why it can feel unfamiliar to modern readers even when the meaning is clear. This approach gives it a sense of solemnity and continuity with earlier English Christian writing.
The JST is not a fresh translation from the original languages. It is a set of edits made on the King James text, so its method is revision rather than translation. Where Smith added or changed wording, he was working from his own inspired reading rather than from new manuscript comparison, and readers should keep that distinction clear when they compare the two.
Reading Level and Style
The KJV uses seventeenth-century English, with forms such as “thee,” “thou,” and verb endings that modern speakers no longer use. Many readers find it rewarding once they adjust, because its rhythm and memorable phrasing have been absorbed into the wider culture. Younger readers or those new to the Bible may find it slower going than a modern version.
Because the JST keeps most of the King James wording and adds changes within it, it carries the same older style and the same challenges in reading. The changes themselves are sometimes short insertions and sometimes longer passages, so the reading experience shifts from verse to verse. Readers should expect a text that feels familiar in most places and noticeably different in others.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(KJV)
This familiar opening of the psalm is shown here in the KJV, which renders it with the traditional “The LORD is my shepherd” phrasing. The JST revises the King James text in various places across the Bible, but readers comparing this verse should check the JST edition directly rather than assuming the wording changed, since many verses are left as they were. The comparison is most useful when you look at passages where the JST marks a clear change.
Who Should Use It
The KJV suits readers who want the Bible text that generations of English-speaking Christians have memorized, preached from, and prayed with. Its strengths are its literary quality and its long history, and its limits are the archaic language and the older manuscript base that later scholarship has refined. It works well for worship, traditional study, and reading alongside older devotional writing.
The JST suits readers who are studying Joseph Smith’s revisions or who belong to the Latter-day Saint tradition and want to read his changes alongside the King James text. Its strength is that it shows exactly where Smith altered the wording and why those changes matter within his theology. Its limit is that it is a revision of one translation rather than an independent translation from the original languages, so readers who want a text checked against the earliest manuscripts should consult a modern critical edition as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the JST a complete separate Bible?
No, the JST is a revision of the King James text rather than a separate translation from the original languages. Joseph Smith made changes, additions, and clarifications to the English wording between 1830 and 1833. Readers often use it as a companion to the KJV rather than a replacement.
Do Latter-day Saints use the JST in worship?
The Latter-day Saint church uses the King James Version as its primary Bible, and it includes selected JST passages in its scriptural canon. The full JST is published as a study resource. Individual members may read it privately for study.
Which should I read if I am new to the Bible?
Many new readers find a modern English translation easier to follow than either the KJV or the JST, because both keep older English forms. If you want to try the KJV, read a short book such as Psalms or the Gospels and allow time for the language to become familiar.
