bishops' bible: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “bishops' bible” mean?
A historically significant English translation of the Bible, authorized by the Church of England and published in 1568, primarily intended to replace the earlier Geneva Bible for use in church services.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historically significant English translation of the Bible, authorized by the Church of England and published in 1568, primarily intended to replace the earlier Geneva Bible for use in church services.
A specific, named edition of the Bible, produced under the direction of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, with contributions from various bishops. It served as a precursor to the more famous King James Version (1611) and is a key artefact in the history of English Bible translations and the Protestant Reformation in England.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties, primarily in historical and religious studies contexts.
Connotations
Connotes scholarly historical or theological discussion, the history of the Church of England, and the development of the English language via biblical translation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, but marginally more likely to be encountered in UK contexts due to its role in British ecclesiastical history.
Grammar
How to Use “bishops' bible” in a Sentence
The Bishops' Bible + VERB (was published, preceded, influenced)REFER TO + the Bishops' BibleCOMPARE + the Bishops' Bible + to/with + OTHER TRANSLATIONVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bishops' bible” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Bishops'-Bible readings were standard in parishes for decades.
- The Bishops'-Bible translation style was deliberately conservative.
American English
- Bishops' Bible scholarship focuses on its translation committees.
- The Bishops' Bible text was used as a base for the King James Version.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and literary studies to discuss 16th-century Bible translations and their influence.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term in historiography of the Bible and church history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bishops' bible”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bishops' bible”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bishops' bible”
- Using lowercase ('bishops' bible').
- Using it as a general term rather than a specific title.
- Confusing it with the later King James Bible.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not used for contemporary worship or study. It is a historical document studied by scholars and those interested in the history of Bible translation.
The translation was overseen by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, and produced by a team of bishops and scholars, which is how it got its name.
The King James Version (1611) is a later, new translation that used the Bishops' Bible as one of its primary source texts, among others like the Geneva Bible and the original languages. The KJV eventually replaced the Bishops' Bible entirely.
Yes, digital scans and transcriptions of the original 1568 edition and its revisions are available through several university and digital library projects dedicated to historical texts.
A historically significant English translation of the Bible, authorized by the Church of England and published in 1568, primarily intended to replace the earlier Geneva Bible for use in church services.
Bishops' bible is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Bishops' bible: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪʃəps ˈbaɪbl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪʃəps ˈbaɪbl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the BISHOPS sitting together to create their official BIBLE, bridging the gap between the Great Bible and the King James Version.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STEPPING STONE (in the path of biblical translation), A BRIDGE (between earlier and later translations), AN ARTEFACT (of ecclesiastical authority).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary motivation for producing the Bishops' Bible?