Who Translated the KJV Bible

The Translators of the King James Version (KJV)

Organized by the six translation companies at Westminster, Cambridge, and Oxford

Here is the most accurate, historically verified list of the King James Version (KJV) translators. These names come directly from documented historical records and modern scholarly summaries, including the full company lists preserved in academic sources.

Below is the complete, organized list of the men who translated the KJV in 1604–1611.

Westminster Companies

First Westminster Company

Translated: Genesis – 2 Kings

  • Lancelot Andrewes (Director)
  • William Bedwell
  • Francis Burleigh
  • Richard Clarke
  • Geoffrey King
  • John Layfield
  • John Overall
  • Hadrian à Saravia
  • Richard Thompson
  • Robert Tighe

Second Westminster Company

Translated: The New Testament Epistles

  • William Barlow (Leader)
  • William Dakins
  • Nicholas Felton
  • Roger Fenton
  • Ralph Hutchinson
  • Arthur Lake
  • Nicholas Love
  • Michael Rabbet
  • George Ryves
  • Thomas Sanderson
  • John Spencer

Cambridge Companies

First Cambridge Company

Translated: 1 Chronicles – Song of Solomon

  • Edward Lively (Director)
  • Roger Andrewes
  • Andrew Bing
  • Laurence Chaderton
  • Francis Dillingham
  • William Eyre
  • John Richardson
  • Thomas Harrison
  • Robert Spaulding
  • John Bois

Second Cambridge Company

Translated: The Apocrypha

  • John Duport (Director)
  • William Branthwaite
  • Jeremiah Radcliffe
  • Samuel Ward
  • Andrew Downes
  • John Ward
  • John Aglionby
  • Leonard Hutten
  • Thomas Bilson (oversight)
  • Richard Edes (early contributor)

Oxford Companies

First Oxford Company

Translated: Isaiah – Malachi

  • John Harding
  • John Harmar
  • Thomas Holland
  • Richard Kilby
  • Richard Brett
  • John Reynolds (Rainolds)
  • Miles Smith

Second Oxford Company

Translated: The Gospels, Acts, and Revelation

  • Thomas Ravis
  • George Abbot
  • John Aglionby
  • Richard Edes
  • Giles Tomson
  • Henry Savile
  • John Perin (Perrin)
  • Ralph Ravens
  • Leonard Hutten

Oversight & Final Editors

These men performed the final review and unifying edit of the entire Bible:

  • Richard Bancroft (Archbishop of Canterbury; chief overseer)
  • Miles Smith (wrote the famous “Translators to the Reader” preface)
  • Thomas Bilson (helped finalize the text)

How Many Translators Were There?

Historical records show about 47 primary translators, though some sources count up to 54 depending on how assistants, revisers, and early contributors are included.

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