What Bible did Shakespeare use?

On the back of the monthly calendar I include information pertinent to Christian faith and practice. As the Bible is a central source of information, doctrine, and guidance for our  spiritual life, a wider audience might find the information below useful.  If not, then the two cute little amusements at the bottom will bring you a much needed chuckle. God be with you, dear Reader!

July 2026 – Back Page

May 27-29 I was at a CTSFW (Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN) Continuing Education event in Cassopolis, MI called “English Bible Translations” taught by Dr. Cameron MacKenzie. One of the questions I had going into the seminar was “What translation of the Bible did Shakespeare use?” Before I learned the answer to that question, we learned about early English Bible translations. The King James Version of 1611 is not the first English translation. That distinction goes to John Wycliffe’s (1330-1384) hand printed 1382 translation of the Latin Vulgate. Wycliffe’s translation is the first time that lay people had direct access to the Scriptures in their own language in 1,300 years. This translation is hand copied because it will be another 50 years before Gutenberg invents his printing press. 

While Wycliffe translated from the Latin Vulgate, William Tyndale (1490-1536) translated from the Hebrew and Greek texts to which he had access. Tyndale released his first New Testament translation in 1526. The translation of the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, was released in 1530. Tyndale’s translation work on the rest of the OT was interrupted when he was arrested and burned at the stake in 1536. Hard to believe now, but Tyndale’s crime was translating the Bible. Tyndale’s translation became the foundation of future English translations. 

Other scholars continued Tyndale’s work. The following translations appeared in English through the work of Tyndale’s assistants Miles Coverdale and John Rogers: 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible and 1537 Matthew’s Bible. The Great Bible published in 1539 was authorized for use in churches. Between the time of King Henry VIII’s separation from the Church of Rome in 1532 and the reign of Queen Elizabeth I reign (1558-1603) England went through significant political and religious turmoil. The authorized English translation of 1539 did not remain “authorized” for long. Queen Elizabeth I restored usage of English translation of the Bible. She also authorized an English liturgy for worship. The Book of Common Prayer (1559) became the only legal liturgy. The Geneva Bible was published in 1560.  The Bishop’s Bible (1568) was the new “authorized” English translation. 

King James I (1566-1625) requested a new English translation of the Bible suitable for use in homes and churches. In 1611, the KJV was officially presented to King James I. The basis of most of the KJV is Tyndale’s translation work. The KJV was THE English translation for hundreds of years. Many Lutherans grew up listening to and reading the KJV. 

So, which English translation did Shakespeare (1564-1616) use? Shakespeare grew up in a Protestant home which contained a Geneva Bible. In church he heard the Bishop’s Bible but the vocabulary and phrases in his plays are traced back to the Geneva Bible.  

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Along with the news of our families, my sister and I occasionally exchange jokes. For your amusement, here are two that recently passed between us. 

Amusement #1 - I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes…now I have Heinz-sight.

Amusement #2 - I visited a monastery and as I walked past the kitchen, I saw a man frying chips. I asked him, “Are you the Friar?” He replied, “No, I’m the chip monk.”