rules

Rule #1 - The Translators had to follow the Bishop's Bible. This ruled was not strictly followed. We know this because we have found instances where the KJV Bible closely resembles other versions, such as Tyndale's version. The Bishop's Bible was more of a model in matters of style, but it was not considered as accurate as the Geneva Bible (Daiches 167)..

Rule #2 - Proper nouns were to be in the form "as nigh as may be, accordingly as they were vulgarly used" - meaning "pleasant to read, familiar yet impressive, simple yet dignified" (qtd Daiches 168).

Rule #3 - "The old ecclsiastical words were to be kept" - meaning that it had to be readable to the English people. They were accustomed to Catholic usages (such as church instead of congregation) and many Puritans wanted to change most Catholic phrases (Daiches 169).

Rule #4 - When a word had several meanings, the one to be used was the one most commonly used by older translators if all men were in atreement that it belonged in the context (Daiches 169).

Rule #5 - The translators were not to divide the chapters any differently that tradition unless it was absolutely necessary (Daiches 169).

Rule #6 - This limited the amount marginal notes to be used. They could be used only when the original Hebrew or Greek meanings could not be expressed within the text (Daiches 169).

Rule #7 - This stated that a cross-reference was to be indicated in the margin (Daiches 169).

Rules #8-11 - Each individual would translate the same portion and then submit it to the group until they all agreed it was correctly translated. When a whole book was finished it was sent to the other groups. If they had problems, it was went back to the original group to be fixed. If there was still a question after the group ammended it, the portion was sent to a final general meeting of "chief persons of each company" (qtd. Daiches 169-170).

Rule #12 - Every bishope was to send information to his clergy about the revision and encourage the revision and encourage all men learned in the languages to send in their observations (Daiches 170).

Rule #13 - The chiefs of each company had to be Deans of Westminster and Chester or the King's professors in the Hebrew and Greek in each university (Daiches 170).

Rule #14 - If the Bishop's Bible did not agree with the original version as well as "Tindale's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch's, or Geneva," use them (Daiches 170).

Rule #15 - "Three of four of the most ancient and grave divines in either of the universities, not employed in translating" were assigned to be "overseers of the translation as well Hebrew as Greek for the better observation of the 4th rule above" (qtd. Daiches 170).