The KJV is the King James Version, an English Bible completed in 1611 that has shaped Protestant worship and literature for more than four centuries. The JST, the Joseph Smith Translation, is not a separate standalone Bible but a revision of the King James text made by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, between 1830 and 1833. If you want a historic English Bible for study, reading or memorization, the KJV is the familiar choice. If you are curious about how a later reader changed the same text, or you follow Latter-day Saint teaching, the JST is worth examining alongside it.
Background
The King James Version was produced by a committee of scholars commissioned under King James I of England. It was published in 1611 and revised several times over the following centuries, with the edition most readers use today reflecting later spelling and printing updates. It has been the most widely read English Bible for generations and is still used in many churches, especially where traditional language is valued.
The Joseph Smith Translation began as Smith’s own careful reading of the King James Bible, which he undertook under what members of his church describe as divine direction. He worked through the text by hand, making additions, corrections and clarifications, and some of these changes were later included in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. The manuscript was never fully published as a finished Bible during his lifetime, and the Community of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handle it differently today, which is worth checking in each church’s own materials.
Translation Method
The KJV follows a largely formal, word-based approach. Its translators tried to stay close to the wording and sentence structure of the original Hebrew and Greek, which means the English can feel unusual but still conveys the grammar and phrasing of the source texts. This approach gives careful readers a sense of the original shape of each passage, though it sometimes requires a little patience with older vocabulary.
The JST is not a fresh translation from the original languages. It is an editorial revision of the King James wording, so its method is to change the English text itself, adding verses, rewording passages and inserting explanatory material. A reader who compares the two side by side will see the same base text with alterations marked by Smith’s additions. This is a very different project from translating the Bible anew, and it is why the JST is best understood as a commentary on the KJV rather than a rival to it.
Reading Level and Style
The King James Version reads in the language of early seventeenth-century England, with phrases such as “thee” and “thou” and sentences that flow in long, rhythmic lines. Many readers find this beautiful and memorable, and its cadence has influenced English speech and writing for centuries. For a new reader the older vocabulary can slow things down, so reading with a modern commentary or a study guide often helps.
Because the JST keeps the King James base, its style is largely the same, but the added passages are written in Smith’s own voice and carry the theological emphases of his movement. Readers will notice that the inserted material can sound a little different in tone and detail from the surrounding text. That contrast is part of what makes the JST interesting to study, and it is also why the two should be read with attention to where one ends and the other begins.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(KJV)
This short verse shows how the two texts relate. In the KJV you will find the familiar opening of the psalm, a classic statement of trust that has been memorized and recited for centuries. The JST keeps this wording as its base, so the core statement is the same in both, and the reader is reminded that the JST is built on the King James text rather than replacing it. Comparing the two at a verse like this is a good way to see the nature of the revision for yourself.
Who Should Use It
Choose the KJV if you want an English Bible with a long history of use in churches, classrooms and literature, and you are willing to work through older language. It is widely available, freely quoted in the public domain, and familiar to many listeners, which makes it useful for group study and personal devotion alike.
Choose the JST if you are studying Latter-day Saint teaching, or you want to understand how a nineteenth-century reader revised the King James text. Keep in mind that it is a revision rather than a standalone Bible, so it works best as a companion to the KJV. Use it to explore Smith’s additions and their context, and check the official materials of your own church for how the JST is regarded and used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the JST a complete Bible?
No, the JST is best described as a revision of the King James text rather than a complete, standalone Bible. It adds, rewrites and clarifies many passages, and it is normally read alongside the KJV. Some sections are included in the Latter-day Saint standard works.
Which one is more accurate?
The two serve different purposes, so accuracy depends on what you are measuring. The KJV is a translation from the original languages, while the JST is an editorial revision of that translation. Each is best judged by its method and goals rather than ranked against the other.
Can I use both in my own study?
Yes, many readers compare them side by side to see where Smith made changes and what those changes add. Reading the KJV first and then consulting the JST at the same passages gives a clear picture of the revision. Your church’s guidance can help you decide how much weight to give each text.
