During a recent school visit, I was asked by one of the visiting teachers whether or not Shakespeare was involved in the writing of the King James version of the Bible. Thank you to all docents who responded. I had similar information from several of you, but I think most of what you all told me is included in the following from Georgianna, Gerry and Bill.
From Georgianna Ziegler: Yes, these are apocryphal stories that have made the rounds about Shakespeare. (We’ve had people ask before.) The King James Bible was translated by a committee of scholars from Oxford and Cambridge, many of them linguists, and was obviously influenced by earlier translations such as that of Tyndale. See for example, David Daniell, The Bible in English (Yale UP, 2003).
Shakespeare's own vocabulary was much larger than that used in the Bible. According to Norrie Epstein's The Friendly Shakespeare, "It's estimated that Shakespeare used between 25,000 and 29,000 different words in his plays and poems. Consider that the King James Bible is made up of only six thousand different words." And, "One out of every dozen or so words was a new one that Shakespeare would never repeat in any play or poem" (p.224). Michael Macrone in his book Brush Up Your Shakespeare gives 9+ pages, double-columned, of words for which Shakespeare is listed as the first usage (pp.193 ff).
The reference to the cryptogram in the 46th Psalm is explained in Norrie Epstein's book, The Friendly Shakespeare, pp.298, 100.
From Gerry Connolly: Many believe he did only due to the fact that the writing in the King James Bible mirrors the musical writing of Shakespeare, but William Shakespeare is not credited as one of the 40-plus translators and writers. However, it is widely believed he did in fact assist a bit on the translation and writing, but his contribution would have been so minor he was left uncredited.
An interesting side-note is the fact that Shakespeare was 46 years old when the King James Bible was being translated and written, and the 46th word in Psalm 46 is "shake", and the 46th word from the end is "spear". This may be another reason so many believe he was involved in the translation and writing, especially on Psalm 46. If you want to count words then take a look at Psalm 46...
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Two of the most important influences on the English language were the King James Version of the Bible and the plays of William Shakespeare. These works helped standardize the language and make it what it is today. Given their importance to our language, it is not surprising that they also had an influence on each other. One would think that perhaps the King James Version of the Bible influenced Shakespeare, but this is not so. If Shakespeare wrote any plays after the KJV Bible was published in 1611, they were few and relatively unimportant. Further, it is unlikely that he wrote anything after 1613.
And from Bill Stewart: I refer you to "God's Secretaries" by Adam Nicolson--a recent and quite definitive book about the making of the King James Bible. There is no mention of Shakespeare having been part of this process.
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