BEGAT
The King James Bible and the English Language
By David Crystal. Oxford University Press. 327pages. £13.99
ISBN 978-0-19-958585-4
This book is acceptable, even handsome, if you know what you are getting; scanning the Index may provide a clue.
Its aim is narrower than the subtitle suggests. The ‘world’s greatest authority on the English language’ has skimmed the 1611 Authorised Version (‘King James’ or ‘KJB’ throughout), glancing at seven other classic translations and unearthing familiar phrases. These often comprise two or three words only, like ‘reap the whirlwind’ from Hosea. He then asked Google to find all the variations, in this case including a ‘Star Trek’ novel and some financial news: ‘Speculators reap the whirlwind’. Elsewhere ‘we find people reaping storms, tempests, hurricanes and tornadoes’.
