The King James Version (KJV) of the English bible is one of the most beloved translations of Scripture and has been published for over 400 hundred years.
The King James Bible is known for its accurate translation of Hebrew and Greek words, its beautiful phrasing of Old and New Testament verses, and the fascinating history surrounding its development. No other English translation has impacted the world as the King James has.
Many people who read the King James bible deeply desire to understand Scripture. Like other Christians, they seek wisdom in resources like bible commentaries to help them understand the history, theology, and meaning of Old and New Testament books.
Also see Reference Bibles vs. Study Bibles to learn more.
One-Volume Whole Bible KJV Commentaries
The benefits of utilizing a one-volume whole bible commentary include: (1) they often cost less than other commentaries, (2) they offer readers an overview of every passage of the bible, and (3) because they are just one volume, they take up less room than a set of commentaries.
The limitations of one-volume whole bible commentaries include: (1) since they are overviews, they don’t comment on every single verse of Scripture, and (2) because they don’t have as much space to work with as other commentaries, there is often just one focus, like explaining the basic meaning of the text, so less information on theology, history, and literature.
| Title | Theology/Approach | Distinctive Feature(s) | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible  | Wesley- Arminian | Clarke was a British Methodist (d. 1832) | Amazon |
| The Complete Bible Commentary  | conservative Bible teaching | written by Irishman George Williams | Amazon |
| Exposition of the Whole Bible  | conservative Bible teaching, premillennial | written by British evangelist G. Campbell | Amazon |
| Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown  | Reformed | abridged version: published 1871 | Amazon |
| Jon Courson’s Application Commentary  | pretribulation, premillennial | written by Calvary Chapel leader and pastor | Amazon |
| King James Version Commentary  | broadly evangelical | verse-by-verse, non-technical | Amazon |
| Matthew Henry’s Commentary  | Reformed, Presbyterian | used by C.H. Spurgeon and George Whitefield | Amazon |
| John Wesley One-Volume Commentary  | Arminian | written by 40+ Wesley- Arminian scholars | Amazon |
| Wiersbe Bible Commentary  | Wiersbe was Baptist | all of Wiersbe’s “Be” commentaries combined | Amazon |
Also see Famous Bible Commentaries to learn more.
In-Depth King James Commentaries
The benefits of using in-depth bible commentaries include: (1) in most in-depth commentaries, every verse of a biblical book is commented on, (2) authors discuss topics that shed more light on biblical texts, such as history, theology, and application, and (3) when the reader finds a commentary series they like, volumes can be purchased over time to build a resource library.
Building a commentary library over time costs more than buying a one-volume edition, but for those who can afford it, it is an investment that rewards the reader for years, if not a lifetime.
| Title | Theology/Approach | Distinctive Feature(s) | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Notes  | Presbyterian | published in the 1830’s | Amazon |
| Beacon Bible Commentaries  | Wesleyan | gives insight into background, exposition, and relevance | Amazon |
John Phillips Commentary Series | for evangelical pastors, Sunday school teachers, and students of Scripture | offers application, detailed outlines, illustrations and quotations | Amazon |
The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible | broadly evangelical | identifies key points of very passage | Amazon |
| The Pulpit Commentary  | Protestant | includes exposition, homiletics, and homilies (i.e. sermons) | Amazon |
Thru the Bible: J. Vernon McGee | great for laypeople and pastors | similar to McGee’s radio teachings | Amazon |
KJV Study Bibles with commentary
Because study bibles combine the entire text of Scripture with explanatory notes and helpful summaries, they are a go-to resource for many Christians. There are many study bible available in the KJV English translation.
| Title | Uniqueness | Notes | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dake Annotated  | 35,000 notes | bottom of page, 500k chain references; color maps | Amazon |
| Fire Bible  | helps Pentecostal pastors and lay leaders | study notes for select verses, 70 articles; in-text charts and maps | Amazon |
| Henry Morris Study Bible  | apologetics focusing on creationism | 10,000 study notes; Full-color maps | Amazon |
| Key Word Study Bible  | Greek and Hebrew word studies | key words, word studies, Strong’s numbers | Amazon |
| The King James Study Bible  | study aids developed for KJV | 5,700 notes on theology, people, history; 100’s of maps and charts | Amazon |
| The Ryrie Study Bible  | premillennial perspective | 10,000+ notes, articles on theology; 16 color maps; 8-page timeline | Amazon |
| The Scofield Study Bible (original)  | premillennial teaching from C.I. Scofield | 1917 notes; 16 pages of color; Oxford Bible Maps | Amazon |
| Thompson Chain-Reference  | “self-contained library” of bible study tools | 100,000 topical references; 8,000 chain topics; 14 color maps | Amazon |
Also see Types of Bible Commentaries to learn more.
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