PSALM 46

Q: It has been noted that the 46^th word from the start of this psalm is “shake” while the 46^th word from the end is “spear.” Doesn't this prove that Shakespeare was part of the team that translated the King James Version?

Shakespeare's 46^th birthday was in 1710 toward the end of his career, the year when fifty English scholars put the finishing touches on the King James Bible. Shakespeare is not listed as one of those translators. However, it is possible that one of the final editors slipped his name into this psalm in his honor. Less likely is the possibility that Shakespeare himself did it. There is absolutely no historical evidence linking Shakespeare with the actual translating of the KJV. In fact, it is felt that he came from a Catholic family and thus might have been excluded from participating.

For the scheme to work, one needs to omit the final word of Psalm 46, “Selah.” This is not a real problem since selah is probably some sort of musical direction and not really part of the Psalm's content.

Also, for it to work one must translate the two pertinent Hebrew words as shake and spear. There was no real fudging of the text to do this since these two English words appear in two previous English translations made before Shakespeare was even born. However, there are some judgment calls involved that would allow the translators of the KJV some leeway to use these particular words. For example, the same Hebrew word is translated as shake in verse 3 but as move in verse 6. Also, the Hebrew word for spear can also be translated as spears (as in the Good News Bible.)

My gut feel is one of the translators noted the existing coincidences and made sure that the exact word count and specific choice of words completed the puzzle.

My own analysis of this Psalm seems to have nothing to do with the Shakespeare phenomenon:

A. God is our refuge (1-3) (ends in Selah)

    B. God's power over nations and the earth (4-6)

A. God is our refuge (7) (ends in Selah)

    B. God's power over nations and the earth (8-10)

A. God is our refuge (11) (ends in Selah)