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The KJV Audio Bible
Hosted by Elizabeth Whitworth · EN
I’m recording the King James Version of the Bible, one chapter at a time. The KJV is renowned for its linguistic beauty, and the New Testament of the KJV is based on the Received Text, which I believe is the most trustworthy and original text of the New Testament books. There’s a certain power in reading Bible books as a whole. Bible-in-a-year plans are great, but they have a few pitfalls: (1) They typically chop the Bible up into unnatural parts (readings from several books each day). This makes it harder to understand each book and remember it distinctly. (2) If it’s not January 1, we aren’t likely to start a Bible-in-a-year reading plan. Every day is an excellent day to start reading the Bible. (3) At the end of the year — once we’ve completed reading the whole Bible — we might think we’re “done.” Our goal shouldn’t simply be to read the whole Bible; our goal should be to read the whole Bible and to read the Bible every day of our life. We’re never done.
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Exodus 28
Yesterday00:08:06Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 28. The LORD instructed Moses to bring forward his brother Aaron and Aaron's sons — Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar — to serve as priests before Him. To mark them for this sacred office, the LORD commanded that holy garments be made for Aaron, both "for glory and for beauty." He directed Moses to call upon all who were wise-hearted and filled with the spirit of wisdom to craft these garments, which would consecrate Aaron to the priesthood. The first and most prominent garment described was the ephod, a ceremonial vestment to be made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads woven with fine linen. It was to have two shoulder pieces joined at its two edges. A skillfully woven belt of the same materials was to be attached to it. Two onyx stones were to be engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel — six names on each stone — and set in gold filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod. These stones were to serve as memorial stones before the LORD, so that Aaron would bear the names of the children of Israel upon his shoulders as a continual remembrance. Next came the breastplate of judgment, crafted with the same fine workmanship and materials as the ephod. It was to be square and folded double, forming a kind of pouch. Set into it were twelve precious stones arranged in four rows of three, each stone engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The stones specified were sardius, topaz, and carbuncle in the first row; emerald, sapphire, and diamond in the second; ligure, agate, and amethyst in the third; and beryl, onyx, and jasper in the fourth — all set in gold settings. The breastplate was to be attached to the ephod by gold rings and chains of pure gold, bound at the top and secured with blue lace at the bottom so that it would not come loose. In this way, Aaron was to bear the names of the twelve tribes over his heart whenever he entered the holy place, as a continual memorial before God. Within the breastplate, Aaron was to carry the Urim and the Thummim, sacred objects used for discerning God's judgment. These were to rest over Aaron's heart whenever he came before the LORD, so that he would perpetually bear the judgment of the children of Israel before Him. God then described the robe of the ephod, which was to be made entirely of blue. It was to have a woven opening at the top for the head, reinforced like the collar of a coat of armor so that it would not tear. Along the hem, alternating pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet — made of linen — and golden bells were to be attached all around. Aaron was to wear this robe when he ministered, so that the sound of the bells would be heard as he entered and exited the holy place before the LORD. This detail was given with a solemn warning: The bells were to ensure Aaron did not die in the LORD's presence. Following the robe, God commanded that a plate of pure gold be made and engraved with the words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." This golden plate was to be fastened with a blue lace to the front of Aaron's mitre and worn upon his forehead. Its purpose was to bear any iniquity attached to the holy offerings of Israel, so that the people's gifts might be accepted before the LORD. The remaining garments — a coat, a mitre, and a girdle — were to be made for Aaron with fine linen. God also specified that linen coats, girdles, and bonnets were to be made for Aaron's sons. In addition, linen breeches were to be fashioned for both Aaron and his sons, reaching from the waist to the thighs, to cover their nakedness as they served at the altar, so that they would not bear iniquity and die. Exodus 28 concludes by stating that these garments were to be put upon Aaron and his sons when they were anointed and consecrated to serve in the priest's office. This was declared to be a statute forever, to be observed by Aaron and his descendants.
Transcribe →Exodus 27
1w ago00:03:46Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 27. Exodus 27 opens with the LORD giving Moses detailed instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offering for the tabernacle. The altar was to be built from shittim wood and measured five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits tall, making it a large square structure. The LORD directed that horns be fashioned at each of its four corners as part of the same piece, and that the entire altar be overlaid with brass. All of the altar's utensils — including pots, shovels, basins, forks, and fire pans — were also to be made of brass. The LORD then instructed Moses to make a brass grating in the form of a network, to be placed beneath the altar's ledge, with a brass ring at each of its four corners. Carrying poles made of shittim wood and covered in brass were to be inserted through these rings, allowing the altar to be transported. The altar itself was to be constructed as a hollow shell made of planks. Exodus 27 then turns to the instructions for the courtyard of the tabernacle. The courtyard was to be enclosed by linen curtains hanging from brass posts set in brass bases, with the south and north sides each measuring one hundred cubits and the east and west sides measuring fifty cubits. The posts were to have silver hooks and silver bands. Special attention was given to the entrance of the courtyard, which faced east. The gateway was to be twenty cubits wide and screened with a decorative curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn along with finely twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. The four posts supporting this curtain were also to have silver hooks and bands, set in brass bases. Finally, the LORD commanded that the Israelites be required to bring pure, pressed olive oil to keep the lamps of the tabernacle burning continually. This was to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, observed by Aaron and his sons from evening until morning before the LORD.
Transcribe →Exodus 26
2w ago00:05:57Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 26. The LORD instructed Moses on the construction of the tabernacle. It was to be built using ten curtains made of finely twisted linen, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and decorated with artistic designs of cherubim. Each curtain was the same size, and they were to be joined together in two sets of five, with loops of blue material and gold clasps linking the two sets into a single unified covering. An additional set of eleven curtains made of goat hair was to be placed over the linen curtains as a protective outer covering. These goat hair curtains were slightly larger than the linen ones, and they too were joined in sets — five together and six together — with brass clasps fastening them. The extra length of these curtains was designed to hang down over the back and sides of the tabernacle, providing full coverage and protection. Over the goat hair curtains, the LORD directed Moses to place two more layers of coverings: one made of ram skins dyed red, and another outermost layer made of badger skins, shielding the entire structure from the elements. The framework of the tabernacle was to be constructed from upright frames made of shittim wood, each overlaid with gold. These frames were fitted with silver bases and connected by gold-covered crossbars running through rings, creating a sturdy and stable structure. Specific numbers and dimensions were given for each side — twenty frames for the north and south sides, eight for the west — ensuring precise and uniform construction. Finally, the LORD gave instructions for the inner curtain, or veil, which was to be made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, again with cherubim worked into it. This veil was to be hung on four gold-overlaid shittim posts with gold hooks and silver bases, and it served as the dividing barrier separating the holy place from the most holy place, where the ark of the testimony would rest. A second curtain was to be made for the entrance of the tent, hung on five posts.
Transcribe →Exodus 25
3w ago00:05:55Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 25. The LORD instructed Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites — gold, silver, and brass; blue, purple, and scarlet; fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red; badger skin; shittim wood; oil; spices; and onyx and other precious stones. These were to be freewill offerings, given from the heart. The purpose of these materials was to construct a sanctuary so that the LORD could live among his people. The LORD then gave Moses precise instructions for building the ark of the testimony. It was to be a chest made of shittim wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold, with a gold molding around it. Gold rings were to be attached to its four feet, through which shittim wood poles — also overlaid with gold — would be inserted for carrying. Into the ark, Moses was to place the testimony that God would provide. The lid of the ark, called the mercy seat, is also described in detail. It was to be made of pure gold, with two golden cherubim crafted at each end, their wings spread upward to overshadow the cover and their faces turned toward it. The LORD declared that he would meet with Moses and speak to him from above this cover, between the two cherubim. Next, the LORD gave instructions for a table, also made of shittim wood overlaid with gold and fitted with gold rings and carrying poles. The table was to hold the shewbread, and various dishes and spoons made of pure gold were to be made to accompany it. Finally, the LORD described the candlestick, which was to be made entirely of pure hammered gold. It would have a central shaft with six branches extending from its sides — three on each side — each branch adorned with cup-shaped blossoms in the style of almond flowers. The candlestick was to have seven lamps set on it to give light, along with accompanying tools such as tongs and snuffdishes, all made of pure gold. God noted that the entire candlestick and its accessories were to be made according to the exact pattern he had shown Moses on the mountain.
Transcribe →Exodus 24
4w ago00:03:12Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 24. Moses relayed to the people all the words and ordinances the LORD had spoken, and the people responded with unanimous agreement, pledging to obey everything God had commanded. Moses then wrote down all the LORD's words and rose early the next morning to build an altar at the foot of Mount Sinai, along with twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He sent young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice oxen as peace offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood from the sacrifices and put it in basins, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. He then read the book of the covenant aloud to the people, who again affirmed their commitment to obey all that the LORD had spoken. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, declaring it the blood of the covenant that God had made with them based on all these words. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel then ascended the mountain, where they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself. God did not strike down these leaders of Israel — they saw Him, and they ate and drank together in His presence. Afterward, the LORD called Moses to come up higher on the mountain to receive the stone tablets on which God had written the law and commandments. Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, instructing the elders to wait and to refer any disputes to Aaron and Hur in his absence. As Moses went up, a cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai for six days. On the seventh day, the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites watching below, the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire blazing on top of the mountain. Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights.
Transcribe →Exodus 23
May 800:05:21Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 23. Exodus 23 continues the LORD God's instructions to Moses and the children of Israel by outlining a series of laws governing justice, honesty, and fair treatment among the Israelites. The LORD commanded that no one spread false reports or join with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. The people were told not to follow a crowd in doing wrong, nor to pervert justice simply by siding with the majority. Even showing partiality to the poor in a lawsuit was forbidden. The LORD also instructed the Israelites on how to treat their enemies fairly. Even if a person disliked his neighbor, he was still required to return a stray ox or donkey and to help an overburdened animal, regardless of whether the owner was a friend or foe. In the courts, the people were not to deny justice to the poor, they were to avoid false charges, and they were to not accept bribes, since bribes blind the wise and twist the words of the innocent. Exodus 23 then turns to the sabbatical laws governing agricultural life. The Israelites were commanded to sow and harvest their fields for six years, but in the seventh year they were to let the land rest and lie fallow, allowing poor people and wild animals to eat whatever grew on its own. Similarly, they were to work for six days each week but rest on the seventh, so that their servants, animals, and foreigners among them could also be refreshed. The LORD then gave three specific commands related to religious integrity. The people were told not to invoke the names of other gods or even let those names be heard on their lips. They were required to observe three annual feasts: the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of harvest, and the feast of ingathering. All men were to appear before the LORD God three times a year in connection with these celebrations. Additional instructions accompanied these feasts — no one was to offer the blood of a sacrifice along with leavened bread, the fat of a festival offering was not to remain until morning, and the best of the firstfruits of the land were to be brought to the house of the LORD. The well-known prohibition against boiling a young goat in its mother's milk was also given here. Exodus 23 closes with the LORD's promise to send an Angel before the Israelites to guard them on the way and bring them to the land prepared for them. He warned the people to pay attention to this Angel and obey him, for the LORD's name was in him and he would not pardon sin. If the Israelites obeyed and did not worship the gods of the Canaanite peoples, the LORD promised to be an enemy to their enemies and to oppose those who opposed them. The Angel would go before them and drive out the various peoples of Canaan little by little, so that the land would not become desolate and overrun by wild animals before Israel could fill it. Finally, the LORD defined the boundaries of the land Israel would inhabit — from the Red sea to the sea of the Philistines, and "from the desert unto the river." He charged the people not to make any covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan or with their gods, and not to allow those peoples to live in the land with them; if the Israelites let them to stay, they would become a snare, drawing Israel into sin and unfaithfulness to the LORD God.
Transcribe →Exodus 22
May 400:04:56Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 22. Exodus 22 continues the legal code God gave to Moses, opening with laws concerning theft and property damage. If a man stole an ox or sheep and slaughtered or sold it, he was required to pay back multiple animals in restitution. A thief caught in the act at night could be struck down without guilt, but killing a thief in daylight carried the penalty of blood guilt. If a thief had nothing to repay, he was to be sold into servitude. If the stolen animal was found alive in his possession, he repaid double. The law then addressed damages caused by grazing animals and fire. If a man let his livestock graze in another's field or vineyard, he was to make restitution from the best of his own produce. If a fire spread and destroyed another's grain or field, whoever started the fire was required to make full restitution. God then gave laws governing disputes over property held in trust. If a man entrusted money or goods to a neighbor for safekeeping, and those items were stolen, the thief — if found — paid double. If the thief was not found, the matter was brought before the judges to determine whether the keeper had taken the goods himself. Similarly, disputes over borrowed or hired animals were to be settled before the judges, and the outcome depended on whether negligence or unavoidable misfortune was to blame. Exodus 22 then turns to social and moral laws. If a man seduced an unbetrothed virgin, he was required to pay the dowry and marry her. If her father refused to give her to him, the man still had to pay the dowry. Witches were not to be permitted to live, and anyone who lay with an animal was to be put to death. Those who sacrificed to any god other than the LORD alone were to be destroyed. God then commanded Israel to show compassion to the vulnerable. Foreigners were not to be mistreated or oppressed, since Israel itself had been foreigners in Egypt. Widows and orphans were not to be exploited; if they cried out to God, He warned that His anger would burn and He would strike down the oppressors, leaving their own wives as widows and children as orphans. The poor were to be treated with fairness; if a man lent money to the poor, he was not to charge excessive interest. If a neighbor's cloak was taken as a pledge, it had to be returned before sunset, since it was his only covering for the night. Exodus 22 closes with several brief but weighty commands. "The gods" (possibly the judges) were not to be scorned, and the rulers of the people were not to be cursed. The firstfruits of harvests and the firstborn of sons and livestock were to be given to God. Finally, Israel was called to be a holy people, which in this context meant they were not to eat meat torn by wild animals in the field — such meat was to be thrown to the dogs.
Transcribe →Exodus 21
Apr 3000:05:25Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 21. Exodus 21 continues the body of laws God gave to Moses, focusing primarily on regulations governing human relationships, personal rights, and accountability. The chapter opens with laws concerning Hebrew servants, establishing that a Hebrew man sold into servitude was to serve for six years and go free in the seventh, without any payment required. If he came into service alone, he left alone; if he came with a wife, she left with him. However, if his master gave him a wife and she bore him children, the wife and children remained the master's when the man went free. If the servant declared his love for his master and his family and chose not to go free, his master was to bring him before the judges and pierce his ear with an awl at the doorpost, binding him to service permanently. Exodus 21 also addresses female servants, noting that they did not go free after six years in the same way men did, though protections were established for them: If she displeased her master who had designated her for himself, he was required to let her be redeemed, and he was not permitted to sell her to foreigners. If his son took her, she was to be treated as a daughter. If the master took another wife, he could not diminish the first woman's food, clothing, or marital rights. If he failed in these obligations, she was to go free without payment. The chapter then turns to matters of life and death, establishing serious consequences for violent acts. Anyone who struck another person and caused their death was to be put to death, though God made provision for unintentional killing by designating places of refuge. Deliberate, premeditated murder, however, carried no such exception — even a killer who fled to the altar was to be taken away and executed. Striking or cursing one's father or mother was likewise punishable by death, as was kidnapping a person and selling them or keeping them. Laws about personal injury occupies a significant portion of Exodus 21. When two men quarreled and one struck the other, causing injury but not death, and the injured man recovered enough to walk around, the one who struck him was required to compensate the injured party for lost time and ensure his full recovery. The chapter then addresses the treatment of servants. If a master struck a servant with a rod and the servant died from the beating, the master was to be punished. But, if the servant survived for a day or two, the master faced no punishment, as the servant was his property. These laws also established the foundational principle of proportional justice: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and so on. However, if a master knocked out the tooth or destroyed the eye of a servant, the servant was to go free as compensation for that injury. The final section of Exodus 21 deals with the liability of owners of dangerous animals. If an ox gored a person to death, the ox was to be stoned, but the owner bore no guilt if the animal had no history of aggression. But, if the ox had been known to gore and the owner took no precautions, both the ox and the owner were subject to death, though the owner could pay a ransom for his life if the victim's family agreed. Similar accountability applied if the ox gored a servant: The owner was to pay thirty shekels of silver to the servant's master. The chapter closes with regulations about open pits. If someone dug or uncovered a pit and an animal fell into it and died, the one responsible for the pit was required to pay the animal's owner, while the dead animal became his own.
Transcribe →Exodus 20
Apr 2700:03:41Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 20. God spoke directly to the Israelites, reminding them that He was the LORD their God who had brought them out of Egypt and out of slavery. He then articulated the ten commandments. The first four commandments concern people's relationship with God Himself. We are to have no other gods before Him, and we are forbidden from making or worshiping idols of any kind — whether they be the likeness of anything in the heavens, on the earth, or in the waters. The LORD declared Himself a jealous God, warning that the consequences of unfaithfulness would extend to future generations but that His love would be shown to those who love and obey Him. He also commanded that His name not be taken in vain, warning that He would not hold guiltless anyone who misused it. The LORD then commanded the people to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We are to work six days but rest on the seventh, as God Himself had done after creating the heavens, the earth, and the sea in six days. This rest extends to all members of the household, including servants and animals. The remaining six commandments address how people are to treat one another. We are to honor our father and mother, a commandment that carries with it the promise of long life in the land God promises. We are commanded not to murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal, and not to give false testimony against our neighbors. Finally, we are forbidden from coveting anything that belongs to our neighbors — their houses, spouses, servants, animals, or any possessions. When the people witnessed the thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the smoking mountain that accompanied God's presence, they were afraid and stood at a distance. They pleaded with Moses to be the one to speak to them rather than having God speak to them directly, fearing they would die if He did. Moses reassured them that God had come not to destroy them but to test them, so that the fear of God would remain with them and keep them from sinning. Moses then got closer to the thick darkness where God was, and the LORD gave him instructions. He told Moses to remind the people that they had seen firsthand that God had spoken to them from heaven, and they were not to make gods of silver or gold to stand alongside Him. He instructed them on how to build an altar — made simply of earth or of uncut stones, since using tools on the stones would defile them — and promised to come and bless them wherever they offered their sacrifices and worshiped His name.
Transcribe →Exodus 19
Apr 2200:04:28Tap to summarizeRead Exodus 19. In the third month after the Israelites had left Egypt, they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai and camped at the base of the mountain. Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, delivering a message for the people of Israel. The LORD reminded them of how he had carried them out of Egypt on eagles' wings and brought them to Himself. He then offered them an agreement: If they would obey His voice and keep His covenant, they would be His treasured possession among all peoples, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Moses descended and gathered the elders of the people, laying before them all that the LORD had commanded. The people responded with one voice, pledging that they would do everything the LORD had spoken. Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. The LORD then told Moses that He would come to him in a thick cloud so that the people would hear God speaking with Moses and would believe in Moses permanently. The LORD also instructed Moses to return to the people and have them consecrate themselves for two days—washing their garments and abstaining from sexual relations — so that they would be ready for the third day, when God would come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. The LORD set strict boundaries around the mountain, warning that anyone who touched it — whether person or animal — would be put to death. No one was to go up the mountain or even touch it. On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud trumpet blast. All the people in the camp trembled. Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire, and the whole mountain quaked. As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the LORD answered him. The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to come up. There, God again warned Moses to go back down and instruct the people not to break through to look at Him, or they would die. Even the priests who came near were required to consecrate themselves. When Moses pointed out that the people couldn't come up because God had already warned them to set limits around the mountain, the LORD instructed him to go down and bring Aaron up with him — but the priests and the people were not to break through to come up. Moses went back down and spoke to the people.
Transcribe →