Explore artifacts, ancient writings, and maps that illuminate the Protestant world of the King James Version. Every record links back to its scripture.
An Assyrian royal inscription depicts tribute from the House of Omri, associated with the biblical king Jehu. An external record of a ruler also named in Kings.
Sennacherib’s own campaign record names Hezekiah, king of Judah, and describes tribute received in 701 BCE. Compare the Assyrian account with Kings.
The Cyrus Cylinder records the Persian conquest of Babylon and a policy of restoring cults and returning displaced peoples. It does not specifically name the Judeans.
Ancient manuscript fragments from Qumran preserve passages of Isaiah and give a window into the transmission of biblical texts.
The first-century historian Josephus discusses Pontius Pilate and includes a passage about Jesus. The wording of the Jesus passage is debated by scholars.
A modern reconstructed map places Israel, Judah, and neighboring cities in their Iron Age geographical setting. Boundaries are approximate.
A fragmentary Aramaic victory inscription from Tel Dan refers to the "House of David" — the earliest known extra-biblical mention of the Davidic dynasty.
The Moabite Stone, written in the name of King Mesha of Moab, recounts his revolt against Israel and mentions Omri, king of Israel — a ruler named in Kings.
Carved in Hebrew into the rock of the Siloam Tunnel, this inscription records how diggers working from both ends met in the middle. The tunnel is linked to Hezekiah's preparations against Assyria.
Two tiny silver amulets from a Jerusalem tomb bear the Priestly Blessing from Numbers — the oldest surviving biblical verses, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The best-preserved biblical scroll from Qumran, containing the entire book of Isaiah. Its text is remarkably close to the later Masoretic text that underlies modern Old Testaments.
A limestone block found at Caesarea Maritima bears the name of Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judaea — the same Roman official who tried Jesus in the Gospels.
An ornate limestone bone box inscribed "Joseph son of Caiaphas" was discovered in a Jerusalem tomb; many scholars associate it with the high priest who presided at Jesus' hearing.
Four fragments from Delphi name Gallio as proconsul of Achaia, fixing his term around 51–52 CE. This anchors Paul's eighteen months in Corinth recorded in Acts.
Historical sources offer context and comparisons; they do not establish every event or claim in the biblical text. Dates and reconstructions may be approximate. The King James Version text is drawn from public-domain sources.