diff --git a/doc/api/esm.md b/doc/api/esm.md
index 459f877718..a1dfae6931 100644
--- a/doc/api/esm.md
+++ b/doc/api/esm.md
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ For now, only modules using the `file:` protocol can be loaded.
 
 ## Interop with existing modules
 
-All CommonJS, JSON, and C++ modules can be used with `import`.
+CommonJS and C++ modules can be used with `import`.
 
 Modules loaded this way will only be loaded once, even if their query
 or fragment string differs between `import` statements.
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@ module. This can be one of the following:
 | `'esm'` | Load a standard JavaScript module |
 | `'cjs'` | Load a node-style CommonJS module |
 | `'builtin'` | Load a node builtin CommonJS module |
-| `'json'` | Load a JSON file |
 | `'addon'` | Load a [C++ Addon][addons] |
 | `'dynamic'` | Use a [dynamic instantiate hook][] |
 
diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
index aaf35ed461..ff909c248f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
@@ -86,20 +86,3 @@ translators.set('addon', async (url) => {
     reflect.exports.default.set(module.exports);
   });
 });
-
-// Strategy for loading a JSON file
-translators.set('json', async (url) => {
-  debug(`Translating JSONModule ${url}`);
-  return createDynamicModule(['default'], url, (reflect) => {
-    debug(`Loading JSONModule ${url}`);
-    const pathname = internalURLModule.fileURLToPath(new URL(url));
-    const content = readFileSync(pathname, 'utf8');
-    try {
-      const exports = JsonParse(stripBOM(content));
-      reflect.exports.default.set(exports);
-    } catch (err) {
-      err.message = pathname + ': ' + err.message;
-      throw err;
-    }
-  });
-});