Jump to content

Bible errata: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→top: fix explanation
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit App full source
 
(408 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Typographical errors that have occurred in various editions of The Bible}}
Throughout history various minor errors have been published in [[bible]]s published throughout the world.
{{about|translation, scribal and typographical errors in the Bible|other types of error|Criticism of the Bible}}
== Manuscript Bibles ==
[[Image:Judas Bible2.jpg|thumb|280px|alt=A Bible passage written in a heavy gothic font. The name 'Judas' is partially covered by a piece of paper reading 'Jesus', which is peeling off the page and has been circled in red.|The "Judas Bible" (1613) contains a misprint in Matthew 26:36,<ref>{{bible|Matthew|26:36}}</ref> in which the name "Judas" appears instead of "Jesus". In this copy, a slip of paper has been pasted over the misprint (circled in red).{{efn|name=StMarysChurchNote|According to a note in St Mary's Church, Totnes, Cornwall}}]]
Throughout history, [[typographical error|printers' errors]], unconventional [[Bible translations|translations]]{{efn|Note that Bibles with an unconventional but deliberate overall translation style, such as an [[idiom (language structure)|idiomatic]] style, a [[dynamic and formal equivalence|dynamic equivalence]] style or a [[paraphrase|paraphrasitic]] style, are not included in this list.}} and translation mistakes have appeared in a number of published [[Bible]]s. Bibles with features considered to be erroneous are known as '''Bible errata''', and were often destroyed or suppressed due to their contents being considered [[heretical]] by some.


==Manuscript Bibles==
[[Image:KellsFol200rGeneolgyOfChrist.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The [[Genealogy of Jesus|genealogy of Jesus]], in [[Book of Kells|Kells]]]]
[[File:KellsFol201rGeneolgyOfChrist.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A page from the [[genealogy of Jesus]], in [[Book of Kells|Kells]]]]


===The [[Book of Kells]], circa [[800]]===
===The Book of Kells, {{circa|800}}===
{{main|Book of Kells}}
* The [[Genealogy of Jesus|genealogy of Jesus]], which starts at [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 3:23 has an extra ancestor for [[Jesus]],
The Book of Kells features two errors within its text:
* [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 10:34b should read ''“I came not to send peace, but the sword”''. However rather than “[[Gladius|gladius]]” which means “[[sword]]”, Kells has “gaudius” meaning “[[joy]]”. Rendering the verse: ''“I came not <nowiki>[</nowiki>only<nowiki>]</nowiki> to send peace, but joy”.''


* The [[genealogy of Jesus]], in the [[Gospel of Luke]], lists an extra ancestor in Luke 3:26.<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|3:26}}</ref> This error is considered to have resulted from the transcriber reading the phrase {{lang|la|"QUI FUIT MATHATHIAE"}} as {{lang|la|"QUI FUIT MATHATH IAE"}}, with the {{lang|la|"IAE"}} being considered an additional individual, resulting in the lines {{lang|la|"QUI FUIT MATHATH"}} and the additional {{lang|la|"QUI FUIT IAE"}}, rather than the singular {{lang|la|"QUI FUIT MATHATHIAE"}}.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Edward|title=The Book of Kells|year=1920|publisher=The Studio|pages=120|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/bok/bok20.htm}}</ref>
== Printed Bibles ==
* In the [[Gospel of Matthew]], 10:34b should read "I came [[But to bring a sword|not to send peace, but the sword]]". However, rather than the [[Latin]] {{lang|la|[[gladius|gladium]]}}, meaning "sword", the Book of Kells has {{lang|la|gaudium}}, meaning "joy", rendering the verse "I came not [only] to send peace, but [also] joy".<ref>{{cite book|last=Nathan|first=George Jean Nathan|title=The American Mercury|year=1951|pages=572|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXgWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22refused%20to%20adopt%20St.%20Jerome's%20phrase%22|author2=Henry Louis Mencken|quote=The compilers of the late seventh century manuscript, The Book of Kells, refused to adopt St. Jerome's phrase "I come not to bring peace but a sword." (" ... non pacem sed gladium.") To them the phrase made no sense and they altered it ...}}</ref>


===The Book of Deer, 10th century===
===Coverdale===
The Scottish ''[[Book of Deer]]'' in [[Cambridge University Library]] has a number of errors. In the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, it has [[Seth]] as the first man and grandfather of [[Adam]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Stuart|first=John|title=The Book of Deer |year=1869|publisher=Spalding club|pages=xxxii|url=https://archive.org/details/bookdeeredforsp00stuagoog}}</ref>
*'''“Bug Bible”''' In [[Myles Coverdale]]'s [[1535]] Bible was known as the "Bug Bible" because [[Psalms]] 91:5 read: “Thou shall not nede to be afrayed for eny bugges by night”, rather than "bogies". The KJAV used the word "terror".<br>This error was repeated in the [[1539]] Great Bible and in Matthew's Bible, [[1551]].

===The Great Bible===
The [[Great Bible]] of King [[Henry VIII of England]] had this error:
*'''“Treacle Bible”''' : (Beck's Bible) : In the [[1549]] edition, [[Jeremiah]] 8:22 was translated “Is there no treacle in Gilead?”


==Printed Bibles==
===Geneva===
===Geneva===
* '''"Place-makers' Bible"''' 1562: the second edition of the [[Geneva Bible]], [[Beatitudes|Matthew 5:9]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|5:9}}</ref> reads "Blessed are the placemakers: for they shall be called the children of God"; it should read "peacemakers".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
*'''"Breeches Bible"''' [[1579]]: Whittingham, Gilby, and Sampson : mistranslated [[Genesis]] 3:7 as "and they sowed figge-tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches." The accepted meaning is aprons.
** In its chapter heading for Luke 21, the Place-makers' Bible has "Christ condemneth the poor widow", rather than "commendeth".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
*'''"Place-makers' Bible"''' [[1562]]: the second edition of the [[Geneva Bible]], [[Beatitudes|Matthew 5:9]] reads "Blessed are the placemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." rather than "peacemakers".<br>In its chapter heading for Luke 21 it has "Christ condemneth the poor widow" rather than "commendth"


===KJAV===
===Douai===
* '''"Manchester edition"''' 1793: The heading on Chapter 3 of Leviticus and the first verse has "bees" rather than "beeves" (plural of beef). It reads: "How the pacifique hosts must be of bees, sheep, lambs and goats" ("pacifique hosts" meaning peace offerings).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1409/1424529493_aeaafaad84_o.jpg|title=Photographic image of page of the Bible|publisher=Farm2.static.flickr.com|format=[[JPG]]|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref>


===King James===
In various printings of the [[King James Version of the Bible]], some of the more famous examples have been given their own names. Among them are:
[[File:Judas Bible2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Judas Bible]] in St. Mary's Church, [[Totnes]], [[Devon]], UK.]][[File:Marked Wicked bible.jpg|thumb|The [[Wicked Bible]] renders Exodus 20:14<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|20:14}}</ref> as "thou shalt commit adultery" instead of "[[thou shalt not commit adultery]]"]]
In various printings of the [[King James Version]] of the Bible, some of the more famous examples have been given their own names. Among them are:
* '''"Judas Bible"''', from 1613: This Bible has Judas, not Jesus, saying "Sit ye here while I go yonder and pray" (Matthew 26:36).<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|26:36}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Summon |first1=Parminder |title=Summon's Bible Miscellany |date=2006 |publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |page=28 |isbn=9780802833907 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5yqqPJMfF8C&pg=PA30 |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> A second folio edition printed by [[Robert Barker (printer)|Robert Barker]], printer to King James I, is held in St. Mary's Church, [[Totnes]], [[Devon]]. In this copy, the misprint has been covered with a small slip of paper glued over the name of Judas.{{efn|name=StMarysChurchNote}}
* '''"Printers Bible"''', from 1612: In some copies, Psalm 119:161<ref>{{bibleverse|Psalm|119:161}}</ref> reads, "Printers have persecuted me without a cause", rather than "{{em|Princes}} have persecuted me..."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"[[Wicked Bible]]"''', '''"Adulterous Bible"''' or '''"Sinner's Bible"''', from 1631: Barker and Lucas: Omits an important "not" from Exodus 20:14,<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|20:14}}</ref> making the [[Ten Commandments|seventh commandment]] read "Thou shalt commit adultery." An 1886 study of [[Star Chamber]] case reports suggests that this was just one of the "two grossest errors" in the printing, alongside Deuteronomy 5:24,<ref>{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|5:24}}</ref> which read "the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his great-asse" instead of the correct "greatness[e]".<ref name=Gardiner>{{cite book |last1=Rawson Gardiner |first1=Samuel |title=Reports of Cases in the Courts of Star Chamber and High Commission |date=1886 |publisher=Nichols and Sons |page=305 |isbn=9780384197602 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKI1R0UJT4kC&q=%22great+asse%22&pg=PA305 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> However, this second error does not appear in any extant copy of the Bible.<ref name="Campbell">{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=Gordon |title=Bible: The Story of the King James Version 1611 — 2011 |date=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0199693016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05mIWA1BqrAC&q=%22great+asse%22&pg=PT126 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> The printers were fined £300 and most of the copies were recalled immediately. Only 15 copies survive in the collections of public institutions in the English-speaking world.<ref>{{cite news |last1=L. Brown |first1=DeNeen |title=The Bible Museum's 'Wicked Bible': Thou Shalt Commit Adultery |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/11/17/the-new-bible-museums-wicked-bible-thou-shalt-commit-adultery/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=14 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
* '''"More Sea Bible"''', from 1641: "...the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was more sea", rather than "...the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea", from [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 21:1<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|21:1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"{{vanchor|Unrighteous Bible}}"''' or '''"Wicked Bible"''', from 1653, Cambridge Press: Another edition carrying this title omits a "not" before the word "inherit", making [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] 6:9<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|6:9}}</ref> read "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?". In addition, [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 6:13<ref>{{bibleverse|Romans|6:13}}</ref> reads "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of righteousness into sin", where it should read "unrighteousness".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Russel |first1=Ray |title=The "Wicked" Bibles |journal=Theology Today |date=1980 |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=360–363 |doi=10.1177/004057368003700311 |s2cid=170449311 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/004057368003700311 |access-date=30 March 2020}}</ref>
* '''"Sin On Bible"''', from 1716: Jeremiah 31:34<ref>{{bibleverse|Jeremiah|31:34}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Paul|first=William E.|date=April–June 2003|title=Curiosities in Bible Editions|url=http://www.biblecollectors.org/articles/curiosities.htm|journal=Bible Editions & Versions|access-date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> reads "sin on more" rather than "sin no more".
[[File:Vinegar Bible Farnham 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Heading for the "The Parable of the Vineyard" in a copy of the "Vinegar Bible"]]
* '''"Vinegar Bible"''', from 1717: J. Baskett, Clarendon Press: The chapter heading for [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 20 reads "The Parable of the Vinegar" instead of "The Parable of the Vineyard." One reviewer called this particular edition "a Baskett full of errors" due the abundance of typographical errors. One copy sold for $5,000 in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.anglicanjournal.com/vinegar-bible-returns-to-lunenburg-8107/|title='Vinegar Bible' returns to Lunenburg|date=2008-10-01|work=Anglican Journal|access-date=2008-10-15|issue=8|volume=134|page=1}}</ref>
* '''"The Fools Bible"''', from 1763: Psalm 14:1<ref>{{bibleverse|Psalm|14:1}}</ref> reads "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God", rather than "there is no God". The printers were fined £3,000 and all copies ordered destroyed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Toseland |first1=Martin |title=A Steroid Hit the Earth |date=2009 |publisher=Portico |isbn=978-1906032708 |page=95}}</ref>
* '''"Murderer's Bible"''', from 1801: "Murmurers" is printed as "murderers", making [[Epistle of Jude|Jude]] 16 read: "These are murderers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"To-remain Bible"''', from 1805: In [[Epistle to the Galatians|Galatians]] 4:29,<ref>{{bibleverse|Galatians|4:29}}</ref> a proof-reader had written in "to remain" in the margin, as an answer to whether a comma should be deleted. The note inadvertently became part of the text, making the edition read "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit to remain, even so it is now."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Summon |first1=Parminder |title=Summon's Bible Miscellany |date=2006 |publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |page=28 |isbn=9780802833907 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5yqqPJMfF8C&pg=PA30 |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"Standing Fishes Bible"''', from 1806: "Fishes" replaced "fishers" making [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] 47:10<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezekiel|47:10}}</ref> read "And it shall come to pass, that the fishes shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"Wife-hater Bible"''', from 1810: "Wife" replaces "life" in this edition, making Luke 14:26<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|14:26}}</ref> redundantly read "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own wife also, he cannot be my disciple."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Metzger |first1=Bruce M. |last2=Coogan |first2=Michael D. |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=143 |isbn=978-0-19-974391-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&q=place+makers |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
* '''"The Large Family Bible"''', from 1820: [[Isaiah]] 66:9<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|66:9}}</ref> reads: "Shall I bring to birth and not cease to bring forth?" rather than "Shall I bring to birth and not cause to bring forth?".
* '''"Rebecca's Camels Bible"''', from 1823: "Camels" replaces "damsels" in one instance, making Genesis 24:61<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|24:61}}</ref> read "And Rebecca arose, and her camels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebecca and went his way."
* '''"Owl Bible"''', from 1944: "Owl" replaces "own", making [[First Epistle of Peter|1 Peter]] 3:5<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Peter|3:5}}</ref> read, "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their owl husbands." The error was caused by a printing plate with a damaged letter {{em|n}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Summon |first1=Parminder |title=Summon's Bible Miscellany |date=2006 |publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |page=30 |isbn=9780802833907 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5yqqPJMfF8C&pg=PA30 |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>


==Fictional Bible errata==
*'''"Wicked Bible"''' or '''"Adulterous Bible"'''' [[1632]]: Barker and Lucas : omits an important "not" from [[Exodus]] 20:14, making the seventh commandment read "Thou shalt commit adultery." The printers were fined £300 (a lifetime's wages) and most of the copies were recalled immediately. Only 11 copies are known to exist today.
* In the novel ''[[Good Omens]]'', [[Neil Gaiman]] and [[Terry Pratchett]] created the '''"Buggre Alle This Bible"''' of 1651 (and the '''Charing Cross Bible'''). The typesetter replaced [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] 48:5 with a rant complaining about his job. It also has three extra verses at the end of [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 3 about the loss of the [[Flaming sword (mythology)|flaming sword]] by the [[angel]] Aziraphale, added by Aziraphale himself, a character in the story.
*'''"Unrighteous Bible"''' or '''"Wicked Bible"''' [[1653]]: Cambridge Press : another edition carrying this title omits a "not" before the word "inherit", making [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|I Corinthians]] 6:9 read "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?..." In addition, [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 6:13 reads "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of righteousness into sin..." where it should read "unrighteousness".
* In the BBC science-fiction sitcom ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', one of the main characters, [[Arnold Rimmer]], tells of his family belonging to an obscure fundamentalist Christian sect, the "Seventh Day Advent Hoppists". According to Rimmer – who is revealed in another episode to have the middle name [[Judas]] due to his parents' unconventional take on Christianity – the Hoppists' unique form of worship arose from a misprinted Bible wherein [[1 Corinthians]] 13:13 reads "Faith, hop and charity, and the greatest of these is hop." The membership consequently spent every Sunday hopping. Rimmer says he never agreed with the faith, but claims to be liberal on religious matters.
*'''"Printers Bible"''' bef. [[1702]]: [[Psalm]] 119:161 reads "Printers have persecuted me without cause." The first word was changed, possibly by a typesetter, from "Princes".
* ''[[The Poisonwood Bible]]'' is a 1998 bestselling novel by [[Barbara Kingsolver]] which mentions some of the famous "misprint Bibles" such as the ''Camel Bible'', the ''Murderer's Bible'', and the ''Bug Bible''. The novel's title refers to the character of Nathan Price, a missionary in the 1950s [[Belgian Congo]] who creates his own "misprint" by mispronouncing the local expression "Tata Jesus is bängala", meaning "Jesus is most precious". In his pronunciation, he actually says "Jesus is [[poisonwood]]!"
*'''"Vinegar Bible"''': [[1717]] : J. Baskett, Clarendon Press : the heading to [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 20 reads "Parable of the Vinegar" instead of "Parable of the Vineyard."
* In the novel ''[[The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (novel)|The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared]]'' by the Swedish author [[Jonas Jonasson]], a Bible erratum plays heavily into the plot. The Bibles in question carry an extra verse (Revelation 22:22), reading "And they all lived happily ever after".
*'''"Murderer's Bible"''' [[1801]]: edition in which "murmurers" is printed as "murderers", making [[Epistle of Jude|Jude]] 16 read: "These are murderers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."
*'''"To-remain Bible"''' [[1805]]: in [[Galatians]] 4:29 an editor had written in "to remain" (i.e. ''stet'') in the margin, as an answer to whether a comma should be deleted. The note inadvertently became part of the text, making the edition read "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit to remain, even so it is now."
*'''"Discharge Bible"''' [[1806]]: "discharge" replaces "charge" making I [[Timothy]] 5:21 read "I discharge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality."
*'''"Standing Fishes Bible"''' [[1806]]: "fishes" replaced "fishers" making [[Ezekiel]] 47:10 read "And it shall come to pass, that the fishes shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many."
*'''"Ears To Ear Bible"''' [[1810]]: edition which makes [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 13:43 read: "...Who has ears to ear, let him hear." The correct phrase should be "ears to hear".
*'''"Wife-hater Bible"''' [[1810]]: "wife" replaces "life" in this edition, making [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 14:26 redundantly read "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own wife also, he cannot be my disciple."
*'''"Rebecca's Camels Bible"''' [[1823]]: "camels" replaces "damsels" in one instance, making [[Genesis]] 24:61 read "And Rebecca arose, and her camels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebecca and went his way."


===Douai===
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
*'''"Rosin Bible"''' [[1604]]: Jeremiah 8:22 reads "is there no rosin in Gilead?" (The KJAV has a note at Ezekiel giving "rosin" as a alternative to "balme")


==References==
===[http://www.bible-researcher.com/inclusive.html Gender Neutral]===
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/ill.html An Inclusive Language Lectionary] [[1983]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/new-jerusalem-bible.html New Jerusalem Bible] [[1985]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/nab.html New American Bible], revised New Testament [[1986]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/ncv.html New Century Version] [[1987]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/reb.html Revised English Bible] [[1989]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/nrsv.html New Revised Standard Version] [[1990]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/tev.html Good News Bible], 2nd ed. [[1992]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/themessage.html The Message] [[1993]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/5gospels.html The Five Gospels] (Jesus Seminar) [[1993]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/int.html The Inclusive New Testament] [[1994]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/cev.html Contemporary English Version] [[1995]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/godsword.html God's Word] [[1995]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/niv.html New International Reader's Version] [[1995]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/niv.html New International Version, Inclusive Language Edition] [[1995]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/ntpiv.html New Testament and Psalms, An Inclusive Version] [[1995]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/nlt.html New Living Translation] [[1996]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/tniv.html Today's New International Version] [[2002]]
*[http://www.bible-researcher.com/gan.html Good As New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures] [[2004]]

==Fictional Bible errata==


==External links==
*The '''"Buggre Alle This Bible"''' of [[1651]] appeared in the novel ''[[Good Omens]]'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] and [[Terry Pratchett]]. The typesetter replaced [[Ezekiel]] 48:5 with a rant complaining about his job. It also has three extra verses at the end of [[Genesis]] 3 about the loss of the flaming sword by the [[angel]] [[Aziraphale]], added by Aziraphale himself, a character in the story.
* [http://www.theexaminer.org/history/chap10.htm The Examiner – Incidental Bible Facts – Charles A. Holt – Publisher: Truth & Freedom Ministry, Inc., Chattanooga, TN (USA)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060107223145/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc02.bible_versions.html The New Schaff-Herzog – Bible Versions]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713011958/http://www.biblecollectors.org/bible_misprints.htm "Bibles With Misprints or Unusual Renderings"]
* [http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1791 The History of the English Bible: Part I: From Wycliffe to King James]
*Russell, Ray. "[http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct1980/v37-3-criticscorner2.htm The Wicked Bibles]" Theology Today, Vol. 37, No. 3, October 1980.
*William Rose Benét, ''The Reader's Encyclopedia'', Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1965
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120314095848/http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/searching-for-better-text.asp Searching for the Better Text: How errors crept into the Bible and what can be done to correct them] Biblical Archaeology Society
* [http://homeshalom.blogspot.com/2010/02/ten-surprising-yet-indisputable-bible.html Ten Surprising (yet indisputable) Bible translation errors that should effect (sic) your walk], February 11, 2010, [http://homeshalom.blogspot.com/ Home Shalom]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bible Errata}}
*In the UK television show [[Red Dwarf]], an obscure fundamentalist Christian sect on [[Io (moon)|Io]] based its worship on a Bible wherein [[1 Corinthians]] 13:13 reads "Faith, hop, and charity, and the greatest of these is hop." The sect is consequently known as "Seventh Day Advent Hoppists" and members spend every Sunday hopping. [[Arnold Rimmer|Arnold Judas Rimmer]]'s parents were members of this sect and raised him accordingly, but he appears to have left the faith.
[[Category:Bible versions and translations]]
[[Category:Bible versions and translations]]
[[Category:Communication of falsehoods]]
[[Category:Linguistic error]]

Latest revision as of 07:44, 4 December 2024

This article is about translation, scribal and typographical errors in the Bible. For other types of error, see Criticism of the Bible.
A Bible passage written in a heavy gothic font. The name 'Judas' is partially covered by a piece of paper reading 'Jesus', which is peeling off the page and has been circled in red.
The "Judas Bible" (1613) contains a misprint in Matthew 26:36,[1] in which the name "Judas" appears instead of "Jesus". In this copy, a slip of paper has been pasted over the misprint (circled in red).[a]

Throughout history, printers' errors, unconventional translations[b] and translation mistakes have appeared in a number of published Bibles. Bibles with features considered to be erroneous are known as Bible errata, and were often destroyed or suppressed due to their contents being considered heretical by some.

Manuscript Bibles

[edit]
A page from the genealogy of Jesus, in Kells

The Book of Kells, c. 800

[edit]
Main article: Book of Kells

The Book of Kells features two errors within its text:

  • The genealogy of Jesus, in the Gospel of Luke, lists an extra ancestor in Luke 3:26.[2] This error is considered to have resulted from the transcriber reading the phrase "QUI FUIT MATHATHIAE" as "QUI FUIT MATHATH IAE", with the "IAE" being considered an additional individual, resulting in the lines "QUI FUIT MATHATH" and the additional "QUI FUIT IAE", rather than the singular "QUI FUIT MATHATHIAE".[3]
  • In the Gospel of Matthew, 10:34b should read "I came not to send peace, but the sword". However, rather than the Latin gladium, meaning "sword", the Book of Kells has gaudium, meaning "joy", rendering the verse "I came not [only] to send peace, but [also] joy".[4]

The Book of Deer, 10th century

[edit]

The Scottish Book of Deer in Cambridge University Library has a number of errors. In the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, it has Seth as the first man and grandfather of Adam.[5]

Printed Bibles

[edit]

Geneva

[edit]
  • "Place-makers' Bible" 1562: the second edition of the Geneva Bible, Matthew 5:9[6] reads "Blessed are the placemakers: for they shall be called the children of God"; it should read "peacemakers".[7]
    • In its chapter heading for Luke 21, the Place-makers' Bible has "Christ condemneth the poor widow", rather than "commendeth".[8]

Douai

[edit]
  • "Manchester edition" 1793: The heading on Chapter 3 of Leviticus and the first verse has "bees" rather than "beeves" (plural of beef). It reads: "How the pacifique hosts must be of bees, sheep, lambs and goats" ("pacifique hosts" meaning peace offerings).[9]

King James

[edit]
The Judas Bible in St. Mary's Church, Totnes, Devon, UK.
The Wicked Bible renders Exodus 20:14[10] as "thou shalt commit adultery" instead of "thou shalt not commit adultery"

In various printings of the King James Version of the Bible, some of the more famous examples have been given their own names. Among them are:

  • "Judas Bible", from 1613: This Bible has Judas, not Jesus, saying "Sit ye here while I go yonder and pray" (Matthew 26:36).[11][12] A second folio edition printed by Robert Barker, printer to King James I, is held in St. Mary's Church, Totnes, Devon. In this copy, the misprint has been covered with a small slip of paper glued over the name of Judas.[a]
  • "Printers Bible", from 1612: In some copies, Psalm 119:161[13] reads, "Printers have persecuted me without a cause", rather than "Princes have persecuted me..."[14]
  • "Wicked Bible", "Adulterous Bible" or "Sinner's Bible", from 1631: Barker and Lucas: Omits an important "not" from Exodus 20:14,[15] making the seventh commandment read "Thou shalt commit adultery." An 1886 study of Star Chamber case reports suggests that this was just one of the "two grossest errors" in the printing, alongside Deuteronomy 5:24,[16] which read "the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his great-asse" instead of the correct "greatness[e]".[17] However, this second error does not appear in any extant copy of the Bible.[18] The printers were fined £300 and most of the copies were recalled immediately. Only 15 copies survive in the collections of public institutions in the English-speaking world.[19]
  • "More Sea Bible", from 1641: "...the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was more sea", rather than "...the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea", from Revelation 21:1[20][21]
  • "Unrighteous Bible" or "Wicked Bible", from 1653, Cambridge Press: Another edition carrying this title omits a "not" before the word "inherit", making 1 Corinthians 6:9[22] read "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?". In addition, Romans 6:13[23] reads "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of righteousness into sin", where it should read "unrighteousness".[24]
  • "Sin On Bible", from 1716: Jeremiah 31:34[25][26] reads "sin on more" rather than "sin no more".
Heading for the "The Parable of the Vineyard" in a copy of the "Vinegar Bible"
  • "Vinegar Bible", from 1717: J. Baskett, Clarendon Press: The chapter heading for Luke 20 reads "The Parable of the Vinegar" instead of "The Parable of the Vineyard." One reviewer called this particular edition "a Baskett full of errors" due the abundance of typographical errors. One copy sold for $5,000 in 2008.[27]
  • "The Fools Bible", from 1763: Psalm 14:1[28] reads "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God", rather than "there is no God". The printers were fined £3,000 and all copies ordered destroyed.[29]
  • "Murderer's Bible", from 1801: "Murmurers" is printed as "murderers", making Jude 16 read: "These are murderers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."[30]
  • "To-remain Bible", from 1805: In Galatians 4:29,[31] a proof-reader had written in "to remain" in the margin, as an answer to whether a comma should be deleted. The note inadvertently became part of the text, making the edition read "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit to remain, even so it is now."[32]
  • "Standing Fishes Bible", from 1806: "Fishes" replaced "fishers" making Ezekiel 47:10[33] read "And it shall come to pass, that the fishes shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many."[34]
  • "Wife-hater Bible", from 1810: "Wife" replaces "life" in this edition, making Luke 14:26[35] redundantly read "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own wife also, he cannot be my disciple."[36]
  • "The Large Family Bible", from 1820: Isaiah 66:9[37] reads: "Shall I bring to birth and not cease to bring forth?" rather than "Shall I bring to birth and not cause to bring forth?".
  • "Rebecca's Camels Bible", from 1823: "Camels" replaces "damsels" in one instance, making Genesis 24:61[38] read "And Rebecca arose, and her camels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebecca and went his way."
  • "Owl Bible", from 1944: "Owl" replaces "own", making 1 Peter 3:5[39] read, "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their owl husbands." The error was caused by a printing plate with a damaged letter n.[40]

Fictional Bible errata

[edit]
  • In the novel Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett created the "Buggre Alle This Bible" of 1651 (and the Charing Cross Bible). The typesetter replaced Ezekiel 48:5 with a rant complaining about his job. It also has three extra verses at the end of Genesis 3 about the loss of the flaming sword by the angel Aziraphale, added by Aziraphale himself, a character in the story.
  • In the BBC science-fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, one of the main characters, Arnold Rimmer, tells of his family belonging to an obscure fundamentalist Christian sect, the "Seventh Day Advent Hoppists". According to Rimmer – who is revealed in another episode to have the middle name Judas due to his parents' unconventional take on Christianity – the Hoppists' unique form of worship arose from a misprinted Bible wherein 1 Corinthians 13:13 reads "Faith, hop and charity, and the greatest of these is hop." The membership consequently spent every Sunday hopping. Rimmer says he never agreed with the faith, but claims to be liberal on religious matters.
  • The Poisonwood Bible is a 1998 bestselling novel by Barbara Kingsolver which mentions some of the famous "misprint Bibles" such as the Camel Bible, the Murderer's Bible, and the Bug Bible. The novel's title refers to the character of Nathan Price, a missionary in the 1950s Belgian Congo who creates his own "misprint" by mispronouncing the local expression "Tata Jesus is bängala", meaning "Jesus is most precious". In his pronunciation, he actually says "Jesus is poisonwood!"
  • In the novel The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by the Swedish author Jonas Jonasson, a Bible erratum plays heavily into the plot. The Bibles in question carry an extra verse (Revelation 22:22), reading "And they all lived happily ever after".

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b According to a note in St Mary's Church, Totnes, Cornwall
  2. ^ Note that Bibles with an unconventional but deliberate overall translation style, such as an idiomatic style, a dynamic equivalence style or a paraphrasitic style, are not included in this list.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Matthew 26:36
  2. ^ Luke 3:26
  3. ^ Sullivan, Edward (1920). The Book of Kells. The Studio. p. 120.
  4. ^ Nathan, George Jean Nathan; Henry Louis Mencken (1951). The American Mercury. p. 572. The compilers of the late seventh century manuscript, The Book of Kells, refused to adopt St. Jerome's phrase "I come not to bring peace but a sword." (" ... non pacem sed gladium.") To them the phrase made no sense and they altered it ...
  5. ^ Stuart, John (1869). The Book of Deer. Spalding club. pp. xxxii.
  6. ^ Matthew 5:9
  7. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Photographic image of page of the Bible" (JPG). Farm2.static.flickr.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. ^ Exodus 20:14
  11. ^ Matthew 26:36
  12. ^ Summon, Parminder (2006). Summon's Bible Miscellany. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 28. ISBN 9780802833907. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  13. ^ Psalm 119:161
  14. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  15. ^ Exodus 20:14
  16. ^ Deuteronomy 5:24
  17. ^ Rawson Gardiner, Samuel (1886). Reports of Cases in the Courts of Star Chamber and High Commission. Nichols and Sons. p. 305. ISBN 9780384197602. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  18. ^ Campbell, Gordon (2010). Bible: The Story of the King James Version 1611 — 2011. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199693016. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  19. ^ L. Brown, DeNeen. "The Bible Museum's 'Wicked Bible': Thou Shalt Commit Adultery". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  20. ^ Revelation 21:1
  21. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ^ 1 Corinthians 6:9
  23. ^ Romans 6:13
  24. ^ Russel, Ray (1980). "The "Wicked" Bibles". Theology Today. 37 (3): 360–363. doi:10.1177/004057368003700311. S2CID 170449311. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  25. ^ Jeremiah 31:34
  26. ^ Paul, William E. (April–June 2003). "Curiosities in Bible Editions". Bible Editions & Versions. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  27. ^ "'Vinegar Bible' returns to Lunenburg". Anglican Journal. Vol. 134, no. 8. 2008-10-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  28. ^ Psalm 14:1
  29. ^ Toseland, Martin (2009). A Steroid Hit the Earth. Portico. p. 95. ISBN 978-1906032708.
  30. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  31. ^ Galatians 4:29
  32. ^ Summon, Parminder (2006). Summon's Bible Miscellany. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 28. ISBN 9780802833907. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  33. ^ Ezekiel 47:10
  34. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  35. ^ Luke 14:26
  36. ^ Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-19-974391-9. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  37. ^ Isaiah 66:9
  38. ^ Genesis 24:61
  39. ^ 1 Peter 3:5
  40. ^ Summon, Parminder (2006). Summon's Bible Miscellany. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 30. ISBN 9780802833907. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Bible_errata&oldid=1261105084"