Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-10-06
THE BREECHEs BIBLE.
c,riosities of This Famous Edition
of the Scriptures.

GuEIOSIttet
of the Scriptures.
One of the books which q biblioma-
mac handles reverently Is the FAMOUS
Geneva Bible, better known us inc
"Rreeches Bible" This name Is que
to the rendering of Genesis Ill, I'll
where Adam and Eve are said TO nave
"sewed fig tree leaves together and
made themselves breeches."
This had been the reading OF the
first English Bible, Wyclifs version,
but later translators had supstitu'eu
The word "apron" for "breeches," ana
, the Geneva Bible reverted TO the orlgl-
nal The fact that only one edition Oh
the Geneva version contained this SEN
fence makes the limited number more
precious to the book gatherer. Inc
| title maze Of this edition announces
that It was Imprinted at London by
the Deputies of the Queene's Most FIX
cellent Majestic" in 1899. The rrst
edition appeared In 1860, and for sixty
years this was the favorite Bible WIN
the people, who reluctantly laid 1t ASIDE
for the authorized version OF loll.
While it was more revision OF 1yh'
dale's version than a direct translation
of original manuscripts, 1t Represented
the work of the best years Of the ban
ishment Of the reformers who fed 10
Geneva during the dark reign OF Mary.
That her Most Excellent Majestic
Elizabeth accepted its dedication was
significant omen for the future Oh
the Bible. 1t was of even greater I'M
portance than the scene which occur
red three months previous on her royal
entrance into London. The glitterlns
procession had stopped at the Little
Conduit in Chepe" for a ceremony such
as the people loved. An old man IN
emblematic dress stepped before the
oueen. and she was told that he was
Time Time" she said. and Time 1t
WAS that brought me hither." A White
robed maiden at his side was intro
duced as Truth, the daughter or
Time" In her hand was an English
Bible. on which was written "Nerbum
veritasis." This she presented to the
oueen. who took it with both hands
raised it to her lips and, laying IT next
her heart. thanked the city for Its pre-
, cious gift
, The Geneva Bible Is not noted for lts
, odd bit of translation alone. 1t was the
first Bible In which the old style blacH
, letter gave way to the present roman
tyne. 1t was the first to divide the
!, chapters into paragraphs and the hrs
TO omit the Apocrypha, or books Of
doubtful authenticity appended to TIT
y Old Testament. 1t omits the name o
r ST Paul from the Eplstle to the He
@ brews and uses italics for all word
$ not occurring in the original.
/ The copious marginal notes are es
= pecially interesting as giving the al
J. thors opinions on many temporal maj
ters. Indeed, the tone Of these note
8 was to a great extent the cause OF IN
book being replaced by the authorize
II version, made under the direction Q
King James. For instance, In tn
Il passage where the Hebrew MIDWIFE
did not as the King Of Egypt con
= manded. but saved the men childre
e. alive" the marginal note declares
J. Their disObedience to the king wa
ia lawful, though their assembling wa
evil" ut is false" said King james
"to disobey a king Is not lawful. Sue
traitorous cOnceits should not go fort
among the people"
At a conference Of bishops and clerg
r in 1904, the question of new versio
Is was discussed. The Idea was favore
Id by the king, who was something OF
" scholar and felt that a translate
as made under his auspices would
=" dound to his glory. Then, too, the
Sc was his avowed dislike Of the Gene'
as Bible. Whether or not his motiv
were all admirable, his method OF ca
rying out the project was full OF mer
eg The best scholars Of the day OF
casts of thought were enlisted, and
former English translations were USE
In connection with the original man
ID scripts. The result was a version tn
be was accepted unquestlOningly until u
a. carefully revised version Of 1885.
!. po.stny Of the Great Editor.