The Monmouth inquirer., 1906-10-11
THE BREEcHEs BIBLE.
Curiosities OF This Famous Edit
of the Scriptures.

CuriOSllleG OF THIS NUihOus ANsA&ah
of the Scriptures.
One Of the books which a bibliond
MAC handles reyerently is the famo1
Geneva Bible. better known as
s'Breeches Bible" This name Is
to the rendering of Genesis iii,>
where Adam and Eve are said to ha
"sewed fig tree leaves together
made themselves breeches."
This had been the reading of
first English Bible, Wyclif's vers
but later translators had substitl
the word "apron" for ''breeches,"
the Geneva Bible reverted to the af19
nal The fact that only one edition Of
the Geneva version contained this SEN
tence makes the limited number more
precious to the book gatherer. The
title page of this edition announces
that it was Imprinted at London by
the Deputies of the Queene's Most Elk
cellent Majestic in 1899. The first
edition appeared in 1860, and for sixty
years this was the favorite Bible with
the people, who reluctantly laid it aside
for the authorized version of 1911.
While 1t was more revision of Tyn-
dale's version than direct translation
of original manuscripts, it represented
the work of the best years of the ban
ishment of the reformers who fed to
Geneva during the dark reign of Mary.
That her Most ExceIRlt Majestic
Elizabeth accepted its dedication was
a significant omen ffr the future OF
the Bible. 1t was of even greater i'm
portanee than the scene which occur
red three months previous Oh her royal
entrance into London. The glittering
procession had stopped at the Little
Conduit in Chepe" for a ceremoH such
as the people loved. An old man in
emblematic dress stepped before the
queen, and she was told that he WAS
Time Time she said and Time it
was that brought me hither'' A white
robed maiden at his side was intro
duced as Truth the daughter Of
Time" In her hand was an English
Bible, on which was written 'Verbam
veritasis" This she presented to the
queen, 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 foe its
odd bit of translation alone il w;,a the
first Bible in which the oil - Hack
letter gave way to the pras ii roalaa
type. 1t was the first TO t.ivi.!e tht
chapters into paragraphs ana the e.
to omit the Apocrypha. or fn1'- u
doubtful authenticity app slsti 10 to
Old Testament. 1t omits liz H. O
St Paul from the Enistie Il t. Re
brews and uses italics for 81 word.
not occurring i'll the origin l.
The copious marginal no.es are Is
pecially interesting as giving To all
thors' opinions OH many temporal III t
ters Indeed, tie tone of tEesa lates
was to great extent tie causa Of the
book being replaced by the authorized
version, made under the direction of
King James. For instance, in the
passage where the Hebrew .1ilvives
did not as tie King of Egypt com.
lldllOCu, Dul ,ttf Stl tilC l44NAi ellAAhlNb
alive" the marginal note declares,
Their disobedience to the king was
lawful, though their assembling was
evil" 1T is false" said King James;
"to disobey king is not lawful. Such
traitorous conceits should not go forth
among the people,"
At conference of bishops and clergy
in 1904, the question of new version
was discussed. The idea was favored
by the king, who was something of
scholar and felt that a translation
made under his auspices would re
dound to his glory. Then, too, there
was his avowed dislike of the Geneva
Bible. Whether or not his motives
were all admirable, his method of car.
rying out the project was full of merit
The best scholars of the day of all
casts of thought were enlisted and al
former English translations We're used
In connection with the original manu-.
scripts. The result was version that
was accepted unquestioningly until the
carefully revised version of 1885.