Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-05-29
THE BREEcHEs BIBLE.
Duriosities of This Famous Edition
OF the scriptures.

Of the scriptures.
One Of the books which a hiblioma
MAC handles reyerenty is the famous
Geneva Bible. better known as The
"Breeches Bible This name is due
to the rendering Of Genesis III. Z,
where Adam and Eve are said TO have
'sewed fg tree leaves together and
made themselves breeches."
This had been the reading of the
Grst English Bible, WycHrs version,
but later translators had substituted
the word apron for "breeches," and
abe Geneva Bible reverted to the Origi-
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 1t was Imprinted at London by
che Deputies of the Queene's Most Ex-
Sellent 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 a revision of Tyn-
dale's version than a 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 Excellent Majestic"
Elizabeth accepted its dedication was
a significant omen for the future of
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 glittering
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 ]
queen, and she was told that he was {
Time. Time" she said and Time it
was that brought me hither." white t
robed maiden at his side was intro S
duced as Truth, the daughter Of S
Time" In her hand was an English y
Bible, on which was written "Verbum C
Veritasis." This she presented to the Il
queen, who took it with both hands, 1
'aised it to her lips and, laying it next a
Ter heart thanked the city for its pre- Il
.ious gift CT
The Geneva Bible is not noted for its n
i'd bit of translation alone. 1t was the al
irst Bible in which the old style black ..
stter gave way to the present roman n
ype. 1t was the first to divide the
hapters into paragraphs and the first
o omit the ApOcrypha, or books Of
oubtful authenticity appended to the
I'D Testament. 1t omits the name Of 81
{. Paul from the Epistle to the He
rews and uses italics for all words
OF occurring in the original or
The copious marginal notes are es- tn
ecially interesting as giving the au- Iii
lors' opinions on many temporal mat ",
rs. Indeed the tone of these notes M,
rs to a great extent the cause Of the -,
)ok being replaced by the authorized -
ersiOn, made under the direction of -
ing James. For instance, in the -
usage where the Hebrew midwives -
lid not as the King Of Egypt COM g.,
anded, but saved the men children ~
i've" the marginal note declares, -,
heir disobedience to the king was 80 -
wful, though their assembling was ~
ill., 1T is false" said King James; - 49,
, disObey a king IS not lawful. Such -
Iitorous conceits should not go forth ~
long the people" ~
II a conference Of bishops and clergy ~
1904, the question of a new version W., W.
IS discussed. The idea was favored -
the king, who was something Of a eo,i
lolar and felt that a translation sil
de under his auspices would re- ~. ~
md to his glory. Then, too. there vi. ~
S his avowed dislike Of the Geneva .ne
lie. Whether or not his motives W
re all admirable, his method Of car 80
ng out the project was full Of merit. o o
2 best scholars Of the day Of all ~
is of thought were enlisted, and all 70 ,.
mer English TRANSACTIONS were used w
with the original manu- .ue
pts. The result was a version that ~ !
J accepted unquestioningly until the wv
sfully revised version Of 1885. "ee