APPENDIX A ON
THE USE OF DIFFERENT TYPES IN THE ENGLISH VERSIONS
ON page 2, under the figure Ellipsis, we have referred to the way in which this was indicated in the English Versions.
It may be well to add, by way of Appendix, some brief account of the use of different types.
The practice of indicating, by different types, words and phrases which were not in the original Text was, it is believed, first introduced by Sebastian Münster, of Basle, in a Latin Version of the Old Testament, published in 1534. The first of the “Former Translations” that used a different type, or what was then called “a small letter in the Text,” was Cranmer’s Bible (1539). but this was with quite a different object: viz ., to distinguish clauses from the Latin which were not in the Hebrew or Greek: e.g., Matthew 25:1, “and the bride.”
Subsequent Translations disregarded the Vulgate more, and reverted to the original purpose in the employment of italic type .
The English New Testament (published at Geneva, 1557) and the Geneva Bible (1560) “put in that word, which, lacking, made the sentence obscure, but set it in such letters, as may easily be discerned from the common text.” The example was followed and extended in the Bishops’ Bible (1568, 1572); and the Roman and Italic * [Note: The word Italic means relating to Italy, and is used of a kind of type dedicated to the States of Italy, by Aldus Manutius, about the year 1500.] types of these Bibles (as distinguished from the black letter and Roman type of previous Bibles) were introduced into the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] (1611).
The italics were used very loosely and inconsistently in the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] These inconsistencies were manifest on the same page and in the same verse.
The Cambridge Bibles of 1629 and 1639 made a great reform; which was extended by Dr. Paris in 1762 and Dr. Blayney in 1769. In these two Bibles, the number of words in italics was largely increased, though their use and application is far from being consistent.
The following seem to have been the principles guiding the translators of the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]
1. To supply the omissions under the figure Ellipsis, or what they considered to be Ellipsis.
2. To supply the words necessary to give the sense, when the figure called Zeugma is employed (a kind of Ellipsis).
3. Once, at least, to indicate a word or words of doubtful ms. authority. 1 John 2:23 (first introduced in Cranmer’s Bible-doubtless from the Vulgate). Perhaps also Judges 16:2, Judges 20:9 .
4. Where the English idiom differs from that of the Originals, and requires essential words to be added, which are not necessary in the Hebrew or Greek.
When we speak of the Authorized Version of the English Bible (published in 1611), we are immediately confronted with the fact that two editions were published in that same year; and that they differ in many material points, the one from the other. Both are in the British Museum. * [Note: press marks:-3050 g. 2 and 3050 g. 1 respectively. There can be no doubt as to which of these is the original edition, as one of them contains a serious printer’s error in Exodus, which in the other is corrected: this must therefore have been printed subsequently, though in the same year.] Many subsequent editions followed, which contain very many not unimportant changes. Some of these may be attributed to oversight arising from human infirmity; but most of them are changes, deliberately made and introduced without any authority, by men whose names are for the most part unknown.
Some of these emendations have been discarded in later editions, and also some notable misprints, but many have been retained.
The Cambridge folio editions of 1629 and 1638 appear to have been a complete revision; but, though wholly unauthorised, it cannot be doubted that the work was well done, and moreover was greatly needed on account of the corrupt state of the then current editions. The parallel textual references in the margin were greatly increased in these editions, and have been still further extended in those published subsequently.
Some of its emendations have dropped out in later editions, while some of its mistakes have been perpetuated! Among the former the word “and” in John 14:6 (“and the truth”) was correctly inserted, but disappeared again in editions since 1817. Among the latter, Jeremiah 34:16 : “He had set,” instead of “ye had set,” as in 1611.
Ezekiel 18:1 : “The word of the Lord,” instead of “And the word,” as in 1611.
Hosea 13:3 : “The whirlwind,” instead of “A whirlwind,” as in 1611.
Acts 6:3 : “Whom ye may appoint,” instead of “we may appoint,” as in 1611. This mistake continued down to 1646.
An edition published in 1660, by Hills and Field, is remarkable for certain marginal notes then added; and subsequently increased in a Cambridge Bible of 1682 with a great number of fresh textual references, probably by Dr. Scattergood.
An edition of 1701 first contained the marginal dates, which were chiefly those of Archbishop Ussher. There were also tables of Scripture measures, weights, and coins; tables of kindred and of time, etc. Additional references were also given. This was the work of William Lloyd at the request of Convocation. but Lloyd exercised his own judgment in the insertion of Archbishop Ussher’s dates. Ussher (in 1580-1656) had given 455 b.c., as the date of the Decree given to Nehemiah (in Nehemiah 1:2-20); but Lloyd altered this to 445 b.c., as it now stands in our English Bibles! This was done to suit his own theories, and is of no value as against Ussher’s elaborate calculations.
The editions of Dr. Paris, in 1762, and of Dr. Blayney, which superseded it in 1769, contained additions in the use of italic type, marginal notes, dates, and textual references. These versions modernised the diction, and made many emendations of the Text; some of them very needless; and also introduced errors of their own, not always those pertaining to the printer.
Since that date controversies have been carried on; and attempts have been made to effect a revision of the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.], with the view to provide an edition which should prove to be a standard Text. but all efforts came to nothing; and a new Revised Version was issued instead in 1881. The remarks of the revisers in their preface, as to the use of italic type, should be carefully studied; inasmuch as they reviewed the whole subject and adopted certain principles which tended “to diminish rather than increase the amount of italic printing.”
The Old Testament Company in their preface (1884) state that they have “departed from the custom of the Authorised Version, and adopted, as their rule, the following resolution of their Company:-
“’That all such words, now printed in italics, as are plainly implied in the Hebrew and necessary in the English, be printed in common type.
“ ‘But where any doubt existed as to the exact rendering of the Hebrew, all words which have been added in order to give completeness to the English expression are printed in italic type,’ ” etc.
The use of large capital letters for certain words and phrases originated with the Authorised Version. None of the previous or “former translations” have them.
The revisers abandoned this practice, but have not been consistent in the plan they substituted for it. In most of the cases they have used small capital letters instead of the large capitals; but, in three cases (Jeremiah 23:6 and Zechariah 3:8, Zechariah 6:12), they have used ordinary Roman type.
The use of the large capitals by the translators of the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] are destitute of any authority, and merely indicate the importance which they attached to such words and phrases thus indicated.
The following is a complete list:-
Large capitals in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] Small capitals in R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.]
Exodus 3:14 : “I am that I am.”
Exodus 3:14 .-“I am.”
Exodus 6:3 : “Jehovah.”
Exodus 28:36, Exodus 39:30 : “Holiness (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.], “Holy”) to the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 28:58 : “The Lord thy God.”
Psalms 68:4 : “Jah.”
Psalms 83:18 : “Jehovah.”
Isaiah 26:4 : “Jehovah.”
Daniel 1:5-28 : “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” (verse 28, Peres).
Zechariah 14:20 : “Holiness (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.], “holy”) unto the Lord.”
Matthew 1:21 : “Jesus.”
Matthew 1:25 : “Jesus.”
Matthew 27:37 : The inscriptions on the Cross. Also Mark 15:26 . Luke 23:38 . John 19:19 .
Luke 1:31, Luke 2:21 : “Jesus.”
Acts 17:23 : “To the (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.], “an”) unknown God.”
Revelation 17:5 : “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.], “the”) Harlots and (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.], “of the”) Abominations of the Earth.”
Revelation 19:16 : “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
Large capitals in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] Small Roman letters in R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.]
Jeremiah 23:6 : “The Lord our Righteousness.”
Zechariah 3:8 : “Branch.”
Zechariah 6:12 : “Branch.”