This year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. A monument of the English language, the KJB is the medium by which God worked faith in Jesus Christ in countless millions, including me and perhaps you.
That said, early editions of the KJB had some amusing typos. For example, the translators got the Sixth Commandment right but the printer left out the word "not." "Thou shalt commit adultery." That edition came to be known as the "Wicked Bible."
Another amusing printer error: In Luke 14:26 Jesus says that following Him even means hating our own life. Again, the translators got that right but the printer published that we should hate our wife. That edition came to be known as the "Wife Hater Bible."
In another marriage misprint, "hate" came out "ate." A1682 edition from Amsterdam: "If the latter husband ate her (for 'hate her'), her former husband may not take her again" (Deuteronomy 24:3).
And here's a typo for dog lovers: An 1805 edition had this heading: "How we muts love our enemies."
So many things can get in the way of communicating the Word! The Bereans searched the Scriptures to make sure they were getting it right (Acts 17). May we also understand Scripture correctly!
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