‘the most beautifully bound book in the University Library’: The Seventeenth-Century Embroidered Wardlaw Bible in the Special Collections of the University of St Andrews

In 2001 Wardlaw family descendants gifted to the University of St Andrews a pair of embroidered seventeenth-century gauntlet gloves and an embroidered seventeenth-century Geneva Bible bound with The CL. Psalmes of David in Meeter. Family tradition purports that the bible and gloves were given by Charles I to Sir Henry and Lady Wardlaw. Although it is feasible that the gloves were gifted to the first Sir Henry by Charles I, the bible was published after 1640—its 1599 date of imprint is false—and it, therefore, cannot have been given to Sir Henry, who died in 1637. It is also questionable if Charles I would have gifted a Geneva Bible, rather than the King James Version. Following a detailed description of the binding and the conservation it has undergone, the Wardlaw family legend is re-examined through comparing the embroidered binding to others of the seventeenth century, examining the provenance within the bible, and discussing the Geneva version of the bible.

Old Testament and Nationalism: Hebrew Bible, Jewish People, English Nation

This article discusses the co-evolution of nationalism and Protestantism in the course of the sixteenth century in England; the influence of the Hebrew Bible’s concept of “the people of Israel” as a community of fundamentally equal members on the emerging English national consciousness (the first national consciousness to develop, in turn influencing all subsequent nationalisms); and the reinterpretation of the core passages of the Hebrew Bible, in English translations up to the King James version, in terms of the emerging national consciousness. Completely independent at their historical sources, nationalism and Protestantism reinforced each other in the crucial English case through the translation of the Hebrew Bible. This, on the one hand, nationalized Protestantism in England and, on the other, led to the incorporation of the biblical concept of the people of God in the new, secular concept of nation.

The debatable identity in Isaiah 62:5

In Isaiah 62:5, there are three major translations of who will marry ‘you’ or ‘Zion’ based on the immediate context (Is 62:1). Firstly, the most common reading is ‘your sons’ (Amplified Bible [AB], American Standard Version [ASV], Berean Study Bible [BSB], Catholic Public Domain Version [CPDV], Douay-Rheims Bible [DRB], English Standard Version [ESV], King James Version [KJV], New International Version [NIV], New American Standard Bible [NASB], Smith’s Literal Translation [SLT], World English Bible [WEB]). Secondly, the scholars reading preference is ‘your builder’, which refers to ‘God’ based on Psalms 147:2. This reading is adopted by Coverdale Bible of 1535, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and Good New Bible (GNT). Lastly, although the translation ‘builders’ is the least favourable reading, LSV and YLT use this reading. This research, therefore, attempts to argue for ‘your sons’ translation as the original reading through textual criticism as the methodology.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is a combination of textual criticism studies with translations.

DENOTATIVE AND CONNOTATIVE MEANINGS IN ENGLISH PROVERBS (A SEMANTIC STUDY)

This study aims at identifying denotative and connotative meaning in English proverbs, in Solomon’s Proverbs in Proverbs 25, 26, and 28, King James Version. It was conducted in order to explain the patterns of proverb that used on Solomon’s proverbs in Proverbs 25. 26, and 28, King James Version. In conducting this study, descriptive method were used. The data were collected through documentation, the writer spent many times in reading and analyze the Solomon’s Proverbs in Proverbs 25, 26, and 28, King James Version and the files that in relation with this research. The data were analyzed by following step of unitization, categorization, explanation and interpretation.The result shows that there are 36 English proverbs that used patterns of proverbs by Mieder which are Better X than Y, Like X like Y, No X without Y, One X doesn’t make Y, If X than Y. It is suggested that understand the denotative and connotative meaning in reading English writing especially English Proverbs should be considered in order to get the real meaning that the author or speaker exactly means. Other researcher may conduct a study about denotative and connotative meaning with different point or object.

Interlude II

Die ganzen Zahlen hat der liebe Gott gemacht, alles andere ist Menschenwerk. (God made the integers, all else is the work of man.) LEOPOLD KRONECKER Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us. MARK 9:38 (KING JAMES VERSION)...

‘The Faith of Jesus: Translating Hebrews 12:2a’

This article shows how a big majority of English translations (17 out of 22 that I examined) have introduced ‘our’ into the text when they identify the subject of the ‘faith’ spoken of in Hebrews 12:2a. Modern commentators on Hebrews, however, have overwhelmingly understood the faith in question as the faith exercised by Jesus and, at best only secondarily, our faith in him. It seems that many translators have been following their predecessors (e.g. the King James Version) rather than reading commentaries.

Establishment

The text of the Book of Common Prayer as it now stands in the Church of England was established in 1662 as part of the Restoration settlement of religion. A great many amendments were included in the final version of the text, notably the adoption of the Authorized or King James Version for many of the biblical extracts. Some of the revisions had been agreed to by both parties at the Savoy Conference, convened in response to long-standing puritan objections to the Prayer Book. While most of the changes had no effect on the meaning of the text, a few did modify the Communion service in a conservative direction. A number of new services were added as well; and with that the Book of Common Prayer arrived at the form it has had in England ever since.

Shakespeare's “Vicious Blots” and the Diction of Later English Bible Translations

This essay examines the possible significance of blot variants in both Shakespeare's corpus and later English Bible translations, especially their increased use in l611 King James Version and the Revised Standard Edition compared to earlier English Bible translations. The shared fondness for these variants and their figurative potential suggest the literal constraints of inscription and erasure shown in the neglected “discourse of inscription” that appears in the poet-playwright's and later Bible translators' printed works.

Biblical Aesthetics

Biblical stories, tropes and images, and also the diction and syntax of the King James Version, are manifest throughout Lawrence’s oeuvre at the levels of form, plot and character. By approaching formal and thematic borrowings through the prism of recent developments in studies of Biblical aesthetics, this chapter demonstrates how Lawrence’s textual dynamics proceed from a sustained dialogue with the Bible that both demotes conventional beliefs and articulates his vision of the world. First, Lawrence’s pervasive use of Old Testament features and Hebrew poetry is reassessed to show how he valued the Bible as an aesthetic text. The chapter then instantiates how the Parables’ rhetorical strength is embedded in Lawrence’s narratives. Lastly, it examines how Lawrence’s artistic appropriation of Hebrew poetic forms and pagan imagery from the Book of Revelation restores pre-Christian image-thought.