Polyglot

Some of the greatest feats in printing history were achieved with the polyglot Bibles of the 16th and 17th century.

The last (but most accurate) of these great Bibles, Walton's London Polyglot of 1657 (actually titled Biblia Sacra Polyglotta) included the following versions:

1) Hebrew (with Latin translation), 2) the Latin Vulgate, 3) the Greek Septuagint (with Latin translation), 4) the Syriac Peshitta (with Latin translation), 5) Targum Onqelos (with Latin translation), 5) Samaritan Hebrew, 6) Samaritan Targum (with Latin translation), 7) Arabic (with Latin translation). Parts of the Bible have Ethiopic and Persian versions.

Here's the first two pages of Genesis (actual size is 18" high):



(click to enlarge, or buy one yourself (if $15,000 is doable--brand new, they sold for £9)



Brian Walton