Being a Hebrew-Latin interlinear version, this Bible has an
interesting dilemma. Latin, like English today, reads from
left-to-right. However, the Hebrew language is opposite, reading right-to-left. This Bible
had lines of Latin translation between the lines of Hebrew text. Now since each language reads in a different direction, if we are going to intermingle lines of
Hebrew and Latin, one of them has to read backwards. In this case the Hebrew is the primary text,
so the Latin is reversed.
See the first line of Latin: "Chabaccuc vidit quod Onus".
As any Latin student can tell you, the ordering of these words is backwards. The text should actually read:
"Onus quod vidit Chabaccuc".
read. to hard very Latin the makes This
The small numbers on the left edge are verse numbers. By
placing them in the center of the page, they did not interfere with the Marginal Notes.
Marginal Notes that are in Latin letters (i.e., the letters we use
in today's English) are from the Vulgate Bible. Various symbols (*,
†, ‡, etc.) are used to indicate
the portion of the text to which the Note referred. Alternative Hebrew readings in the margin are referenced through the use of small
letters in the text (a, b, c, etc.)
Christopher Plantin, the publisher of this Bible, was known
for his development of a Hebrew alphabet suitable for printing. The fine lettering, along with the outstanding
woodcut of the Hebrew letter "He", are excellent examples of his work.
