Emphatic Diaglott
Encyclopedia
The Emphatic Diaglott is a diaglot, or two-language polyglot translation, of the New Testament
by Benjamin Wilson
, first published in 1864. It is an interlinear translation with the original Greek text and a word-for-word English translation in the left column, and a full English translation in the right column. It is based on the interlinear translation, the renderings of eminent critics, and various readings of the Vatican Manuscript. It includes illustrative and explanatory footnotes, references, and an alphabetical appendix.
The Greek text is that of Johann Jakob Griesbach
. The English text uses "Jehovah
" for the divine name a number of times where the New Testament writers used "κύριος" (the Lord) when quoting Hebrew scriptures. For example, at it reads: "For David himself says in the book of Psalms, Jehovah said to my Lord, sit thou at my Right hand, 'till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet", where Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1.
The text of the original edition's title page is as follows:
Although Wilson prepared the plates himself, the first edition was published in 1865 by Orson Squire Fowler
of Fowler and Wells Ltd. of New York. Fowler and Wells were phrenologists
who published a periodical to which Walt Whitman
contributed, and also published his Leaves of Grass
. (Fowler also had an earlier indirect connection to Wilson's associates among the Christadelphians
through having employed Robert Roberts
on a trip to Huddersfield in 1861.)
After Wilson's death in 1900, the plates and copyright were inherited by his heirs. Charles Taze Russell
, then president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
, approached Wilson's family via a third party and obtained the copyright, and at some later point, the plates. The Society published the Diaglott in 1902, and later had the type reset for publication on its own presses in 1927, with an additional printing in 1942.
In 1952 the copyright to the Diaglott expired and it fell into the public domain. The Watch Tower Society's sold the Diaglott inexpensively (offering it free of charge from 1990), making it non-viable for others to print until the depletion of that inventory. Others such as Wilson's home church, Church of the Blessed Hope
, had considered reprinting their own edition; in the 1990s the Miami church of the group, with support from Christadelphians
in the United Kingdom and the United States published their own edition, with a new preface.
The public domain status of The Emphatic Diaglott has made it a popular online translation.
First Edition 1864, 1880 printing. Note that the English translation of Luke 23.43 differs from the that in the above two links.
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
by Benjamin Wilson
Benjamin Wilson (Biblical scholar)
Benjamin Wilson was an autodidact Biblical scholar and writer of the Emphatic Diaglott translation of the Bible...
, first published in 1864. It is an interlinear translation with the original Greek text and a word-for-word English translation in the left column, and a full English translation in the right column. It is based on the interlinear translation, the renderings of eminent critics, and various readings of the Vatican Manuscript. It includes illustrative and explanatory footnotes, references, and an alphabetical appendix.
The Greek text is that of Johann Jakob Griesbach
Johann Jakob Griesbach
Johann Jakob Griesbach , German biblical textual critic, was born at Butzbach, a small town in the state of Hesse, where his father, Konrad Kaspar , was pastor...
. The English text uses "Jehovah
Jehovah
Jehovah is an anglicized representation of Hebrew , a vocalization of the Tetragrammaton , the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible....
" for the divine name a number of times where the New Testament writers used "κύριος" (the Lord) when quoting Hebrew scriptures. For example, at it reads: "For David himself says in the book of Psalms, Jehovah said to my Lord, sit thou at my Right hand, 'till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet", where Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1.
The text of the original edition's title page is as follows:
- The Emphatic Diaglott, containing the Original Greek Text of what is Commonly Styled the New Testament (According to the Recension of Dr. J. J. Griesbach), with an Interlineary Word for Word English Translation; A New Emphatic Version, based on the Interlineary Translation, on the Renderings of Eminent Critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican Manuscript, No. 1209 in the Vatican Library: Together with Illustrative and Explanatory Footnotes, and a copious selection of references; to the whole of which is added a valuable Alphabetical Appendix. Fowler and Wells 1865.
Publishing history
A nephew of Benjamin Wilson wrote this account of the production of The Diaglott:- "While I was a boy, my father put me into The Gospel Banner office to learn the printing business. It was during this time, that the EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT was translated and printed. I can now in my mind’s eye see my Uncle Benjamin, sitting at his desk, making a literal word for word translation of the New Testament. I remember seeing the Greek type arrive from England. Many readers of the Diaglott may not be aware that my Uncle not only translated the Diaglott, but took charge of the mechanical work as well. He electro-typed the entire book himself. The following was the process he followed. As each page of the Diaglott was put into type, he took an impression of the page of type in wax. This wax mold was then blackened with very fine blacklead dust. He had a vat containing acid. In this acid he hung a copper plate, and also the wax mold, before he went home at night. In the morning he would find the wax mold would be covered with a thin sheet of copper. This acid dissolved the copper, and the black lead attracted it to the wax mold. He then made metal plates out of melted metal and fastened the copper sheet upon it. He then printed the first edition of the book, from these plates, on a hand press. I used to ink the plate by a soft roller, while he worked the press."
Although Wilson prepared the plates himself, the first edition was published in 1865 by Orson Squire Fowler
Orson Squire Fowler
Orson Squire Fowler was a phrenologist who popularized the octagon house in the middle of the nineteenth century....
of Fowler and Wells Ltd. of New York. Fowler and Wells were phrenologists
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
who published a periodical to which Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
contributed, and also published his Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by the American poet Walt Whitman . Though the first edition was published in 1855, Whitman spent his entire life writing Leaves of Grass, revising it in several editions until his death...
. (Fowler also had an earlier indirect connection to Wilson's associates among the Christadelphians
Christadelphians
Christadelphians is a Christian group that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century...
through having employed Robert Roberts
Robert Roberts
-Politicians:*Robert W. Roberts , U.S. Representative from Mississippi*Robert Roberts , Australian politician for East Toowoomba between 1912 and 1934*Bob Roberts -Sportsmen:...
on a trip to Huddersfield in 1861.)
After Wilson's death in 1900, the plates and copyright were inherited by his heirs. Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell , or Pastor Russell, was a prominent early 20th century Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement, from which Jehovah's Witnesses and numerous independent Bible Student groups emerged...
, then president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization headquartered in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, United States. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and develop doctrines for the religion...
, approached Wilson's family via a third party and obtained the copyright, and at some later point, the plates. The Society published the Diaglott in 1902, and later had the type reset for publication on its own presses in 1927, with an additional printing in 1942.
In 1952 the copyright to the Diaglott expired and it fell into the public domain. The Watch Tower Society's sold the Diaglott inexpensively (offering it free of charge from 1990), making it non-viable for others to print until the depletion of that inventory. Others such as Wilson's home church, Church of the Blessed Hope
Church of the Blessed Hope
The Church of the Blessed Hope is a small first-day Adventist Christian body.-Background:...
, had considered reprinting their own edition; in the 1990s the Miami church of the group, with support from Christadelphians
Christadelphians
Christadelphians is a Christian group that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century...
in the United Kingdom and the United States published their own edition, with a new preface.
The public domain status of The Emphatic Diaglott has made it a popular online translation.
External links
- Online text (digital facsimile in PDF, single file download)
- Emphatic Diaglott Preface and English interlinear translation
- http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002089550009 Preface and English interlinear translation
First Edition 1864, 1880 printing. Note that the English translation of Luke 23.43 differs from the that in the above two links.