Reina-Valera
Encyclopedia
The Reina-Valera is a Spanish translation of the Bible, first published in 1569 in Basel
, Switzerland
and nicknamed the "Biblia del Oso" (in English: Bible of the Bear). It was not the first complete Bible in Spanish; several others, most notably the Alfonsina Bible, were published in previous centuries. Its principal translator was Casiodoro de Reina
, an independent Lutheran
theologian, but a manuscript found at the Bodleian Library gives further evidence of the fact that the Spanish Bible was a community project. This translation was based on the Hebrew Masoretic Text
(Bomberg's Edition, 1525) and the Greek Textus Receptus
(Stephanus' Edition, 1550). As secondary sources Reina was aided by the Ferrara Bible
for the Old Testament and the Latin Edition of Santes Pagnino
throughout. For the New Testament he had great aid from the translations of Francisco de Enzinas
and Juan Pérez de Pineda. The 1569 version included the deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament.
This Bible, as central to the perception of the scriptures by Protestants in Spanish
as the King James Version in English, has undergone numerous
revisions, the first of which took place in 1602 under the editorial
eye of Cipriano de Valera
. This edition was printed in Amsterdam
. The 1602 revision moved the deuterocanonical books to a section between the Old and New Testaments called the Apocrypha.
Next was the revision of 1862, followed by other important revisions in 1909, 1960 and 1995. Modern editions often omit the Apocrypha. The 1909 edition is essentially the equivalent of the English King James Version, while the 1960 edition is the equivalent of the English Revised Standard Version
. Both versions are therefore still in print.
Since the 1960 revision was released, there has been much debate among conservative Christian groups which use the Reina-Valera Bible. However, the 1960 revision became the common Bible of many millions of Spanish-speaking Christians around the world, surpassing the 1909 in its reception. Almost all Hispanic Fundamentalists use it, despite further attempts to revise it.
Other Revisions
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and nicknamed the "Biblia del Oso" (in English: Bible of the Bear). It was not the first complete Bible in Spanish; several others, most notably the Alfonsina Bible, were published in previous centuries. Its principal translator was Casiodoro de Reina
Casiodoro de Reina
Casiodoro de Reina or de Reyna Casiodoro de Reina or de Reyna Casiodoro de Reina or de Reyna (born 1520 in Montemolín; died 15 March 1594 in Frankfurt am Main was a Lutheran theologian who (perhaps with several others) translated the Bible into Spanish.-Early life:...
, an independent Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
theologian, but a manuscript found at the Bodleian Library gives further evidence of the fact that the Spanish Bible was a community project. This translation was based on the Hebrew Masoretic Text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
(Bomberg's Edition, 1525) and the Greek Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which constituted the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version, and for most other...
(Stephanus' Edition, 1550). As secondary sources Reina was aided by the Ferrara Bible
Ferrara Bible
The Ferrara Bible was a 1553 publication of the Ladino version of the Tanach used by Sephardi Jews. It was paid for and made by Yom-Tob ben Levi Athias and Abraham ben Salomon Usque , and was dedicated to Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara...
for the Old Testament and the Latin Edition of Santes Pagnino
Santes Pagnino
Santes Pagnino was a Dominican, and one of the leading philologists and Biblical scholars of his day.-Biography:...
throughout. For the New Testament he had great aid from the translations of Francisco de Enzinas
Francisco de Enzinas
Francisco de Enzinas , also known by the humanist name Francis Dryander , was a classical scholar, translator, author, and Protestant apologist of Spanish origin.-Family and Education:Francisco de Enzinas was born in Burgos, Spain, probably on 1 November 1518...
and Juan Pérez de Pineda. The 1569 version included the deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament.
This Bible, as central to the perception of the scriptures by Protestants in Spanish
as the King James Version in English, has undergone numerous
revisions, the first of which took place in 1602 under the editorial
eye of Cipriano de Valera
Cipriano de Valera
Cipriano de Valera was the editor of the first major revision of the Spanish Bible translation of Casiodoro de Reina. First published in 1602, this version of the Bible continues to be called the Reina-Valera, even after latter revisions. Valera was in exile in England during most of the reign of...
. This edition was printed in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. The 1602 revision moved the deuterocanonical books to a section between the Old and New Testaments called the Apocrypha.
Next was the revision of 1862, followed by other important revisions in 1909, 1960 and 1995. Modern editions often omit the Apocrypha. The 1909 edition is essentially the equivalent of the English King James Version, while the 1960 edition is the equivalent of the English Revised Standard Version
Revised Standard Version
The Revised Standard Version is an English translation of the Bible published in the mid-20th century. It traces its history to William Tyndale's New Testament translation of 1525. The RSV is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version of 1901...
. Both versions are therefore still in print.
Since the 1960 revision was released, there has been much debate among conservative Christian groups which use the Reina-Valera Bible. However, the 1960 revision became the common Bible of many millions of Spanish-speaking Christians around the world, surpassing the 1909 in its reception. Almost all Hispanic Fundamentalists use it, despite further attempts to revise it.
Other Revisions
- The 1602 Purified Bible done in Monterrey, Mexico.
- Another Revision of the Valera Bible was made in 1865 by Dr. Ángel H. de Mora of Spain and subsequently printed by the American Bible SocietyAmerican Bible SocietyThe American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
. The ABS continued to reprint this Valera edition until the 1950s. It was then reprinted again in the year 2000 by Local Church Bible Publishers of Lansing, Michigan and also the Valera Bible Society of Miami, Florida. - The Reina-Valera-Gómez Bible, done in Matamoros, Mexico.
- The Trinitarian Bible SocietyTrinitarian Bible SocietyThe Trinitarian Bible Society was founded in 1831 "to promote the Glory of God and the salvation of men by circulating, both at home and abroad, in dependence on the Divine blessing, the Holy Scriptures, which are given by inspiration of God and are able to make men wise unto salvation through...
is working on a revision of the Valera 1909 at this time. - In September 2009 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (MormonMormonThe term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s) published their first official Spanish edition of the Bible based on the 1909 Reina-Valera edition, with "a very conservative update of outdated grammar and vocabulary".
See also
- Bible translationsBible translationsThe Bible has been translated into many languages from the biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Indeed, the full Bible has been translated into over 450 languages, although sections of the Bible have been translated into over 2,000 languages....
- Spanish translations of the BibleSpanish translations of the BibleSeveral Spanish translations of the Bible have been made since approximately 700 years ago.- Jewish translations :Medieval Spanish Jews had a tradition of oral translation of Biblical readings into Spanish, and several manuscript translations were made, either for Jewish use or for Christian patrons...
External links
- Text of the Biblia del Oso (1569) - digitized version
- Text of the Reina-Valera (1865)
- Text of the Biblia Reina-Valera (1909)
- Text of the Reina Valera 1960, searchable text. Must scroll down to select it
- Text of the Reina Valera Gomez Bible Revision 2004
- LDS Text of the Santa Biblia Reina-Valera (2009): Old Testament
- LDS Text of the Santa Biblia Reina-Valera (2009): New Testament
- History of Reina Valera in Spanish