Complutensian Polyglot Bible

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...and if the letters of the primitive the root word follow immediately after that, then the primitive will not be noted in the margin. This is because, as stated above, the letter vau original: "vau" (ו), the letter Waw at the beginning of a word is always placed as a conjunction and is never part of the primitive letters, except in only two places and in certain proper names, as shown in the vocabulary. Likewise, if the letters of the primitive immediately follow any of these five letters—ב ה כ ל מ Bet, He, Kaph, Lamed, Mem—which are placed at the start of a word as articles or prepositions, the primitive is not placed in the margin. And because these aforementioned five letters are sometimes part of the substance of the word (that is, its primitive root), whenever they are accidental functional rather than part of the root and used as

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articles or prepositions, they are marked with a certain stroke original: "apice," a small mark or apex placed above them in this manner: י ב כ ה ל. And because in the Chaldaic Aramaic translation, which we have also caused to be printed, these four letters א ה ו י Aleph, He, Waw, Yod are placed in the position of vowels more frequently than in Hebrew, if the word contains the primitive letters once these are removed, there will be no need to mark the primitive in the margin. Likewise, because in the aforementioned Chaldaic language the letter daleth ד is the sign of the genitive case, when it is not part of the substance of the word, it will be marked with the aforementioned stroke in this manner: ד. And if the primitive letters follow such a letter, it will not be placed in the margin. Let what has been said on these matters suffice.

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Prologue to the New Testament: and concerning the

reasons why Greek marks accents and breathings were omitted in it.

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Do not be surprised or find fault, studious reader, that in the Greek edition of the New Testament—unlike in the Old—the bare letters are published and printed without any marks of breathings or tones accents. It seemed worthwhile to assign a reason for this to you. It is as follows: it is well known that the ancient Greeks wrote without these flourishes on their letters, which can be proven by many arguments. Not a few ancient manuscripts clearly show this, such as the poems of Callimachus a 3rd-century BC Greek scholar-poet and the Sibylline songs ancient oracular prophecies written in Greek, and moreover, the very old marble monuments that are still seen carved with bare characters only. Thus, it is clear that such superscriptions of little lines and marks were not devised in that primeval origin of the Greek language, nor did they pertain to its integrity in every respect.

Since it is certain that the entire New Testament (except for the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle to the Hebrews) was first written in Greek as it was dictated by the Holy Spirit, it seemed right to retain the ancient antiquity and majesty of that language untouched within it. It was decided to publish the work itself printed after the image of ancient writings, even omitting those smallest appendages. This was done lest the authority and venerable majesty of such a holy thing seem to suffer detriment by the addition of modern novelties. Furthermore, if we wish to speak the truth, this lack of breathings and tones can bring no impediment at all to a correct understanding for those who have made even a little progress in Greek learning. However, lest any doubt occur to anyone as to which syllable the accent ought to be placed upon, a simple mark original: "apex" has been added in polysyllabic words. This is not intended as a Greek accent, but rather as a small note and sign by which the reader can be guided

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lest they should ever stumble in the pronunciation or modulation of the words. In the Greek edition of the Old Testament, however—since that is only a translation the Septuagint and not the original text—it was not our plan to remove or change anything from the common way of writing. And because this work must serve not only the learned, but all students of the sacred letters in general, small Latin letters have been placed above each word in alphabetical order. These indicate which word corresponds to the word in the opposite column, so that there is no room for error for novices and those not yet advanced in Greek letters.

Again, since some Greek words seem at times to have multiple, equivalent, or otherwise ambiguous meanings, it pleased us to note this as well by placing a point under the Latin letter positioned above the Greek word. And finally, to bring this little preface to a close, let the reader be aware that not just any manuscripts were used as archetypes for this printing, but the most ancient and most correct ones. They are of such great antiquity that it would seem a sin to deny them credit. These manuscripts were sent from the Apostolic Library by the most holy father in Christ and our lord, Pope Leo X Pope from 1513 to 1521, who desired to favor this undertaking. They were sent to the Most Reverend Lord Cardinal of Spain Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, by whose authority and command we have caused this work to be printed.

You, therefore, students of letters, receive this divine work newly printed with an eager mind. If you wish to be seen as—and truly be—followers of Christ the Best and Greatest, there remains no reason for you to make excuses for not approaching the Holy Scripture. No faulty copies, no suspect translations, no lack of the original text stands in your way; only your own mind and dedication are expected. If these are not lacking, it will undoubtedly happen that, tasting the sweetness of divine letters, you will studiously despise all else. Farewell, and consider all things for the best.

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Prologue to the Hebrew and Chaldaic Dictionary:

and to the Hebrew Grammar with interpretations of proper names.

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For those who seek a complete knowledge of the divine law and find in it Christ—who is true wisdom—with a pious affection of the mind, a skill in those languages in which the sacred oracles were originally written by the dictation of the Holy Spirit is of the greatest benefit. This is clearly attested in many places by all the commentators on the church’s speech. Therefore, after

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the command of the most Illustrious and Reverend Father in Christ and Lord, Lord Brother Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros—Cardinal of Spain, priest of the Holy Roman Church under the title of Saint Balbina, Archbishop of the Holy Church of Toledo, Primate of the Spains, and High Chancellor of the Kingdoms of Castile—we have given for the common utility of the Christian republic the New Testament printed in the Greek and Latin tongue. In addition, we have added a most useful Lexicon of all the Greek...