That "Wicked Bible"

"1631 The King James Version"

The quality and methods of printing in the seventeenth century were rather primitive in comparison to today. This lead to many printing errors in these early books, although they are not theological or transnational mistakes, they are still is worth a smile, and worthy of noting. King Charles I ordered 1,000 Bibles from an English printer named Robert Barker. Only after the Bibles were delivered did anyone notice a serious mistake. In One of the Ten Commandments [Exodus 20:14], a very small word was forgotten by the printers. The word "not". This changed the 7th commandment to say Thou shalt commit adultery!

King Charles was not amused by the "Wicked Bible," as the infamous printing mistake was called. He ordered the Bibles recalled and destroyed, took away Barker's license to print Bibles and fined him 300 pounds [a lifetimes wages in those days]. Barker was out of business. Only 11 are left today.  If you want to see the museum's web site, go to www.showtown.net/bible/current.htm .

Please feel free to check out our other many articles on the many funny printing errors in the Bible.

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