Ferrara Bible facts for kids
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| Original title | Biblia en Lengua Española Traducida Palabra por Palabra de la Verdad Hebrayca por Muy Excelentes Letrados, Vista y Examinada por el Oficio de la Inquisicion |
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| Translator | Abraham Usque and Yom-Tob Athias |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Ladino |
| Genre | Religion, Judaism |
| Published | 1553 Ferrara (FE) |
The Ferrara Bible is a special book. It was published in 1553. This Bible was a version of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) written in Ladino. Ladino is a language spoken by Sephardi Jews. Sephardi Jews are Jewish people whose families came from Spain and Portugal.
This Bible was created and paid for by two important people. They were Yom-Tob ben Levi Athias and Abraham ben Salomon Usque. Yom-Tob Athias was a typographer, meaning he printed the book. Abraham Usque was the translator. Both of them were Marranos, which means they were Jews from Portugal who had to hide their faith. They dedicated this Bible to Duke Ercole II d'Este of Ferrara, Italy. His wife, Renée of France, was a Protestant.
The Ferrara Bible was a new version of an older translation. This older translation had been used by Spanish Jews for a long time. Its full title was very long! It meant "The Bible in the Spanish Language, Translated word for word from the true Hebrew by very excellent Scholars, Viewed and Examined by the Office of the Inquisition. With the Privilege of the most Illustrious Lord Duke of Ferrara." The Inquisition was a powerful group that checked books and ideas. Even though the title said it was "examined," the Inquisition usually wouldn't approve such a work.
Two different versions of this Bible were printed. One was for the Duke. The other was for the Jewish community. This second version was dedicated to Doña Gracia Nasi, a very wealthy and influential Jewish woman.
Contents
What is the Ferrara Bible?
The Ferrara Bible is a significant historical book. It is a translation of the Hebrew Bible. It was made for Sephardi Jews. These are Jewish people who lived in Spain and Portugal. They spoke Ladino, a language similar to old Spanish.
Who Made This Bible?
Two main people were behind the Ferrara Bible. Yom-Tob ben Levi Athias was the printer. He made sure the book was printed correctly. Abraham ben Salomon Usque was the translator. He changed the Hebrew text into Ladino. Both men were from Portugal. They were also Marranos, meaning they had to secretly practice Judaism.
Why Was It Important?
The Ferrara Bible was very important for several reasons. It helped preserve the Ladino language. It also gave Sephardi Jews a Bible in their own language. This was especially important after they were forced to leave Spain and Portugal. It also influenced later Bible translations.
Its Special Language
The language of the Ferrara Bible is unique. It follows the Hebrew Bible's sentence structure very closely. This is different from everyday Ladino. It helped readers understand the original Hebrew meaning. The Bible was written using the Latin alphabet. It had special marks called diacritics. These marks helped show how Ladino words should sound. Other Bibles from that time were printed in Hebrew script. But the Ferrara Bible used Latin letters. Both types of Bibles were based on older Spanish traditions.
In this Bible, the special name for God, the tetragrammaton, is written as A. This stands for Adonai, which means "My Lord."
How It Helped Other Bibles
The Ferrara Bible was also a key source for other translations. For example, it helped Casiodoro de Reina when he translated the Bible in 1569. He wrote that the Ferrara Bible was very helpful. He said it gave the "natural and first meaning of Hebrew terms." He also noted it showed "the differences between the tenses of the verbs." This means it helped him understand the exact meaning of the original Hebrew words. He believed it was a work "worthy of greater esteem" than many other translations. Because of this help, he hoped his own translation would be just as good.
See also
In Spanish: Biblia de Ferrara para niños
- Reina-Valera
- Spanish translations of the Bible
