The Murderous History of Bible Translations: Power, Conflict and the Quest for Meaning

by Harry Freedman

Harry Freedman, author of The A Biography , recounts the fascinating and bloody history of the Bible.

In 1535, William Tyndale, the first man to produce an English version of the Bible in print, was captured and imprisoned in Belgium. A year later he was strangled and then burned at the stake. His co-translator was also burned. In that same year the translator of the first Dutch Bible was arrested and beheaded. These were not the first, nor were they the last instances of extreme violence against Bible translators. The Murderous History of Bible Translations tells the remarkable, and bloody, story of those who dared translate the word of God.

The Bible has been translated far more than any other book. To our minds it is self-evident that believers can read their sacred literature in a language they understand. But the history of Bible translations is far more contentious than reason would suggest. Bible translations underlie an astonishing number of religious conflicts that have plagued the world.

Harry Freedman describes brilliantly the passions and strong emotions that arise when deeply held religious convictions are threatened or undermined. He tells of the struggle for authority and orthodoxy in a world where temporal power was always subjugated to the divine, a world in which the idea of a Bible for all was so important that many were willing to give up their time, security, and even their lives.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Linguistics, Language

248 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2016

About the author

My publishers describe me as Britain's best known writer on Jewish topics. I couldn't possibly comment! You can find out about all my books here on Goodreads. My website is harryfreedmanbooks.com and if you like what I write please subscribe to
my newsletter.

My most recent book is Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius. It explores the religious folklore, spiritual ideas and mystical concepts that run all the way through Leonard Cohen’s music.

Anyone who has listened carefully to Leonard Cohen’s music will know that songs like Hallelujah, Story of Isaac and By the Rivers Dark are based on biblical narratives. But Leonard Cohen’s music contains many more songs based on ancient lore. The Window is packed with kabbalistic insights, Who by Fire is based on both an ancient mystical text and a synagogue prayer, and You Want it Darker is one of the most powerful challenges ever written to the God whose presence Leonard Cohen was always aware of, whose purpose baffled him and whose world he struggled to come to terms with.

Cohen was deeply learned in both Judaism and Christianity; they helped shape his self-identity and the way he made sense of the world. In the book I explore twenty of his songs that are rooted in ancient biblical or kabbalistic sources. I explain the sources he drew upon, discuss their original context and the stories and ideas behind them, and show how Leonard Cohen has harnessed them for his own purposes. The book is not a biography, though it contains biographical information. I hope that it will offer an insight into the soul and imagination of one of the greatest singers and lyricists of our time.

My previous book was Reason to Believe: The Controversial Life of Rabbi Louis Jacobs. Louis Jacobs was Britain’s most gifted Jewish scholar. A Talmudic genius, outstanding teacher and accomplished author, cultured and easy-going, he was widely expected to become Britain’s next Chief Rabbi.

Then controversy struck. The Chief Rabbi refused to appoint him as Principal of Jews’ College, the country’s premier rabbinic college. He further forbade him from returning as rabbi to his former synagogue. All because of a book Jacobs had written some years earlier, challenging from a rational perspective the traditional belief in the origins of the Torah.

The British Jewish community was torn apart. It was a scandal unlike anything they had ever previously endured. The national media loved it. Jacobs became a cause celebre, a beacon of reason, a humble man who wouldn’t be compromised. His congregation resigned en masse and created a new synagogue for him in Abbey Road, the heart of fashionable 1970s London. It became the go-to venue for Jews seeking reasonable answers to questions of faith.

A prolific author of over 50 books and hundreds of articles on every aspect of Judaism, from the basics of religious belief to the complexities of mysticism and law, Louis Jacobs won the heart and affection of the mainstream British Jewish community. When the Jewish Chronicle ran a poll to discover the Greatest British Jew, Jacobs won hands down. He said it made him feel daft.

Reason To Believe tells the dramatic and touching story of Louis Jacobs’s life, and of the human drama lived out by his family, deeply wounded by his rejection.

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical rich but surprisingly easy to digest read, Freedman focuses primarily on intra-Christian tensions in translation with the heightened periods of violence in the late Medieval and early modern period. He, however, does point out sectarian biblical conflicts in the Islamic-Arab Christian and Jewish worlds. Freedman's tendency not to have a sectarian focus is a virtue, but it has the side effect of limiting contextual richness. Yet this is highly informative and interesting read, particularly on the tensions of modern translations and movements around them, even if those periods were more violent.

[Cameron Rhoads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout history, translating the Bible has frequently been controversial and even at times murderous. A good read, but fraught with grammatical mistakes and comma splices.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly yet accessible

Harry Freedman presents a scholarly, though accessible treatise on Bible translation, which is compelling and thought-provoking.. I really enjoyed reading the stories, some of which are so unbelievable, of the contention that the translated word engendered. I do find that he spends a little bit too much time on salacious episodes which are only tangentially related to translation, but which do make for melodramatic reading.

Overall, he provides a very thought-provoking exploration of the history of the Bible, and underscores the challenges understanding that multiple translations, and multiple sources, have rendered.
I also appreciate that he approaches the subject of translation, with out taking a stance that no one can trust in any translation come out while pointing out the multitude of problems that come from the process.

I also appreciated one of his final questions which prompts the reader to ask “Is your faith driven by personal insight, or is it something so comforting that you cannot but help believe in it?” I think that is a valid question that all who exercise faith should ask. Do we believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly, because we have received personal insight and inspiration from God, or do we believe it merely because it has been a part Of our life, ubiquitously?

[Edward Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a wealth of knowledge, historical reference, and just some plain old-fashioned storytelling, Freedman takes some of the things you never learned in Sunday school (or I did in 12 years of Catholic school) and makes it interesting. Nothing stuff, nothing sacrilegious, just down to earth and to the point information on how the Christian bible and other books of the three main religions put the "word" to the printed page. You can read about all the winners, losers (of their heads) and the madmen (who know Munster was the capital of crazy?) who made the history of the Apocrypha worth reading. 4.25 stars.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy, accessible read, with lots of great stories and decent scholarship behind it. It is explicitly not a comprehensive review of the history of Bible translation, but a review of some of the more controversial and dangerous episodes in Bible translation. As such, it passes over some important translations and persons, but delights with some lesser-known episodes in that story as well. It largely (though not completely) steers clear of any particular sectarian bias or focus. Freedman has an atypical background for an author on this subject (see his Wikipedia page), but he includes notes and a fairly extensive bibliography. He has done his research, and it appears to be reasonably comprehensive and balanced.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple and safe. Just a collection of stories - many of which not featuring a single murder - related to the translation of the Bible into European languages (and a very brief discussion about a translation intended for Muslims at the end). Only a couple were not already familiar to me, though I suppose something can be said about having them all in one place.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely engaged and fascinated by Freedman's many stories related to the translation of the Bible (although very few of the stories are actually "murderous"). I can't wait to read more on this subject.

[Ann Busbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always contended that biblical interpretation was fraught with issues in language and translation. This book not only reinforced that belief but it also brought to light some interesting things I didn't know. I admit, I needed my dictionary in hand while reading, but that just made it more enjoyable since I love to learn new concepts, ideas, and vocabulary. I highly recommend this book and I plan to read more by Harry Freedman.

[Becky Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can move beyond the sensationalized title, this book offers a very different and important lens through which to view the entirety of Christian history. It is well worth the read. Much is gained from the attention Freedman playfully pays to the cultural and political contexts surrounding various translations of the Bible that have taken place since the earliest renderings of the Septuagint in mid-3rd century BCE. Yes, the historical church was more corrupt than even I could have imagined. Yes, characters such as William Tyndale (to name one translator) were burned at the stake. Indeed, entire communities were slaughtered over their translational preferences. Sadly, none of the atrocities enacted in the name of Christianity come as a surprise, especially in today's climate. What I found marvelous, however, is the commitment individuals have displayed throughout time to make the Bible accessible to all people and the frequency with which their theological endeavors were accompanied by a spirit of revolution and fervor for the common man. To the point of death, people have submitted their lives in the name of creating readable and accurate translations of this book we now very much take for granted. I mean, wow. In addition, the commitment to scholarship and accuracy displayed throughout time (aside from the messiness), gave me a surprising level of confidence in the accuracy of the Bible of have on my own bookshelf--at least in terms of its consistency with the original Greek and Hebrew texts. That's not a small thing.

[Paul Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with the book "The Murderous History of Bible Translations: Power, Conflict, and the Quest for Meaning" by Harry Fredman. From the title, I had expected the book to be about Bible translators who were martyred for their efforts. William Tyndale was mentioned, but little was mentioned about other martyrs. I feel the book breezed over some major events, and went off on side tangents for some inconsequential items.

The best I can say about it is that the book was factually true, but I don't know who the target audience should be. For novices, I'd recommend two books by Donald Brake: "A Visual History of the English Bible: The Tumultuous Tale of the World's Best-selling Book" and "A Visual History of the King James Bible: Dramatic Story of the World's Best-Known Translation". For someone who is knowledgeable about the history of English Bible translations, there's little new, useful material in this book. Reading it wasn't a waste of my time, but I wouldn't recommended it to anyone.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I said "I want a book about how translators used to be punished, tortured, and executed for bad Bible translations." He bought me a few titles, but he couldn't wait for me to open this one since he knew he'd hit the jackpot.

I also knew he had selected a winner when I looked at the "By the same author" page, and after a list of religious themed books, the last one mentioned is "How to Get a Job In a Recession". Freedman is truly a Renaissance man that will not be boxed in.

I digress. The book is an awesome exploration of the personal stories behind Bible translations and the lengths passionate men and women would go to to translate and publish their work. Basically, it's a study in how crazy the Bible, and religion in general, can make people.

[Jacob Hudgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively and accessible overview of the history of Bible translation. Freedman is well-informed, widely read, and a good storyteller.

My objections: can we not draw any broad conclusions from this history? Or is it just “this stuff happened”? Freedman does nothing to synthesize all this material.

Also, several of these stories are just interesting church history stories (Munster, Dona Gracia) that have nothing to do with Bible translations (despite Freedman’s weak attempts to link them to his thesis).

My main takeaway is the help it gives in understanding why Christians get so hot under the collar about translations. It matters a lot what words you actually put in the text of the Bible. We are not the first to take it seriously—and thankfully we will probably not be killed for our translation choice.

[Jc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and readable history of how the Jewish and christian bibles have been translated from the early centuries B.C.E. through the early 21st century. Written on a non-academic level, this is suitable for anyone, believer or not (I am not) who wants to know how this book/set of books became what it is today. The reader will learn about the translations themselves, the translation process, and many of the translators. In addition, the reader will also learn much about how history and society influenced how the book and its role have changed, but also how the various translations in turn helped influence history and society (even the English language itself). Well done, Mr. Freedman. I look forward to reading his work on the Talmud.

[Kyla Hoggard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library because the title caught me eye, especially after just finishing a totally fiction book on the potential upending of the big three monotheistic religions due to new archeoligical discoveries. I found this very real recounting of the history and peoplr involved in translating the Bible to be extremely compelling. Not that it was a total page turner, but Mr. Freedman did a good job of keeping the story rolling. As a Christian, this book gave me much to consider in what is beholden as "Scripture," and is making me consider digging into Hebrew and Greek for better illlumination of the Word of God. I am so glad I read this and for any history nerds or people even remotely curious about translations, this was quite readable.

[Kali Bosworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely clear and summarized stories that shed light on some histories around the Bible translation. In no way does it claim to tell all histories around Bible translation, due to the fact it was need to be a much more detailed and long affair.

The way this is told feels fun to read, complicated histories turned into a very wonderful, almost quippy “did you know” book.

I am using it as a starting text in my studies about the histories of the texts that make up the Bible.

My main concern throughout the book was the confusing use of the word Bible, or names to describe the Bible. Some seemed interchangeable to the author, while others meant specific books. To me, it was unclear which version of texts we were referring in vital parts of the history.

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloomsbury Press describes Harry Freedman (b. 1950) as Britain’s leading author of popular works about Jewish culture and history. He writes well and is a great storyteller, but his tales often seem arbitrary and tend to be presented as discrete units without transitions. At least once past the burning of Tyndale, the adjective “murderous” is mostly winking hyperbole. (Freedman can’t resist spending seven pages on the craziness of the 1534-35 Münster rebellion—plenty murderous for sure but with only the most gossamer connection to Bible translation.) Still, I learned a lot in an enjoyable way.

[Brian Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a little break from my usual topics, and this book came along and filled the niche. It's amusing and informative, at least for cocktail party conversation and some Jeopardy questions. It also helps put in perspective a lot of academic or even cultural disagreements in modern times: translating the bible has been tied up in politics since the very beginning, and so the often violent disagreements twine along the path of history.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information was interesting, but I struggled with the author's style. I often found my mind wandering and had trouble staying engaged. I did find his conclusion at the end really interesting, though. Summed up, he expressed wonder that Bible translation has been and seems to continue to be such a contentious undertaking. Seen from a purely secular standpoint, his comments would make sense. From a spiritual one, we understand the underlying reasons behind this battle.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clearly written history of Bible translation and an overall enjoyable read.
However, the author has been quite selective with some of the minor topics he chose to cover, almost arbitrarily so, but this is probably best explained by the focus on "diversity and equality". This is also supported by some of his seemingly 'throw-away' comments, such as certain translators being "white men". But all in all it's certainly worth a read. Solid popular-level history.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about a topic of irresistible and irrevocable fascination. However, it’s poorly written, badly organized, choppy, and lacking in crucial (or at least intriguing) transitional material. It seems as if the author had the goal of keeping the book very short and carelessly subtracted until it boiled down to that goal. Nonetheless, I recommend the book because folks need to know this stuff. The book makes its basic point decently well enough.

[Colton Brydges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes a little while to get bloody, but this book really delivers on its promise!

"History of Bible translations" doesn't immediately strike one as a very exciting topic, but Freedman's writing is not overly academic and is used to convey countless anecdotes of translations gone wrong. I learned a lot, and this book really drove home the complex interplay between language, power, politics, organized religion and faith.

Definitely worth a read!

[Michael J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. My reservations are twofold. The author doesn't pay enough attention or take seriously the Roman Catholic Church's understanding of authority in interpretation as a necessity in reading Scripture, hence its resistance to translation. Second, more work could have been done on more current translation trends which include moving away from a formerly used primary received text as well as discussion on the subject of living translations (ie ESV).

[Micah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's biases are. . . evident? But not in a good way? It presents a lot of anti-Semitic ideas in a way that pushes them toward fact instead of nonsensical anti-Semitism. There's a similar problem with the segments around the Quran. I also think some of the choices made around simplification made things more difficult.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew that translating the Bible could be so complex, or so lethal?! Before reading this book, I had only the haziest idea of what was involved. The story of how we got most of our current Bible translations is filled with pride, greed, passion, betrayal, and murder. Despite that, it is also filled with great courage, conviction, personal sacrifice, and love for the Lord and His word.

[Michael Schmid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much murder as one might expect from the title, but certainly a lot of controversy surrounded the making of many different Bible translations, which Freedman portrays in his book. This book gives another perspective to the traditional accounts of the translation of the Bible into English that I have so far been more familiar with.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, this work surveys conflicts involved in translating the Bible, many of which went as far as murdering translators such as Tyndale. The work is a highly readable account that has been well researched, surveying Bible translations from the Septuagint to those early in the 21st century.

[Thomas Unitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A readable history of the translated Bible, the title goes for shock more so than accurately describing the content of the book, there’s murder but not loads. There’s periods I wish would go into more detail and Freedman seems to have a habit of changing how he refers to people (First Name, Last Name) which got a little confusing. But it’s informative and readable. Well worth looking into

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at the history of Bible translation, which has been contentious at times. That has led to conflict, which has been violent at times, and has cost people like William Tyndale their lives.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for research on a very brief script concerning the pre-reformation. The author tries hard to be neutral but his bias showed often enough to irritate me at times.

[Yan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Very insightful read.