Noah & Babel Week 3: Hebrew Bible - Assignments - Reading - Resources - Images

Early English Translations of the Bible

John Wycliffe (Early), c.1384. Forsothe the Lord seide to hym, Go thow yn and al thin hows into the arke, thee forsothe I haue seen ryytwis bifore me in this generacioun. Of alle hauynge sowles clene, thow shalt take seuene and seuene, maal and femaal; and forsothe of vnclene hauynge sowle, two and two, maal and femaal; but of the fowlis of heuene, seuene and seuene, maal and femaal, that the seed be sauyd vpon the face of al erthe. Yit forsothe and aftir seuen daies I shal reyn vpon the erthe fourti daies and fourti nyytis, and I shal do awey al substaunce the which Y made, fro the ouermost of the erthe.

William Tyndale, 1530-1534. And the LORde sayd vnto Noe: goo in to the arcke both thou and all thy houssold. For the haue I sene rightuous before me in thys generacion. Of all clene beastes take vnto the .vij. of every kynde the male and hys female And of vnclene beastes a payre / the male and hys female: lykewyse of the byrdes of the ayre vij. of every kynde / male and female to save seed vppon all the erth. For .vij. dayes hence wyll I send rayne vppo the erth .xl. dayes & .xl. nyghtes and wyll dystroy all maner of thynges that I haue made / from of the face of the erth.

Miles Coverdale, 1535. And ye LORDE sayde vnto Noe: Go in to the Arcke thou & thy whole house: for the haue I sene righteous before me at this tyme. Of all cleane beastes take vnto the seuen and seuen, the male and his female. And of vncleane beastes a payre, the male and his female. Like wyse of the foules vnder the heauen, seuen and seuen, the male and his female, that there maye be sede left a lyue vpon the whole earth. For yet after seuen dayes, I wil sende raine vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes, and wyll destroye all maner of thinges that I haue made, from of the face of the earth.

Great Bible, 1540. And ye lord sayd vnto Noah: Come thou and al thy house into ye Arke for the haue I sene ryghtuous before me in thys generacyon. Of euery cleane beaste thou shalte take with the seuen and seuen:The male and hys female: But of vncleane catell, two, the male and his female. Of foules also of the ayre, seuen and seuen, ye male & the female, to kepe sede aliue vpon the face of al the whole erth. For yet after seuen dayes I wyl rayne vpo the erth fortye dayes & fortye nyghtes. And all substaunce that I haue made, wyll I destroye from of the vpper face of the earth.

Thomas Matthew, 1549. And the Lorde said vnto Noe: Go in to the arcke bothe thou and all thy houshold. For the haue I sene ryghteous before me in this generacyon. Of all clene beastes take vnto the seuen of euery kynde, the male and female, & of vnclene beastes a payre, the male & his female: lykewyse of the byrdes of the ayre seue of euery kynde, male and female to saue seed vpon all the erth. For seuen dayes hence wil I sende rayne vpon the erth .xl. dayes and .xl nyghtes, and wyll destroy al maner of thynges that I haue made, from of the face of the erth.

Bishops' Bible, 1568. And the Lord said vnto Noah: come thou and al thy house into ye arke: for thee haue I seen ryghteous before me in this generation. Of euery cleane beast thou shalt take with thee seuen and seuen, the male and his female, but of vncleane cattell two, the male and his female. Of foules also of the ayre seuen and seuen, the male and the female, to kepe seede alyue vpon the face of all the whole earth. For after seuen dayes, I wyl rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes: & all substaunce that I haue made, wyll I destroy from the vpper face of the earth.

Rheims Douai, 1582-1610. And our Lord said to him: Get thee in, thou and al thy house into the arke: for I haue sene thee iust in my sight in this generation. Of al beasts that are cleane, thou shalt take seauen, and seauen, male & female: but of the beasts that are vncleane two and two, male & female. Yea and of the foules also of the ayre seauen & seauen, male and female: that seede may be saued vpon the face of the whole earth. For yet a while, and after seauen dayes, I wil rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights: and I wil cleane destroy al substance, that I haue made, from the face of the earth.

Geneva Bible, 1587. And the Lord said vnto Noah, Enter thou and all thine house into the Arke: for thee haue I seene righteous before me in this age. Of euery cleane beast thou shalt take to thee by seuens, the male & his female: but of vncleane beastes by couples, the male & his female. Of the foules also of the heauen by seuens, male and female, to keepe seede aliue vpon the whole earth. For seuen dayes hence I will cause it raine vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes, and all the substance that I haue made, will I destroy from off the earth.