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| Full name | The Emphatic Diaglott |
| Abbreviation | Diaglott |
| NT published | 1864 |
| Derived from | New Testament |
| Translation type | formal equivalence |
| John 3:16
English translation: Interlinear translation: Thus for loved the God the world, so that the son of himself the only-begotten he gave, that every one who believing into him, not may be destroyed, but may have life age-lasting. | |
The Emphatic Diaglott is a diaglot, or two language polyglot translation, of the New Testament by Benjamin Wilson, first published in 1864. It is an interlinear translation with the original Greek text and a word-for-word English translation in the left column, and a full English translation in the right column. It is based on the interlineary translation, on the renderings of eminent critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican Manuscript. Together with illustrative and explanatory foot notes, and a copious selection of references, to the whole of which is added an alphabetical appendix.
The Greek text is that of Johann Jakob Griesbach. The English text uses "Jehovah" for the Divine Name a number of times where the NT writers quote the Hebrew scriptures and instead use "κύριος" (the Lord). For instance, at Luke 20:42–43 it reads: "For David himself says in the book of Psalms, Jehovah said to my Lord, sit thou at my Right hand, 'till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet", where Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1.
The text of the original edition's title page is as follows:
- The Emphatic Diaglott, containing the Original Greek Text of what is Commonly Styled the New Testament (According to the Recension of Dr. J. J. Griesbach), with an Interlineary Word for Word English Translation; A New Emphatic Version, based on the Interlineary Translation, on the Renderings of Eminent Critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican Manuscript, No. 1209 in the Vatican Library: Together with Illustrative and Explanatory Footnotes, and a copious selection of references; to the whole of which is added a valuable Alphabetical Appendix. Fowler and Wells 1865.
Publishing history
A nephew of Benjamin Wilson wrote this account of the production of The Diaglott:
- "While I was a boy, my father put me into The Gospel Banner office to learn the printing business. It was during this time, that the EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT was translated and printed. I can now in my mind’s eye see my Uncle Benjamin, sitting at his desk, making a literal word for word translation of the New Testament. I remember seeing the Greek type arrive from England. Many readers of the Diaglott may not be aware that my Uncle not only translated the Diaglott, but took charge of the mechanical work as well. He electro-typed the entire book himself. The following was the process he followed. As each page of the Diaglott was put into type, he took an impression of the page of type in wax. This wax mold was then blackened with very fine blacklead dust. He had a vat containing acid. In this acid he hung a copper plate, and also the wax mold, before he went home at night. In the morning he would find the wax mold would be covered with a thin sheet of copper. This acid dissolved the copper, and the black lead attracted it to the wax mold. He then made metal plates out of melted metal and fastened the copper sheet upon it. He then printed the first edition of the book, from these plates, on a hand press. I used to ink the plate by a soft roller, while he worked the press."
Although Wilson prepared the plates himself, the first edition was published by Orson Squire Fowler of Fowler and Wells Ltd. of New York. Fowler and Wells were phrenologists who published a periodical to which Walt Whitman contributed, and also published his Leaves of Grass. Fowler also had an earlier indirect connection to Wilson's associates among the Christadelphians through having employed Robert Roberts on a trip to Huddersfield in 1861.
- 1865 first edition, Fowler and Wells, Brooklyn, New York.
After Wilson's death in 1900, the plates and copyright were inherited by his heirs. Charles Taze Russell, founding editor of the magazine now known as The Watchtower, approached Wilson's family via a third party and obtained the copyright and at some later point the plates. Subsequent editions were published by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, which had the type reset for publication on its own presses in 1927.
- 1902 first Watch Tower printing, Brooklyn, New York.
- 1927 second Watch Tower edition, Brooklyn, New York.
- 1942 third Watch Tower edition, Brooklyn, New York.
In 1952 the copyright to the Diaglott ceased and it fell into the public domain. Watch Tower's inexpensive edition (later offered "without charge") was available through the early 1990s, making it nonviable for others to print the Bible until the depletion of that inventory. Others such as Wilson's home church, Church of the Blessed Hope, had considered reprinting their own edition; in the 1990s the Miami church of the group, with support from Christadelphians in the UK and America published their own edition, with a new preface.
- 2003 "Fourth Edition" - The Abrahamic Faith Beacon Publishing Society, Miami.
A digital edition of The Emphatic Diaglott is among the more popular public-domain Bibles being rediscovered by bible students using computer technology.
References and footnotes
- http://www.holybible.com/resources/Trinitarian/article_67.htm
- Peter Hemingray. A preface to the new edition of The Emphatic Diaglott, The Abrahamic Faith Beacon Publishing Society, Miami 2003
- English Bible Translations - The Emphatic Diaglott
- $2 in the USA through the 1970s, remaining stock offered at no charge after 1990. See "Does It Matter Which Bible You Use?", Awake!, October 8, 1979, ©Watch Tower, page 31
- Reportedly, Watch Tower printed 166,244 copies of the Diaglott between 1927 and 1960, as well as an unknown quantity before 1927 and after 1960. See The Watchtower, October 1, 1960, page 599
- "Religion Meets Computer Revolution", The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY, April 11, 2004
External links
- Online text (digital facsimile in PDF, single file download)
- Emphatic Diaglott Preface and English interlinear translation
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