Encyclopedia of The Bible – Printing
Resources chevron-right Encyclopedia of The Bible chevron-right P chevron-right Printing
Printing

PRINTING. Printing with movable type was, of course, unknown until Gutenberg invented it in the 1450s. In the KJV, Leviticus 19:28 says that the Israelites were not to “print” any marks upon them. The RSV more correctly uses the word “tattoo.” The KJV of Job 13:27 has, “thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.” The revised VSS have “thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet,” meaning that God fixes limits, beyond which Job’s feet may not go. The KJV of Job 19:23 reads, “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!” The Heb. word does not mean printed, but inscribed or engraved or cut. The revised VSS have “inscribed.” Also, books with pages, or codices, were not known until the 2nd cent. a.d.