Antwerp Bible

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The Antwerp Bible, also known as the Biblia Regia or Antwerp Polyglot, was a significant edition of the Bible published in Antwerp between 1569 and 1572. This work was a polyglot Bible, meaning it contained the text in multiple languages arranged in parallel columns, allowing for comparison of different versions and translations.12

The Biblia Regia was supported by Philip II of Spain, despite some clerical opposition, and was printed by Christophe Plantin, a renowned French printer. The project was overseen by the Spanish scholar Benedictus Arias Montanus. This edition aimed to fix the original text of the Old and New Testaments. The Antwerp Polyglot is considered an important polyglot Bible, alongside the earlier Complutensian Polyglot and the later London Polyglot.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

biblical literature
French versions
…together in 1530 as the Antwerp Bible. The first true Protestant version came out in Serrières, near Neuchâtel, five years later, the work of Pierre Robert, called Olivétan. This version was frequently revised throughout the 16th century, the most-celebrated editions being Calvin’s of 1546 and that of Robert Estienne (Stephanus)…
Read More
…together in 1530 as the Antwerp Bible. The first true Protestant version came out in Serrières, near Neuchâtel, five years later, the work of Pierre Robert, called Olivétan. This version was frequently revised throughout the 16th century, the most-celebrated editions being Calvin’s of 1546 and that of Robert Estienne (Stephanus)…
Read More