London Polyglot Bible

work by Walton

Also known as: Londoninesis Bible, Waltonian Bible

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The London Polyglot Bible, also known as the Waltonian, was compiled by Brian Walton and published in 1657. It is considered one of the most comprehensive and finest polyglot Bibles. This work featured the Bible text in nine languages: Hebrew, Samaritan, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Ethiopic, Syriac, Arabic, and Persian, arranged in parallel columns. This format allows for the comparison of different ancient and modern versions of the Bible, aiding scholars in understanding translations between languages. The London Polyglot was one of the first English books to be assembled through public subscription.1

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

4 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.

polyglot Bible
…considered the finest is the London Polyglot, also called the Londoninesis or Waltonian (1657), compiled by Brian Walton, with the aid of many contemporary scholars; the Waltonian was one of the first English books assembled under public subscription. Its six volumes contain a total of nine languages: Hebrew, Samaritan, Aramaic,…
Read More
…considered the finest is the London Polyglot, also called the Londoninesis or Waltonian (1657), compiled by Brian Walton, with the aid of many contemporary scholars; the Waltonian was one of the first English books assembled under public subscription. Its six volumes contain a total of nine languages: Hebrew, Samaritan, Aramaic,…
Read More