Rijmbijbel

Bible version by Maerlant

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July 13, 2026

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The Rijmbijbel (Rhyming Bible) was a Dutch biblical paraphrase created by Jacob van Maerlant in 1271. It was based on Petrus Comestor's Historia Scholastica, a popular medieval text that retold biblical stories.

Maerlant was a significant figure in 13th-century Dutch literature, known for his didactic poetry. The Rijmbijbel was one of his works aimed at providing instructive reading in the vernacular language for a growing literate audience. This rhymed version of biblical narratives was among the notable Dutch Bible translations of the medieval period, predating the Reformation's impact on vernacular scripture.12

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biblical literature
Dutch versions
…the rhymed versions is the Rijmbijbel of Jacob van Maerlant (1271), based on Peter Comestar’s Historia scholastica. Despite the poor quality of Johan Schutken’s translation of the New Testament and Psalms (1384), it became the most widely used of medieval Dutch versions.
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…the rhymed versions is the Rijmbijbel of Jacob van Maerlant (1271), based on Peter Comestar’s Historia scholastica. Despite the poor quality of Johan Schutken’s translation of the New Testament and Psalms (1384), it became the most widely used of medieval Dutch versions.
Read More