The Douay Bible, also known as the Rheims-Douay Bible, is a Catholic translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate. The spelling of "Douay" is pronounced as /ˈduːi/, with the emphasis on the first syllable. The vowel "a" in "Douay" is pronounced as a long "ā" sound, represented by the IPA symbol /eɪ/. The word is derived from the French town of Douai, where the translation was first published in the 16th century. The Douay Bible remains a beloved version of the Bible for many English-speaking Catholics.
The Douay Bible, also known as the Douay-Rheims Bible, is an English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1609-1610. It is an important and influential translation that holds significant historical and cultural value, particularly among Catholic Christians.
The Douay Bible derives its name from the fact that the New Testament portion of the translation was originally published in the city of Douai, in modern-day France. The Old Testament, however, was published several years later in 1635 by the University of Douai. The translation was primarily the work of English Catholic scholars who were in exile in France due to religious persecution during the Protestant Reformation in England.
The Douay Bible is based on the Latin Vulgate, the Catholic Church's official translation of the Bible, which was itself translated from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. As such, the Douay Bible is highly regarded for its faithfulness to the original Latin text, as well as its linguistic and literary qualities.
This translation played a crucial role in preserving and spreading the Catholic faith in English-speaking countries during a time when Catholic worship and literature were heavily suppressed in England. It has also influenced later English translations, such as the King James Version, by its elegant language and distinctive style. Today, the Douay Bible remains an important resource for scholars, theologians, and those interested in the historical development of English Bible translations.
The word "Douay" in "Douay Bible" is derived from the city of Douai (also spelled Douay or Doway) in northern France.ay Bible is an English translation of the Bible, specifically the Latin Vulgate, that was completed in the city of Douai.
During the Reformation period in England, when the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, Catholics faced persecution for their faith. Many English Catholic scholars fled to Douai, where they established a college. These scholars produced an English translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate, which was the official Bible of the Catholic Church at the time.
This translation became known as the Douay Bible, named after the place where it was conceived. It was published in several editions, with the first New Testament portion being completed in 1582, and the full Bible being completed in 1609-1610.