The Wicked Bible, printed in 1631, became infamous for a shocking misprint that reversed the meaning of one of the Ten Commandments. A single missing word—“not”—turned the commandment in Exodus 20 into “Thou shalt commit adultery,” creating an uproar across England. This error was not just embarrassing for the printers, but resulted in severe consequences, including heavy fines and the loss of their printing license.

What seemed like a simple typographical oversight had wide-reaching effects, casting a spotlight on the importance of accuracy in religious texts at the time. The incident remains one of history’s most talked-about printing mistakes, drawing curiosity from historians and collectors alike. Readers continue to find the story of the Wicked Bible both intriguing and cautionary, offering a rare glimpse into a moment when a single typo changed the course of publishing history.

The Origins of the Wicked Bible

The 1631 edition of the King James Bible became infamous due to a printing error that altered one of the Ten Commandments. The incident involved prominent royal printers and had notable consequences for their careers and for English Bible publishing.

The Printing of the 1631 King James Bible

In 1631, an edition of the King James Bible—also called the Authorized Version—was produced in London. This edition was intended to meet a growing demand for personal copies of the scriptures at home.

The critical error occurred in Exodus 20:14, where the word "not" was omitted from the commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery," resulting in "Thou shalt commit adultery." This mistake went unnoticed during the production process and only came to light after the Bibles had already been distributed.

Impact of the error:

It made the edition notorious as the "Wicked Bible."
The scandal led to nearly all copies being recalled and destroyed.

King James I had authorized this translation in 1611 to provide an accessible and standard English Bible. The 1631 printing mishap undermined the trust placed in royal printers and highlighted the risks of manual printing during the 17th century.

The Role of Robert Barker and Martin Lucas

Robert Barker and Martin Lucas served as the royal printers responsible for producing the 1631 edition. Barker held the official title of King’s Printer, making him one of the few individuals licensed to print English Bibles under the crown.

Both men shared responsibility for the production and final proofing of this Bible. The omission of a single word may have been a typographical oversight or a production lapse, but the consequences were severe for both.

Key facts:

Barker and Lucas were summoned before the Star Chamber, England’s highest court.
They were fined £300, a significant sum at the time, and stripped of their printing licenses.

Their reputations suffered irreparably, and the event set a precedent for strict quality control in later printings of the Bible and other influential texts. This episode remains one of the most cited mistakes in the history of English Bible translation and printing.

The Notorious Typo: ‘Thou Shalt Commit Adultery’

A 1631 edition of the King James Bible became infamous due to a crucial typographical error in the text of the Ten Commandments. This single mistake altered the meaning of a central scripture and led to a significant scandal at the time.

The Commandments and the Impact of the Error

In Exodus 20:14, the Wicked Bible printed, “Thou shalt commit adultery,” omitting the critical word “not.” This changed the seventh commandment from a moral prohibition to an outright endorsement of adultery.

The error directly contradicted the accepted Christian truth and the moral law found in both the Old Testament and New Testament. The impact was immediate and severe. The omission undermined the authority of the holy scriptures and shocked church leaders and laypeople alike.

Authorities quickly intervened. Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, the royal printers responsible for the edition, faced heavy fines, loss of their printing license, and public embarrassment. The majority of the bibles were recalled and destroyed.

Comparison to Other Bible Editions

The 1631 Wicked Bible was intended as a standard reprint of the King James Bible, which itself drew from earlier translations such as the Geneva Bible. However, other editions did not contain this error and faithfully rendered Exodus 20:14 as “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Below is a comparison of the relevant text:

Edition Text in Exodus 20:14 Wicked Bible (1631) Thou shalt commit adultery Standard King James Thou shalt not commit adultery Geneva Bible Thou shalt not commit adultery

The Wicked Bible also included the Apocrypha, like many Bibles of the period. No deviation appeared in other sections, and the main scandal was limited to this verse. Surviving copies remain rare and are of special interest to collectors, historians, and biblical scholars.

Scandal and Aftermath in 17th-Century England

When the "Wicked Bible" was published in 1631, its typographical error quickly caught the attention of both church authorities and the Crown. The omission of the word "not" from the commandment against adultery was regarded as a grave scandal with significant religious and social implications.

Royal and Religious Response

King James I, who had authorized the King James Bible, reacted with immediate concern upon learning of the mistake. The typo undermined not only the authority of the English monarchy over religious matters, but also gave critics—especially from the Roman Church—an opportunity to question English religious traditions.

Church leaders saw this error as more than just a printing oversight. Ministers and priests argued that any error in scripture threatened the integrity of Christian belief and could potentially weaken public trust in official Bibles. Discussion about the incident spread rapidly among clerics, fueling debates about religious authority and the risks of careless production of sacred texts.

The Anglican hierarchy reviewed the matter with urgency, recognizing the potential for the blunder to be used as an argument against the legitimacy of the English church’s break with Rome. Such an offensive mistake reinforced Catholic critiques that English reforms lacked the reverence and tradition upheld by the Roman Church.

Consequences for the Printers

The printers responsible, Robert Barker and Martin Lucas—official royal printers—were summoned to the Star Chamber, a powerful English court. The authorities levied a heavy fine of £300, a substantial amount at the time, and revoked their license to print Bibles. This punishment underscored the importance placed on religious texts and the expectation of precision in their production.

The court's judgment served as an explicit warning to others in the book trade about the risks of carelessness. Copies of the "Wicked Bible" were ordered to be recalled and destroyed. However, a handful survived, later becoming collector's items for historians of Christianity and bibliophiles interested in the traditions of English scripture.

For Barker and Lucas, the fallout ended their professional credibility. Their case became an example cited in discussions about oversight and responsibility among those entrusted with printing religious texts. The episode highlighted how a single error could affect not just individual careers, but broader traditions, beliefs, and the standing of English Christianity in a divided Europe.

Theological Implications and Public Perception

The notorious error in the 1631 King James Bible directly affected Christian doctrine and trust in printed scripture. The omission of a single word in the Seventh Commandment challenged the integrity of religious authority and sparked widespread concern.

Religious Authority and the Spread of Error

The so-called "Wicked Bible" omitted the word "not" from the commandment, transforming "Thou shalt not commit adultery" into "Thou shalt commit adultery." This mistake unintentionally contradicted a core tenet of Christian teaching.

The error raised urgent questions about the reliability of printed scripture. Believers, accustomed to viewing the Bible as the immutable Word of God, faced the unsettling idea that human mistakes could alter theological messages.

For ministers, the misprint threatened the foundation of theological guidance and the plan of salvation they preached. Theological debates emerged regarding the dangers of relying solely on printed texts, especially in conveying matters of salvation, repentance, and spirit-led living.

Many saw the incident as a warning about the potential for error in spreading God's Word. Church leaders and theologians discussed improved oversight for future translations and printings, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding doctrine against misinterpretation.

Reactions Among Christians and Ministers

The Wicked Bible provoked immediate outrage from Christian communities across England. Ministers condemned the mistake from their pulpits, urging rapid correction to preserve the sanctity of the Ten Commandments and maintain trust among believers.

Parishioners expressed confusion and, at times, indignation. Some feared eternal consequences if such errors went unnoticed or unchecked, linking the integrity of scripture with their understanding of salvation and repentance.

The scandal led the authorities to revoke the printers’ license and destroy most copies. This stern response reflected the significant weight placed on accurate teaching, especially regarding commandments and doctrine central to Christian life and morals.

For many Christians, the incident reinforced the need for careful study, prayer, and spiritual discernment alongside reliance on printed texts. The episode became an enduring lesson in the delicate relationship between the authority of scripture, ministerial leadership, and the faith of ordinary believers.

Historical Context: Bible Printing in the Early Modern Period

The production of English-language Bibles in the early modern period emerged from a wave of religious reform and technological change. Printers and scholars faced new challenges in translation, editing, and mechanical reproduction as demand for accurate and accessible texts grew.

The Rise of English-Language Bibles

By the late Middle Ages, most Bibles in England were available only in Latin, limiting access for common people. John Wycliffe and his followers challenged this by creating one of the first complete English translations in the 14th century. Their efforts influenced later reformers and contributed to the spread of vernacular Scriptures.

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century fueled further demand for English Bibles. Scholars and professors began advocating for everyone, including lay Baptists and students, to study the Bible directly. New translations like the King James Version (1611) became crucial for churches, educators, and ordinary households across England. The availability of vernacular Bibles dramatically changed Bible study and religious teaching practices.

Quality Control and Printing Challenges

Printing the Bible with movable type presented significant technical difficulties. Early printers, including royal appointees like Robert Barker, had to manage thousands of pieces of type, increasing the risk of errors. Careful proofreading was crucial but often rushed or incomplete due to time pressure and production demands.

Printing mistakes could have serious consequences, ranging from embarrassment to financial penalties or loss of printing licenses. The “Wicked Bible” incident highlights how a single omitted word could cause a scandal and damage reputations. Teachers and religious leaders depended on accurate texts for instruction, so mistakes in printing posed challenges for religious study throughout the period.

Surviving Copies and Collector Interest

Few copies of the 1631 “Wicked Bible” have survived, making existing examples highly prized by collectors and historians. The notoriety surrounding its printing error, as well as its impact on printing tradition and religious authority, have played key roles in its enduring appeal.

Rarity and Value Today

The “Wicked Bible” is regarded as one of the rarest printed bibles due to the order by King Charles I to destroy nearly all copies immediately after the typo was discovered in the Ten Commandments. As a result, an estimated less than 20 copies are known to exist today.

Collectors and rare book dealers note the power of this Bible’s scandal to increase its value. Copies, when they appear at auction, often sell for significant sums. In recent years, prices have ranged from $60,000 to well over $100,000 depending on condition and provenance.

Factors that influence value include the Bible’s physical state, the presence of archival documentation, and any evidence linking it to historical figures or institutions. These surviving texts act not only as rare artifacts but as reminders of the traditions and authority surrounding religious publishing.

Famous Collections and Exhibitions

Major libraries and museums around the world actively seek out copies of the “Wicked Bible” for their collections. The British Library possesses one of the best-known surviving copies, and others reside in collections at Oxford, Cambridge, and the New York Public Library.

When exhibited, the “Wicked Bible” draws considerable public and academic interest. Displays often highlight the infamous misprint, and include comparisons with other rare bibles to illustrate changes in religious publishing.

Institutions sometimes create special exhibitions that place the “Wicked Bible” in context with powerful historical events, such as the authority of the English monarchy and the tradition of Bible printing along the “river” of English publishing history. These showcases help educate visitors about the intersection of errors, belief, and the lasting impact of early printing mistakes.

Enduring Legacy of the Wicked Bible

The Wicked Bible remains one of history’s most infamous printing errors. Its notoriety persists due to the profound consequences a simple typographical mistake had on religion, publishing standards, and cultural memory.

The Wicked Bible in Popular Culture

The Wicked Bible’s legacy stems primarily from the omission of the word “not” in the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” making it instead read “Thou shalt commit adultery.” This altered commandment suggested an endorsement of deceit and moral stumbling, shocking religious communities.

The scandal led to the printers, Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, facing fines and the loss of their printing license. Surviving copies became rare collectibles and symbols of the dangers of ignorance and error in sacred texts.

References to the Wicked Bible often appear in discussions of religious mistakes, the importance of accuracy in Bible printing, and obstacles that can arise from human error. Its story is also cited when addressing the spread of misinformation and the metaphorical darkness that can result from seemingly small acts of carelessness.

The Wicked Bible: The 17th-Century Typo That Sparked Outrage and Controversy