The Legacy of the Sinner’s Bible

In a notable blunder of 1631 by printing moguls Barker and Lucas, a Bible was produced with a contentious typographical error. The omission of ‘not’ from the sixth commandment seemingly encouraged adultery, leading to debates on whether the mistake was accidental or deliberate. This oversight branded it the infamous ‘Sinner’s Bible’.

The fallout from the error was catastrophic for Robert Barker, leading to the loss of his printing license, a hefty fine, and an extended 15-year prison sentence until his death. In the aftermath, a rigorous crusade ensued to obliterate every copy of the so-called ‘Sinner’s Bible,’ marking a relentless attempt to rectify an unprecedented mistake.