Wyclifs Bible
Preserved but no longer current.
The name given to two translations of the Vulgate, one completed in 1380 and the other a few years later, in neither of which was Wyclif concerned as a translator. Nicholas of Hereford made the first version as far as Baruch iii, 20, who was responsible for the remainder is unknown. The second version has been ascribed to John Purvey, a follower of Wyclif.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Wyclifs Bible” mean?
The name given to two translations of the Vulgate, one completed in 1380 and the other a few years later, in neither of which was Wyclif concerned as a translator. Nicholas of Hereford made the first version as far as Baruch iii, 20, who was responsible for the remainder is unknown. The second version has been ascribed to John Purvey, a follower of Wyclif.
Is “Wyclifs Bible” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.