Why does the word malcedemigis appear in Deuteronomy 2:30 in the "London Bible"

The word "malcedemigis" does not belong to the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy 2:30. Most likely, it originates from a marginal note, another language column in an old polyglot edition, or is the result of an OCR error from an early printed book.

The title "London Bible" can refer to various editions, but most commonly it refers to Brian Walton's London Polyglot (1654–1657). This is not an ordinary Bible containing a single translation: its pages printed biblical texts in parallel across several ancient languages, along with notes and textual apparatuses. Therefore, a word located near a particular verse is not necessarily part of that verse itself, or even part of the biblical text.

What is actually written in Deuteronomy 2:30

In the Masoretic Hebrew text of this verse, the word "malcedemigis" does not exist. The verse recounts how Sihon, king of Heshbon, refused to let Israel pass through his land. The biblical text conveys the thought as follows:

“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.” Deut 2:30

The key Hebrew verbs here are qāšâ, meaning "to make hard, stubborn," and ’āmaṣ, meaning "to strengthen, make obstinate." They explain the spiritual condition of Sihon, but neither of them phonetically or grammatically corresponds to the form "malcedemigis."

Why a strange word might appear on the page

In old London multilingual editions, a single page could contain the Hebrew text, the Aramaic Targum, the Greek Septuagint translation, the Syriac text, a Latin translation, and supplementary scholarly notes. An unfamiliar word could be:

• a word from a different language column mistakenly associated with the Hebrew line;
• a manuscript variant marker or an editorial annotation;
• a Latinized transliteration of a word from an ancient Oriental language;
• a typographical error in a digital transcript;
• the result of OCR (Optical Character Recognition) from a scan.

The last option is particularly likely. Early printed books use unusual typefaces, ligatures, the long s, abbreviations, and flawed or inked-over characters. Software can misread several adjacent symbols, part of a note, or even fragments from adjacent lines as a single word. Thus, the spelling "malcedemigis" might not even exist in the original printed edition in that exact form.

Why interpretation should not be built on a single obscure term

Biblical interpretation must begin with a well-established text, its context, and the comparison of translations. The verse itself hides no secret word that supposedly changes its meaning. Its main theme is God's judgment upon a stubborn king and God's providential guidance of Israel.

At the same time, Scripture does not portray God as the author of human sin. God does not tempt anyone to evil:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” Jas 1:13

In Sihon's case, the biblical language about "hardening" demonstrates that God, in His judgment, allowed the king's chosen defiance to run its natural course to its consequences. A similar principle is seen in the story of Pharaoh: the Lord acts righteously, but human beings remain responsible for their own attitude toward light and God's will.

An Adventist perspective on God's "hardening"

In biblical understanding, the heart is not hardened because God forces an innocent person to sin, but because persistent rejection of God's will carries natural spiritual consequences. Ellen White repeatedly emphasized that the Spirit of God does not compel the conscience: a person can resist the light until their moral sensitivity withers away. Therefore, the words of Deut 2:30 must be read in the context of God's justice, human freedom, and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.

Conclusion and practical application

Without a photo of the page, the volume number, and the exact line, it is impossible to determine with certainty what "malcedemigis" originally was. However, one can say with confidence: it is not a word from the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy 2:30, nor is it the key to some new interpretation of the verse. Verify older digital editions against high-quality scans, compare multiple reliable translations, and do not draw doctrinal conclusions from an obscure marginal note or an OCR error. In a practical sense, this also calls us to guard our hearts against obstinacy: when God reveals truth to us, the best response is never resistance, but humble submission to His Word.