The Word of God – the Bible – is at the heart of the Dutch Reformed faith. In 1619 the States General, the Netherlands’ highest governing body, even commissions a new, ‘pure’ translation, which must be used in every church from then on. This explains why this Bible is called the ‘States Bible.’ The translation takes eighteen years. Every word is subject to lengthy debate. Changes are introduced up to the last moment, even in the opening lines. The translation is published only in 1637.