True, some scribes as they copied the text would freestyle copy, but others were more word for word copying. It was both. True it could have been manipulated, but the authors of 'Scribes and Scripture' make the point that what we have is the work of God because of all the details of the way it took place, God was there...anything man got his hands on is manipulated . i don't trust it . i have faith in the holy ghost within