Geneva Bible Scans

Some scans from a 1581 copy of the Geneva Bible.

These images are large files!

You can see the outside of the book here.

The first version of this translation was made in Geneva, in Switzerland, because the Roman Catholic Church had been so afraid of what would happen if ordinary people had access to the Bible without going through the priests that they had arranged for translating the Bible into modern local languages was punishable by death. The Roman Catholic Church still uses services in Latin in some parts of the world. Such is the power of knowledge and the fear of those in charge of losing that power.

This Bible is also known as the Breeches Bible because, in the story of the Fall from Grace, instead of sewing loin-cloths out of fig leaves, Adam and Eve are described as making breeches (trousers, or, in the US, pants) out of fig leaves, a fairly major sewing project!

My copy is dated 1581, and is rather late. By that time the Reformation had taken hold in England and the text could be printed in English.

Front Cover, Geneva Bible

This 1581 Geneva Bible is bound in full leather with gold tooling.

Bookplate for 1581 Geneva Bible

The dot screening tells me this isn’t actually a very old book-plate (ex libris). My guess would be early 1900s. It is a crest with the name Huss, surmounted with the closed helmet of a lesser knight. [more...]

New Testament Title Page

Although I already had a photograph of the title page, it’s interesting enough that I wanted to add a 2400dpi scan. Notice the dragon! [more...]

Title page, The Whole Booke of Psalmes

The title page from the book of psalms (with music) at the back of this 1581 Geneva Bible. I didn’t clean up this scan, so you can see the music showing through from the back a little. [more...]

To The Reader: guide to reading early modern music

This is printed on the back of the title page of the Psalms, from 1581. It shows two staves with different clefs and the nmes of the notes that were in use in [...] [more...]

Initial Letter T With Naked People

This decorative initial was printed on the back of the title page of the “Whole Booke of Psalmes” to start the introduction. I am guessing the to figures are Adam and [...] [more...]

New Testament

The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, Conferred diligently with the Greek, and best approved translations in diverse languages.
Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queen’s Majesty. 1581. Cum gratia & privilegio. [more...]

p.425: Ephesians Chapters 1 and 2

Luke Chapter Two verses 10 – 23

Part of a page from a 1581 copy of the Geneva Bible. This extract is from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, and tells of the birth of Jesus, called Christ, and of angels [...]Glory be to God in the high [heavens], and peace in earth, and towards men good will; a more modern translation would be peace towards men of good will, but the error here persisted through the King James Bible of 1611 and is still widely quoted. The text starts: [more...]

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