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.

387x500 36K, 566x731 76K, 755x975 135K, 1007x1300 236K

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...]

367x500 48K, 544x740 169K, 725x986 349K, 906x1233 545K

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...]

366x500 56K, 462x630 88K, 616x840 153K, 770x1050 230K

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...]

384x500 70K, 894x1164 323K

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...]

500x500 72K, 64x64 2K, 100x100 5K, 296x293 47K, 300x300 35K, 394x391 78K, 526x521 115K, 701x695 164K, 746x760 132K, 2102x2085 545K

p.425: Ephesians Chapters 1 and 2

409x500 66K, 755x923 255K, 1006x1230 444K, 4025x4921 3M

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...]

282x500 65K, 368x651 106K, 490x868 180K, 654x1157 413K, 860x1522 476K, 1162x2057 535K

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...]

369x500 96K, 628x851 183K, 837x1134 246K, 1116x1512 426K

960x1227 386K

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