Geneva Bible 1598

5B Holy Bible. London: Christopher Barker, 1598.

Notes 

The Geneva Bible, first published in 1560, was a landmark English translation of the Bible produced by Protestant exiles in Geneva during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I of England. Led by scholars such as William Whittingham, and building on the earlier work of William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale, the Geneva Bible was notable for its scholarly rigor, clear English prose, and extensive marginal notes. These annotations—often strongly Protestant and sometimes politically subversive—offered interpretations aligned with Reformed theology and made the Bible accessible not just to clergy but to ordinary readers. It was the first English Bible to use verse numbers throughout, and it included maps, chapter summaries, and other study aids. Printed in a compact, affordable format, it quickly became the most popular English Bible of its time.

The Geneva Bible held cultural and religious significance for over a century. It was the version used by many English Puritans and was brought to America by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Its marginal notes, critical of monarchy and promoting the idea of resistance to tyranny under God, made it politically sensitive, especially to rulers like King James I, who disliked its challenge to royal authority. This tension led James to authorize a new translation, the King James Version (1611), which eventually replaced the Geneva Bible in official use. Nevertheless, the Geneva Bible’s impact endured—its clear language, theological commentary, and emphasis on individual scripture study shaped Protestant thought, worship, and biblical literacy in the English-speaking world for generations.

Description

18th century Morocco binding. Engraved titles to both Old and New Testament. Five leaves with marginal loss affecting sidenotes, only one affecting the body of the text, some other minor tears and wear. Endpapers with detailed family notes covering the period 1798-1836. The initial fly leave is nearly detached. Extremities slightly worn, mild cracking to the spine with small holes to foot. Very good condition overall.