Anglais, Bible, The Geneva Bible

1560 Edition, The Bible of the Protestant Reformation

The Geneva Bible was a monumental achievement in the history of Protestant Bible translation. Born in a time of religious and political upheaval it helped foster scripture literacy among the common people of England. The first English Bible to be fully translated from the original languages, the Geneva Bible was the product of some of the finest biblical scholars of its day. It was the first to feature many innovations in the field of Bible publishing :

• Text printed in readable roman type
• Division of the text into numbered verses
• Italic type used for words not in the original languages
• Marks placed over the accented syllables to aid in pronouncing proper names
• Extensive textual and explanatory commentary placed in the margins
• Words/phrases displayed at the heads of pages to promote scripture memorization
• Maps and woodcuts illustrating biblical scenes included
• Sold in a variety of sizes so many people could afford a household Bible.

English settlers that voyaged to the New World favored the Geneva Bible. It is probable that the Geneva Bible came to America in 1607 and was used in the Jamestown colony. Thirteen years later the Pilgrims brought it with them on the Mayflower’s perilous voyage to religious freedom.