It was brought over by the Puritans, and hated by King James🧐
It was also the first portable Bible; so a Bible for the people, by the people.
there is a real nice Patriot's Edition with the George Washington picture that Q posted.
https://genevabible.com/product/geneva-bible-patriots-edition/
this ad is older, but gives a good overview of the above Bible; https://youtu.be/3XBuFr1b8VU
short summary; https://youtu.be/MJ1bQ38Qp7I
good explanation, but probably need to watch at x2 https://youtu.be/4pErXUUk4Ho?t=360
I actually picked up a similar copy of that edition several years ago, although it's from 2012 and notes publisher as Tolle Lege Press & White Hall Press. Washington still on the front cover, although it's the Delaware Crossing painting instead of the prayer painting. Even though this famous Crossing painting took quite the artistic liberty with historical accuracy, at least we know the event happened, unlike the case of Washington's alleged prayer at Valley Forge... just not enough evidence to corroborate the witness account for that specific alleged incident... it's not a mountain worth dying on to argue over its authenticity...
https://ibb.co/d57TkGs
Anywho, the Patriot's edition is quite nice amd includes several historical founding documents in its appendix, plus some nice introductory and background info.
The most important thing about the Geneva translation is that it was the first full English translation from the oldest known Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, as opposed to the KJV which was basically an English translation of Rome's Latin Vulgate, which was itself a flawed translation. Tyndale tried to follow up Luther's German translation with an English version, but he was tortured and executed before ot could be finished.
For those who love "Shakespeare", this was "his" Bible (go down the rabbit hole that is "the real Shakespeare")... also more relevant to Americans, this was the Bible of the Founders. KJV wouldn't come into more prominent usage until after the Revolution.
yes, definitely like the connection to old Greek, so that is good to know. also didn't realize that about the painting, the other one had the Deleware picture, they must have a couple versions/need to look up the story of the prayer. And glad you mentioned the Revolution, as that's a cool fact of the Geneva Bible, the Patriots would have been familiar with it, and maybe even had a copy.
Looks like the publisher released a few editions of virtually the same "1599 Geneva Bible":
"Patriot's Edition" 1st edition 2010 - GW kneeling in prayer
"Patriot's Edition" 2nd edition 2012 - GW crossing the Delaware
Both Patriot's editions are identical aside from cover art. Both contain US Founding related historical documents: Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, DoI AoC, Constitution and GW's "Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior"
3rd edition 2015 - Embarkation of the Pilgrims
Can't tell what documents are included.
4th edition 2017 - Luther 95 Theses
This version marked 500th anniversary of Lutheran Reformation. No US documents, instead 95 Theses, Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small Catechism
thanks for sorting that out for me, love the Delaware picture, so will have to search for the one you listed. would also be interesting to have those extra documents. I'm a fan of George Washington, but haven't read "Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior", sounds like a good one.
Looks like Mt. Vernon has a full version uploaded on their website:
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/rules-of-civility/
All the other US and Reformation docs should be readily accessible online as well. All great stuff to have read.