Highlights of the
Exhibition
The Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Bible Collection
at
Bridwell Library
1996-2006
September 7-November 18, 2006
“He” and “She” Bibles
The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament and the New. London: Robert Barker, 1612.
The Holy Bible, Containing the Olde Testament, and the New. London: Robert Barker and John Bill, 1630.
The original print run of the King James Bible is unknown. However, not all were bound at once, and some bound later combined sheets from different print runs. Subsequent print runs, even in 1611, frequently represented different editions. Take for example the notorious he/she debate. In one edition of the 1611 Bible, Ruth 3:15 reads “he went into the city,” he referring to Boaz; while a second reads “she went into the city,” referring to Ruth. It is now known that the “he” Bible is earlier than the “she” Bible. Both variants continued for many years, and still appear in competing versions of the Bible today.
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