George Washington and the First Bible Printed in New York

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Listen as Francis Douglas tells about George Washington and this Bible.

The first bible printed in New York was the 1792 Rev. John Brown Self-Interpreting Bible.

It was offered in individual installments, by subscription, and the very first subscriber was then-President George Washington.

Rev. John Brown and his Self-Interpreting Bible

His name was first on the list of 1,200 subscribers, which undoubtedly helped to bring this study Bible to many more readers than if it hadn’t been there. The Bible was printed in 40 sections, one section per “issue”, and it took two years to complete. All told, there were 26 known editions printed over time, with the first printing taking place in Scotland in 1778, and the final printing taking place in the 1920’s.

Rev. John Brown was born in the year 1722 in Scotland. Rev. Brown was left an orphan at an early age, and prone to fevers. He was self-taught in Greek, Latin and Hebrew. Despite the popularity of his Bible (and his other religious publications), he did not make any money off of any of them — nor did he wish to do so.

Rev. John Brown’s self-interpreting Bible. George Washington was the very first subscriber.

For instance, he had to advance the printer money for his first 1778 edition. But, lost all of it when the publisher went bankrupt. Eventually, of course, it was printed, and it sold very well. As mentioned earlier, it went through at least 26 edition in nearly 150 years.

The leaf that I have in my collection is from 1792. If you would like to add one of these Bible leaves to your own collection, make certain that it is a 1792 Bible. There are many from the 1800’s — but these are not the edition that was subscribed to by George Washington and Supreme Court Justice John Jay. Nor are they the first Brown Bibles printed in New York (if those two points happen to be of interest to you).

The Expulsion: A hand-colored illustration from the self-interpreting Bible.

If you are looking for a leaf from Brown’s first edition printed in Scotland, you should be looking for the year 1778.

What is a self-interpreting Bible you may ask? Well, with most Bibles, especially study Bibles, you’ll find notes that go along with scripture. Those notes are written by the publisher. With a self-interpreting Bible, the Bible scripture itself provides the notations that allow for a more complete understanding of a passage. So, in essence, the answers come from God’s Word.

Belshazzars Feast. And engravings from the John Brown Self-Interpreting Bible

No need to repeat any additional information here at this time, as there are many references to this Bible — and its connection to George Washington — already online.

Rev. John Brown passed away in June of 1787, at 65 years of age. He wrote upon his approaching death that “I think I would rather beg my bread all the laboring days of the week, with an opportunity of preaching on the Sabbath the Gospel of the grace of God, to a congregation of sinful men, than without the privilege to be put in the possession of the richest inheritance on earth.”

George Washington and the first Bible printed in New York

And, as for George Washington, I will close by reciting his famous “Sunday Night Prayer”. This is taken from his personal prayer journal, and dated April 21-23, 1752. From the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

As follows:

“O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving father, l acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day.

I have called on thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly, that my prayers are become my sin and stand in need of pardon. I have heard thy holy word, but with such deadness of spirit that I have been an unprofitable and forgetful hearer, so that, O Lord, tho’ I have done thy work, yet it hath been so negligently that I may rather expect a curse than a blessing from thee.

But, O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption, mark not, I beseech thee, what I have done amiss; remember that i am but dust, and remit my transgressions, negligences & ignorances, and cover them all with the absolute obedience of thy dear Son, that those sacrifices which I have offered may be accepted by thee, in and for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for me; for his sake, ease me of the burden of my sins, and give me grace that by the call of the Gospel I may rise from the slumber of sin into the newness of life.

Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object Jesus Christ the way, the truth and the life, bless O Lord, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom thou has appointed to rule over us in church & state.

Continue thy goodness to me this night. These weak petitions I humbly implore thee to hear accept and ans. for the sake of thy Dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

So, until we meet again, and for celebratethebible250, this is Francis Douglas.
If you would like me to give a presentation and small exhibit to your church group, school, or organization, on the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, I’ll place contact information below as the 2026 Semiquincentennial year approaches. I will be available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.