The Liberty Bell features the Bible verse Leviticus 25:10, inscribed as 'Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.' This passage comes from the Old Testament and was chosen decades before the American Revolution for a specific civic occasion.
The origin of the inscription
In 1751, the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly ordered a bell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges. That charter granted religious freedom and self-governance to Pennsylvanians. Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Assembly and a Quaker, selected the verse from Leviticus to reflect the milestone. The bell was not made as a revolutionary symbol but as a functional part of government, used to call lawmakers to session and alert the public to announcements.
Leviticus 25:10 and the Year of Jubilee
The verse refers to the biblical Year of Jubilee, a concept in ancient Hebrew law where every 50 years debts were forgiven, enslaved people were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. This was not just a spiritual idea but a legal and economic reset aimed at justice and equity. By choosing this verse, Norris linked Pennsylvania’s founding principles to a tradition of social restoration and moral responsibility. The inscription carried a deeper meaning than a general call for freedom—it invoked a structured, recurring act of liberation.
A 50-year milestone
The timing was deliberate. From 1701 to 1751 was exactly 50 years, matching the Jubilee cycle. The Assembly saw this half-century as Pennsylvania’s own Jubilee. The bell, weighing about 2,000 pounds, was cast in London and arrived in August 1752. During its first test ring, it cracked. Local founders John Pass and John Stow recast it twice, adjusting the metal mix for better sound. The version seen today is the result of those repairs, though the original inscription was preserved.
From State House Bell to Liberty Bell
For years, it was known simply as the State House Bell. Its transformation into a national symbol began in the 1830s when abolitionists adopted the verse as a rallying cry against slavery. They pointed out the contradiction between a bell proclaiming liberty for all and the reality of enslaved people in America. The Anti-Slavery Record featured the bell in 1835, helping to popularize the name 'Liberty Bell.' This rebranding turned a colonial commemorative object into a powerful emblem of civil rights.
A uniquely Hebraic symbol
Unlike other American symbols that draw from Greco-Roman imagery, the Liberty Bell is rooted in Hebrew scripture. While figures like Jefferson emphasized Enlightenment ideals, Pennsylvania’s founders looked to biblical authority to frame their values. The bell’s inscription reflects a belief that liberty is not just a political right but a moral and divine mandate. This blend of religious tradition and civic life set it apart from other founding relics and gave it lasting resonance in American discourse.
Common misconceptions
Many believe the verse was chosen as a revolutionary statement ahead of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, the bell was ordered in 1751, long before the Revolution. Others assume the crack happened on July 4, 1776, but there is no evidence for that. The exact timing of the crack is uncertain, though it likely occurred later. The myth that the founders intended the bell as a revolutionary icon overlooks its original, more modest purpose: to mark 50 years of peaceful governance and religious tolerance.