President Joe Biden took the oath of office Wednesday, becoming the nation’s 46th president at the beginning of an already historic year.
As Biden, a practicing Catholic, was sworn in, viewers couldn’t help but notice the gigantic bible he chose to use to take the oath. It was huge, roughly 5 inches thick, and bound with large metal clasps — definitely bigger than most bibles used by presidential inaugurates. But Biden said his had special meaning.
Biden’s bible was much bigger than the bible Vice President Kamala Harris used — which formerly belonged to civil rights leader Rosa Parks and has the markings of Parks’ family tree.
The bible Biden chose to use was also a family heirloom — and Biden has used it to be “sworn into every elected office in his career of public service,” according to The Washington Post. The tome has been in Biden’s family for 127 years since 1893, and also has inscriptions of each of his swearing-in dates.
Biden’s late son Beau Biden also used it to swear into his office as attorney general of Delaware.
Sentimental value aside, people watching the inaugural proceedings were quick to notice that Biden’s bible was almost comically large. “
“First edition signed by Jesus looking bible,” streamer and political commentator HasanAbi tweeted.
Some people were even inspired to create film spin-offs starring the gigantic book — “National Treasure 3 should be Nicolas Cage stealing Joe Biden’s big bible,” another Twitter user joked.
The size of the bible prompted a handful of people to crack jokes speculating what was inside it — “
Check out more of the takes — and memes — about Biden’s hefty inauguration bible below.
why does biden's bible look like it's hollowed out and filled with wooden stakes, holy water, and silver bullets pic.twitter.com/1oyZvcoPgt
— jake (@jakecurrie) January 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/JoshRaby/status/1351934759316942851
That is a BIG bible pic.twitter.com/pvGFoSey2r
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) January 20, 2021
first edition signed by jesus looking bible https://t.co/sKIGrZnrEW
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) January 20, 2021
Joe Biden’s Bible must be the director’s cut. pic.twitter.com/4ZgS34B2ja
— Woody Whitehurst – Women’s Lacrosse Supporter (@woodywhitehurst) January 20, 2021
Joe showed up with the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Bible
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) January 20, 2021
NATIONAL TREASURE 3 should be Nicolas Cage stealing Joe Biden’s big bible pic.twitter.com/myFLaEGM1j
— Vinnie Mancuso (@VinnieMancuso1) January 20, 2021
this bible was provided by Tennessee athletics and there is no need to open it up pic.twitter.com/3Dr7tkzhy0
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 20, 2021
The absolute unit of a Bible that President Biden swore his oath of office on has been in his family since 1893! His late son Beau Biden also used it when he was sworn into office as Delaware's Attorney General https://t.co/JPvZhIjevE pic.twitter.com/FceloTNHT8
— Grace Panetta (@grace_panetta) January 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/iamTannenbaum/status/1351936871560065025
This Bible he being sworn in on looks like it's from Hogwarts.
— Woke Man In A Dress (@thatonequeen) January 20, 2021
Jill Biden prepping to hold that bible pic.twitter.com/xMslD6i9j3
— Kerry Shawcross (@kerryshawcross) January 20, 2021
Biden got sworn in on the Peter Jackson directors extended cut bible. old, new , and future testament pic.twitter.com/7bg6CSPDz9
— Matt Buechele (@mattbooshell) January 20, 2021
That bible gotta have size 72 font
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 20, 2021