What phrase is inscribed around the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia?

The Liberty Bell bears the inscription “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” The wording comes from Leviticus 25:10 and was selected for Pennsylvania’s 1751 State House bell, decades before American independence.

The bell was cast in London by Lester and Pack and recast twice in Philadelphia after cracking during early tests. It originally hung in the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall. The name “Liberty Bell” became widespread in the nineteenth century as abolitionists adopted the bell and its biblical message as a symbol of freedom.

The bell’s famous crack likely developed sometime between 1817 and 1846; the exact cause is unknown. It was rung publicly for the last time in 1846, after which further ringing risked widening the damage. Today it is displayed in the Liberty Bell Center, where visitors can see the inscription and repaired crack.