1611 AV

THE HOLY BIBLE,

CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS,

NEWLY TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGES: & WITH THE PRECEDING TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED, BY HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL COMMAND.

APPOINTED TO BE READ IN THE CHURCHES.

SKJVB

THE SWEDISH BIBLE,

IS THE SWEDISH EDITION OF THE AUTHORISED KING JAMES BIBLE OF 1611.

1611 AV: The King James Version in Swedish - Kung Jakobs Version på svenska.

About the Swedish KJV Bible

Contents

The Swedish KJV Bible is a Swedish Bible translation of the Holy Scriptures, the King James Version also known as the Authorised Version. The King James Bible was commissioned in 1604 by King James I of England, whose first edition was published in 1611.

The KJV Bible is a thorough translation of the King James Bible text and contains all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments: (work in progress).

OT - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

NT - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

The Swedish KJV Bible, also contains all the verses that most Bibles are missing today, e.g. Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14: Mark. 7:16; 9:44;. 9:46;. 11:26;. 15:28: Luke 17:36: John 5:4: Acts. 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29: Rom. 16:24: I Jo. 5:7.

The Swedish KJV Bible also contains a unique Swedish translation of the Chapter Overview published in the first edition of the King James Bible in 1611, including: Preface to the Readers, and a Dedication to His Majesty King James I etc.

Summary of the Swedish KJV Bible content beyond the Old and New Testaments:

1. Preface 1611, Part 1 Dedication.

2. Preface 1611, Part 2 Preface to readers.

3. The genealogies. 1611.

4. Chapter overview 1611.

5. Marginal notes, 1611 (works in progress)

6. Notes and explanations in the Swedish KJV Bible (works in progress)

7. Typography and linguistic details in the Swedish KJV Bible.

• 7.1 Language and textual features from the original edition.

• 7.2 Italicised words.

• 7.3 Red letter edition, The words of Jesus in red text.

• 7.4 Underlining of the name Holy Ghost.

1.

Swedish translation of the Preface. Part 1, Dedication, 1611.

The dedication in the King James Bible of 1611 is a formal tribute to King James I of England, who initiated and supported the translation work. The text expresses the translators' gratitude for the King's patronage and his vision to make the Bible accessible to the English-speaking people. The translators emphasise the King's role as a godly ruler, chosen to promote the Christian faith and combat divisions within the Church. The dedication is filled with traditional rhetoric praising the king's wisdom and his efforts to maintain peace and unity in the kingdom. The text also reflects the political and religious context of the time, where Bible translation was seen as an important part of the English Reformation project. Through this dedication, the translators show their loyalty and hope that their work will contribute to the King's honour, and the dedication ends with the words ‘to the glory of the great GOD and for the good of His Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.’

Read more (in swedish)

2.

Swedish translation of the Preface. Part 2, Preface to the Readers, 1611.

The Preface ‘To the Readers’ of the King James Bible of 1611 is a historical document that provides insight into the thoughts and purposes behind the translation. Written by Miles Smith, one of the translators, it is addressed to the readers and emphasises the importance of the Bible as a divine and universal scripture. The text highlights the translators' ambition to create a faithful and accessible version of God's Word in English, while recognising the importance of previous translations and efforts. They defend their work against criticism and emphasise that their aim is not to renew the message of the Bible, but to convey it in a language that people understand. The preface also discusses the challenges of translation and the need for God's grace in this endeavour. At the same time, it explains translation as a legitimate and necessary process to spread the word of God to all peoples. The document is characterised by a contemporary eloquence and highlights the translators' dedication and respect for the integrity of the sacred text.

Read more (in Swedish)

3.

Swedish translation of the Genealogies of the Holy Scriptures, 1611.

The genealogical plates of the King James Bible of 1611 are part of the original edition and provide a graphic and textual representation of the Bible's genealogies, beginning with Adam and Eve. These plates were intended to give readers a visual and chronological overview of the Bible's story of the origins of humanity and God's people throughout history. The genealogical charts follow the pattern of earlier English Bibles, such as the Geneva Bible, but are often more detailed and carefully presented. They help the reader to put Biblical people and events into context, emphasising the continuity of God's plan of salvation, making them a significant part of the King James Bible's heritage and presentation.

Read more (in Swedish)

4.

Swedish translation of the Chapter Overview, 1611.

In italics, under each chapter and in each book, is the Swedish translation of the Chapter Summary found in the AV 1611 King James Bible, according to the first edition. Added words or explanations are marked in brackets [ ].

The chapter summaries in the original 1611 edition of the King James Bible are a helpful introduction to each chapter of the Bible, intended to guide the reader through the content and structure of the text. This feature reflects the translators' ambition not only to make the Bible accessible in English, but also to facilitate a deeper understanding of its message. Each chapter summary briefly summarises the main events, themes and lessons of the text. It serves as a reading guide and helps the reader to quickly orientate himself in the Holy Scriptures, whether in terms of narratives, prophecies or doctrines. The chapter summaries demonstrate the translators' concern to make God's Word not only accessible, but also understandable and useful to a wide audience.

Example of chapter outline from Zechariah chapter 14:

1 Jerusalems förgörare, blir förintade. 4 Kristus ankomst och hans rikes nådegåvor. 12 Jerusalems fienders plåga. 16 Återstoden skall vända sig till Herren. 20 Och deras byte skall vara heligt.

5.

Swedish translation of the Marginal Notes, 1611.

The marginal notes in the original 1611 edition of the King James Bible are an important part of the translation process and serve as a resource to deepen the reader's understanding of the text. These notes include alternative translations, explanations of unusual words and expressions, and cross-references to other Bible passages. The purpose of the marginal notes was to provide insights into complex or ambiguous passages and to demonstrate the translators' awareness of the nuances of language and the possibilities of interpretation. By including these notes, translators showed their respect for the depth of the text and their readers by allowing them to participate in the interpretation. The notes also underline the academic rigour and dedication that characterised the translation process. They act as a link between the reader and the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic text and demonstrate the King James Bible's ambition to be not just a translation, but a tool for study and reflection on God's word. Example from 1 Peter 3:6:

Liksom Sara lydde Abraham, och kallade honom herre: vars döttrar ni är, så länge ni gör väl, och icke förskräcks av någon förundran.

[Gr. barn]

6.

Notes and explanations in the Swedish KJV Bible

These elements were not included in the 1611 AV, but these notes help the reader to navigate the text, understand complex concepts and make connections between different parts of the Bible. Alternative translations and explanations of unusual or ambiguous expressions. Explanations in the form of cross-references and linguistic notes also serve as a study tool, allowing for a more holistic understanding of the Bible as a whole. Example from Joel 3:2:

Skall jag också samla alla nationer, och föra dem ned till Josafats dal, och där vädja med dem för mitt folk och för mitt arv Israel, som de har skingrat bland nationerna, och delat mitt land.*

[*Notering: ”Josafats dal”, i KJV ”the valley of Jehoshaphat”, nämns i Bibeln som en plats där Gud kommer att hålla dom över nationerna. Namnet Jehoshaphat betyder ”Jehova har dömt” (Matt. 25:31). Inom Judendom och kristendom, associeras Josafats dal med Kidrondalen, som ligger öster om Jerusalem mellan Jerusalem och Olivberget (Sak. 14:1-12).]

7.

Typography and linguistic details in the Swedish KJV Bible

7.1

Language and Textual Characteristics of the Original Edition

In the Swedish edition of the 1611 King James Bible, its English language dress and tone is made clear by a matched use of punctuation The Swedish KJV Bible therefore has a slightly older Swedish-language tone that faithfully follows the English King James Bible This means that the text structure, punctuation and the division of the text differs from what it normally looks like according to the Swedish language, such as when the colon, comma, period and capitalisation are used. Every verse in the King James Bible starts with a capital letter regardless of syntax. Example from Ecclesiastes 8:9-10

Allt detta har jag sett, och jag har ägnat mitt hjärta åt varje verk som sker under solen: det finns en tid då en man härskar över en annan till hans egen skada. - Predikaren 8:9.

Och jag såg de ogudaktiga begravas, de som hade kommit och gått från den heliga platsen, och de blev bortglömda i staden där de hade gjort så: detta är också fåfänglighet. - Predikaren 8:10.

‘Förbigången’ - A Swedish neologism for the word Passover from the King James Bible

The word ‘Förbigången’ in the Swedish KJV Bible was created to convey the original meaning of “Passover” and the Hebrew word ‘pesach,’ which means ‘to pass over.’ In Exodus 12, the angel of the Lord passed over the houses that were marked with blood—an act that both saved and separated His people. The traditional Swedish word ‘Påsk’ is an old loanword that today is often associated with Jesus' resurrection, thus obscuring the connection to the actual act of salvation in Egypt. To bring this meaning to life and make it clear, we propose “Förbigången” – a newly coined, Biblical-sounding word in the same style as the English ‘Passover’.

‘Förbigången’ is formed from ‘förbi’ (passed) and ‘gång’ (by), which means ‘that which passed over’. It functions both as the name of the holiday and the sacrifice (the lamb) – just like “pesach” and ‘Passover’. The word Förbigången is pronounced [ˈføːr.biˌgoːŋ.ɛn], with the stress on the first syllable: FÖR-bigången. The word has a natural composition and is pronounced with long ö and å sounds and can be used in expressions such as:

• Herrens Förbigång (Exo 12:11)

• Förbigångens offer (Exo 12:27)

• Och de slaktade Förbigångsoffret (Ezra 6:20)

• Att hålla Förbigången (Luke 22:8)

• Kristus, vårt Förbigångsoffer (1 Cor 5:7)

Through the newly formed Förbigången, the Swedish Bible text is reconnected to the Hebrew narrative, the theological meaning and the spirit of the Reformation translation.

Read more (PDF in Swedish)

7.2

Italicised words

Italicised words in the Bible are used to indicate words that are not found directly in the original language texts; in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek, but which have been added by the translators to make the meaning more understandable in the target language These additions are necessary because grammatical differences between languages often require extra words to convey the intended meaning of the original language texts. This practice is common in many translations, including the King James Bible of 1611, and demonstrates the translators' respect for the integrity of the text By highlighting these words, the reader can see which parts are additions and thus gain a clearer understanding of how the original language text and the translation relate to each other

Critics of this practice argue that these words were added by translators and that they are therefore not part of the Word of God. But how can this claim be true when Luke, Paul, John, Peter and even the Lord Jesus himself quoted these italicised words from the Old Testament? Does this not indicate that they were part of the original text (see Deut. 25:4, 8:3; Ps. 16:8, 82:6; Isa. 28:16; 2 Sam. 21:19; 1 Chron. 20:5; Acts 2:25; I Cor. 9:9; I Tim. 5:18; Matt. 4:4; John 10:34; I Pet. 2:6; Matt. 4:4).

Greek manuscripts confirm the italicised words of the King James Bible

In the King James Version (KJV) the text:‘[but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.’ in First John 2:23 is italicised, indicating that the words were not in the Greek manuscripts used by the translators. However, this phrase is found in later Greek manuscripts (such as Codex Alexandrinus) and the text is included in modern translations such as the Luther Bible 1912 and Schlachter 1951. - If the King James Bible is not the Word of God, how is it that the italicisation in it turns out to be the correct text even when they do not have the support of Greek manuscripts? How could the translators of the KJV Bible have guessed right by writing in the italicised part of the verse and some 100-200 years later Greek manuscripts were found containing the italicised text?

See also the case of who killed Goliath?

Och åter var det en strid i Gob med Filistéerna, där Elhanan sonen till Jaare-oregim, en Betlehemit, dräpte Goliats broder Gittiten, vars spjutskaft var såsom en vävares bom. - 2 Samuelsboken 21:19. (SKJVB).

The word ‘brother’ is italicised in 2 Samuel 21:19 in the King James Bible. If the word ‘brother’ is omitted (because the word is italicised), the Bible would say that Elhanan killed Goliath, instead of him killing Goliath's brother.

Och åter var det krig med Filistéerna, och Elhanan, sonen till Jair dräpte Lahmi brodern till Goliat Gittiten, vars spjutskaft var såsom en vävares bom. - I Krönikeboken 20:5. (SKJVB).

If you read 1 Chronicles 20:5, here the name of the brother is given as ‘Lahmi,’ which clarifies who was killed by Elhanan. This text is similar to 2 Samuel 21:19 but gives more precision by naming Goliath's brother, ‘Lahmi.’ This helps to avoid a contradiction, that it would have been Goliath himself who was killed again, since he was already killed by David in an earlier story (1 Samuel 17). The translators of the King James Bible were right to include the word brother in the text, even though the word does not appear in any of the original language manuscripts.

7.3

Red Letter Edition, Jesus words in red text

‘Red Letter’ is a typographical style in which Jesus' own words, as recorded in the Gospels and sometimes in other parts of the New Testament, are printed in red text instead of black This practice was introduced in 1899 by Louis Klopsch, editor of ‘The Christian Herald’, to emphasise Jesus' statements in particular and help readers quickly identify them Although it does not appear in the King James Bible of 1611, Red Letter editions are a common feature of later printings of the King James Bible to facilitate study and meditation on Christ's words Example from John 14:6

Jesus sade till honom, Jag är vägen, sanningen, och livet: ingen kommer till Fadern, utom genom mig.

7.4

Underlining of the name Holy Ghost

The King James Bible uses two different names for the Holy Spirit, which are ‘Holy Ghost’ (occurs a total of 89 times) and ‘Holy Spirit’ (occurs a total of 7 times), these two names mean the same thing and in Sweden only one name is used which is Holy Spirit.

1. Linguistic variation: In the early 17th century, ‘ghost’ was used more generally to refer to a spirit or soul, while ‘spirit’ had a broader meaning, including spiritual or supernatural existence.

2. Biblical tradition: To maintain continuity with earlier English Bible translations. ‘Ghost’ was used in Tyndale's Bible and The Geneva Bible, among others, and therefore they have chosen to keep this traditional term in some contexts.

3. Variation for shades of meaning: Sometimes ‘Holy Spirit’ is used to emphasise the spiritual aspect of God's presence or power, while ‘Holy Ghost’ may be used to emphasise the personal nature of the Holy Spirit.

In order to preserve this in Swedish and to distinguish between the indication of ‘Holy Spirit’ and ‘Holy Ghost’ in the text, we have instead of making a direct translation made an underline on the word Spirit where in the King James Bible it says ‘Ghost’ in capital letters. Example from 2 Peter 1:21:

Ty profetian kom inte i gamla tider genom en människas vilja, utan heliga män av Gud talade när de drevs av den Helige Ande.