Bibeln 1917

The Bibel 1917, known in Swedish as Gustav V:s bibel or simply Bibel 1917, is the official translation of the Scriptures authorized by the Church of Sweden in that year. It succeeded the historic Charles XII Bible of 1703, which in turn derived from the Gustav Vasa Bible of 1541, the first complete Bible in Swedish produced in the context of the Swedish Lutheran Reformation.

The revision process lasted decades and involved an official commission appointed by the Crown and the Church, composed of bishops, university professors, and linguists. The methodology proceeded from the Masoretic Hebrew and Greek texts, with critical consultation of ancient manuscripts and the best critical editions available in the early twentieth century. The Swedish employed is literary and elevated, but modernized in relation to the archaism of the 1703 edition, reflecting the Swedish linguistic norm consolidated after the orthographic reforms of 1906.

For more than six decades, the Bibel 1917 was the standard Bible of the Church of Sweden and of most Protestant denominations in Sweden, present in homes, schools, churches, and official services. Its language shaped twentieth-century Swedish hymns, sermons, and religious literature. It was officially succeeded by the Bibel 2000, but retains significant affective and liturgical presence among traditional faithful and conservative confessional groups who prefer its classical style.

The text is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced and distributed. It remains available on digital Bible platforms, in printed editions, and in church archives, serving as a valuable resource for the study of the Swedish Lutheran tradition.