Norwegian Bible Society
Norway’s official interchurch Bible society, translating, publishing, distributing, and supporting access to the Bible in Norway and internationally.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Norwegian Bible Society, or Det Norske Bibelselskap, is a Norwegian Christian foundation focused on making the Bible available through translation, publication, distribution, and international Bible-support work. It is recognized as Norway’s official Bible society and is one of the country’s oldest interchurch organizations. Most major Christian denominations in Norway have representation on its governing board, reflecting its ecumenical structure rather than ownership by a single church body. The organization was established on 26 May 1816 during a broader European Bible-society movement. That movement had begun in England in the early nineteenth century and spread through national societies, including the Danish Bible Society founded in 1814. The Norwegian initiative received support from the Swedish Bible Society and from the British and Foreign Bible Society. Its central objective was to make biblical texts available to the general population, initially through publication and distribution rather than through a large program of original Norwegian translation. In its early period, the Society mainly circulated Danish-language Bible editions, reflecting the linguistic conditions of Norway at the time. Its publishing program later expanded to Norwegian. A complete Norwegian-language Bible was first published by the Society in 1930. The Nynorsk tradition developed on a separate timetable: the New Testament appeared in 1899, followed by a complete Bible in 1921 and a revised edition in 1938. Work on updated translations began in the 1950s because the language of earlier editions was increasingly regarded as dated. This effort resulted in the major 1978 editions in both Bokmål and Nynorsk, with the Nynorsk text receiving a lightly revised 1985 edition. Around the turn of the millennium, the Society undertook a more comprehensive translation program. The project concluded that a fresh translation from the original biblical languages was needed, rather than another limited revision. Translators, consultants, and advisers worked for approximately eleven years. The New Testament translation was completed in 2005, and the full Bibel 2011 edition was published in October 2011, incorporating the new New Testament with minor revisions and a newly translated Old Testament. Earlier editions, including the 1930 Bokmål Bible, the 1938 Nynorsk Bible, and the 1978/1985 editions, continued to be published alongside the newer version. The Society has also contributed to Bible work in Sami languages. Its involvement in Sami translation and publication dates back to the nineteenth century. The first complete Sami Bible was published in 1895 by Norsk Finnemisjon after translation work by Lars Jacobsen Hætta. In the modern period, the Norwegian Bible Society participated in the publication of a Northern Sami New Testament in 1998 and a Lule Sami New Testament in 2003, the latter produced in collaboration with the Swedish Bible Society. Operationally, the Society combines a publishing function with an international-support function. In Norway it distributes Bibles in multiple editions and publishes books and related materials connected with its purpose. Internationally, it helps finance Bible distribution and translation activity, much of it through the United Bible Societies, whose network works across more than 200 countries and territories and has representation in 145 countries. The Society also publishes the magazine Bibelgaven, known as Nytt om Bibelen until 2013. Its present identity therefore combines religious publishing, translation stewardship, ecumenical coordination, public distribution, and international development of Bible access.
History
The Norwegian Bible Society was founded on 26 May 1816 as part of the international Bible-society movement that developed in the early nineteenth century. The movement originated in England in 1804 and spread through national organizations, including the Danish Bible Society in 1814. In Norway, the new society received assistance from the Swedish Bible Society, including support associated with Swedish Count Mathias Rosenblad, as well as from the British and Foreign Bible Society. The founding purpose was to make the Bible broadly available through organized publication and distribution. During its first decades, the Society concentrated largely on Danish-language Bible editions. This reflected the historical language situation in Norway and the availability of established Danish translations. Its publishing work later expanded into Norwegian. The first Norwegian-language Bible published by the Society appeared in 1930. Work in Nynorsk followed its own development: a Nynorsk New Testament was issued in 1899, a complete Bible in 1921, and another edition in 1938. By the 1950s, earlier Norwegian Bible language was increasingly considered outdated. The Society therefore began work on a substantial revision and modernization project. This produced new Bokmål and Nynorsk editions in 1978. The Nynorsk edition was subsequently lightly edited and issued again in 1985. The older 1930 Bokmål and 1938 Nynorsk versions remained part of the Society’s continuing publication program rather than being immediately displaced. At the turn of the millennium, the Society initiated a more ambitious translation undertaking. During the early stages, the project concluded that a completely new translation from the original biblical languages was required. Translators, consultants, and advisers worked for roughly eleven years. The New Testament portion was completed in 2005. In October 2011, the Society published the complete Bibel 2011, containing the new translation and minor revisions to the 2005 New Testament. Earlier editions, including the 1978 and 1985 texts, continued to be made available. The Society’s language work has also included Sami. It has participated in Sami translation and publication projects since at least the nineteenth century. A complete Sami Bible was published in 1895 by Norsk Finnemisjon, based on translation work by Lars Jacobsen Hætta. In the modern period, the Norwegian Bible Society helped publish the Northern Sami New Testament in 1998 and the Lule Sami New Testament in 2003, the latter in cooperation with the Swedish Bible Society. Institutionally, the Norwegian Bible Society is a Christian foundation and Norway’s official Bible society. It has an interchurch character, with most denominations in Norway represented on its board. Its Norwegian publishing operation distributes Bible editions and other books connected with its purpose. A separate international-support function finances Bible distribution in other countries, primarily through the United Bible Societies network. The Society has also communicated with the public through its magazine, Bibelgaven, formerly titled Nytt om Bibelen until 2013. This combination of translation, publishing, distribution, ecumenical governance, and international cooperation has remained central to its role.
- 2013
Magazine renamed Bibelgaven
[1]The Society’s magazine formerly known as Nytt om Bibelen was published under the name Bibelgaven.
- 2011
Bibel 2011 published
[1]The Society released Bibel 2011, a complete new Norwegian Bible translation based on work from the original biblical languages.
- 2005
New Testament translation completed
[1]The New Testament component of the major new translation project was completed.
- 2003
Lule Sami New Testament published
[1]A Lule Sami New Testament was published in cooperation with the Swedish Bible Society.
- 1998
Northern Sami New Testament published
[1]A Northern Sami New Testament was published as part of the Society’s continuing Sami-language work.
- 1985
Lightly revised Nynorsk edition released
[1]The 1978 Nynorsk Bible was lightly edited and issued in a new edition.
- 1978
Major Norwegian Bible editions released
[1]New Bokmål and Nynorsk Bible editions were published after a translation and revision effort begun in the 1950s.
- 1938
New Nynorsk Bible edition
[1]A new Nynorsk Bible edition was published.
- 1930
First Norwegian-language Bible published by the Society
[1]The Society published its first complete Norwegian-language Bible, in the Bokmål tradition.
- 1921
Complete Nynorsk Bible published
[1]A complete Bible in Nynorsk was published following the earlier New Testament edition.
Products and positioning
An ecumenical, mission-oriented Bible institution combining national translation and publishing with international support for Bible access.
Bible translation · 2011
Bibel 2011
Bibel 2011 is the Society’s major modern Norwegian Bible translation project. Work began around the turn of the millennium after the organization determined that a new translation from the original biblical languages was preferable to a limited revision. The New Testament was completed in 2005, and the complete edition appeared in October 2011. The release included minor revisions to the 2005 New Testament translation and introduced a new translation of the Old Testament.
Bible editions · 1930
Norwegian Bokmål Bible editions
The Society publishes Norwegian Bible editions in Bokmål, including the 1930 translation, the 1978 edition, and the later Bibel 2011 translation. These editions represent successive stages in the development of accessible Norwegian-language Scripture and continue to coexist with older versions for readers, churches, and institutional users who prefer particular textual or linguistic traditions.
Bible editions · 1899
Norwegian Nynorsk Bible editions
The Nynorsk program includes the 1899 New Testament, the complete 1921 Bible, the 1938 edition, the 1978 translation, and the lightly edited 1985 edition. These publications serve Norway’s Nynorsk language tradition and form an important part of the Society’s historic role in making biblical texts available in both principal Norwegian written standards.
Bible translations · 1998
Sami-language Bible publications
The Society has supported translation and publication in Sami languages since the nineteenth century. Its documented modern work includes the Northern Sami New Testament published in 1998 and the Lule Sami New Testament published in 2003 with the Swedish Bible Society. These projects extend the Society’s access mission to Indigenous language communities in Norway and the wider Nordic region.
Magazine
Bibelgaven
Bibelgaven is the Norwegian Bible Society’s magazine for communicating about Bible translation, publishing, distribution, and related activities. It was previously published under the name Nytt om Bibelen until 2013. The magazine forms part of the Society’s public communication and supporter-engagement activity.
Brand decisions
2003
Expanded cooperation on Lule Sami ScriptureOtherBackground
The Society’s historical Sami-language work required cooperation across national and linguistic boundaries in the Nordic region.
Action taken
It collaborated with the Swedish Bible Society on publication of a Lule Sami New Testament.
Aftermath
The publication extended access to New Testament Scripture in Lule Sami.
2000
Commissioned a comprehensive new Norwegian Bible translationStrategyBackground
Around the turn of the millennium, the Society planned a thorough overhaul of its Norwegian Bible text. Early work indicated that a completely new translation from the original languages was needed rather than a straightforward update of an earlier edition.
Action taken
The Society organized a long-term project involving translators, consultants, and advisers. The New Testament was completed in 2005, followed by publication of the complete Bibel 2011 in October 2011.
Aftermath
Bibel 2011 became a major modern Norwegian edition, while earlier Bokmål and Nynorsk translations continued to be published.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/norwegian-bible-society · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled