Finnish Bible Society Releases New Translations of Genesis and Job
The Finnish Bible Society published new Finnish translations of the Book of Genesis and the Book of Job on October 23. The translations are part of the Old Testament 2028 project (VT2028), a joint effort between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Bible Society. The translation is ecumenical, with representatives from various churches and the Free Church Council of Finland serving on the project’s steering committee.
“The new Bible translation is a shared undertaking of the churches. Everyone benefits when the Christian heritage is passed on to new generations in fluent language, crafted by the best translation experts,” says Matti Repo, Bishop of Tampere Diocese and Chair of the Finnish Bible Society.
Petri Merenlahti, Executive Director of the Finnish Bible Society, describes the significance of the new translations: “The early biblical stories of paradise and the flood belong to our shared cultural consciousness. The Old Testament story of Job, who calls God to account for the suffering of the innocent, takes us to the very roots of the Western understanding of humanity.”
Easy to Read and Listen to on a Smartphone
The new translation brings the Bible closer to contemporary readers through both language and form. The Finnish translation from Hebrew uses rich, nuanced, and accessible language and can be easily read or listened to on a smartphone. The target audience is simply everyone with a phone within reach.
The audiobook versions of Genesis and Job are narrated by actress Krista Kosonen.
“When reading certain passages, it feels as if the entire universe opens up before your eyes. This text is both profound and a pleasure to read,” Kosonen comments from the studio.
An Ecumenical Translation Born of Dialogue
Translating the Bible requires deep mastery of the original language, an understanding of the worldview of its time, and exceptional skill in Finnish. While the translation reflects the language of contemporary speakers, it remains faithful to the meanings of the Hebrew source text.
A large group of academically accomplished experts has worked on the project. The Book of Genesis was translated by biblical scholar Hanna Vanonen and language specialist Tuomas Juntunen, and the Book of Job by biblical scholar Kirsi Valkama and language specialist Katja Seutu.
However, the translation work extends beyond the translators themselves: other Bible Society experts and the seven-member ecumenical steering committee review and refine every draft together with the translators. In addition, thousands of ordinary readers contribute to the process by providing direct feedback on each section — feedback that has led to valuable improvements and confirmed the clarity of the translation.
The members of the ecumenical steering committee are:
Professor Jutta Jokiranta (Old Testament Studies, Evangelical Lutheran Church),
Docent Marko Marttila (Diocesan Dean, Evangelical Lutheran Church),
Mika Aspinen (Bible Theology Educator, Evangelical Lutheran Church),
Father Hariton (Orthodox Church),
Juho Sankamo (Catholic Church),
Esa Hyvönen (Free Church Council of Finland), and
Professor Hanna Lappalainen (Finnish Language).
The VT2028 project is funded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Bible Society. The Orthodox Church of Finland, the Catholic Church in Finland, and the Free Church Council of Finland cover the participation costs of their representatives in the ecumenical steering committee. The complete translation of the Old Testament will be finished in 2028.
Digital Release, Podcast, and Webinar
The new translations were published digitally on October 23 and the texts can be read and listened to free of charge in the Finnish Bible Society´s app or online.
Alongside the new translations, a podcast was released in which the translators discuss the contents of the books and share insights gained during the translation process. After the launch, an open webinar will also be held, giving readers the opportunity to ask questions directly from the translators.