YouVersion Bible App
adds Icelandic Translation
World’s most popular Bible App partners with Icelandic Bible Society to offer the Bible and app interface in Iceland’s native tongue
Oklahoma City, March 15, 2018 – In partnership with the Icelandic Bible Society, YouVersion announces the addition of Icelandic to the Bible App, the world’s most popular Bible app with more than 315 million installations. With this update, Icelandic speakers will be able to experience the app and read the Bible in their native language.
“The Bible offers invaluable wisdom that draws people in. It will provide incredible support for Icelanders to be able to access their Bible in Icelandic on their smartphone,” says Guðmundur Brynjólfsson, project manager of the Icelandic Bible Society.
In recent years, linguists have expressed concern for the vitality of the Icelandic language as Icelanders spend less time devoted to celebrating their Icelandic culture in part due to new technologies that encourage the use of English. Few technology companies choose to invest in supporting languages beyond the 10 most spoken languages in the world. However, the YouVersion Bible App continues to make new languages available, currently providing the Bible in more than 1,200 languages and offering the app interface in more than 50 languages.
“It’s very important to us to offer the Bible in as many languages as possible, including Icelandic. We’re passionate about this because people read and experience the Bible in a more meaningful and significant way when it’s in their first language,” said Bobby Gruenewald, founder of the YouVersion Bible App.
Providing the complete app experience in Icelandic means not just translating the in-app text, but also ensuring the app feels like it was created specifically for Icelanders. This was done with the help of volunteers from Iceland. The app interface is now available in Icelandic on iOS with Android coming soon.
In the Bible App, people can read or listen to the Bible and save bookmarks, highlights, and notes as they read. People can also connect with one another in community, compare Bible translations side by side, subscribe to daily Reading Plans, watch videos with biblical content, and share Bible verses and Verse Images on social media.
“Now that Icelanders have digital access to the Icelandic translation of the Bible, we believe that Bible reading in Iceland will be transformed,” said Rev. Dr. Gretar Gunnarsson, board member of the Icelandic Bible Society. “This will help create an online community of Icelandic Bible readers and make the wisdom of the Bible more present on social media. We’re excited to see how the Bible App will change lives in Iceland.”
About YouVersion
YouVersion was created in 2007 to help increase access to and engagement with the Bible. Featuring more than 1,600 versions and supporting more than 1,200 languages, the Bible App helps people with busy, on-the-go lifestyles read the Bible at any time and in any place. The Bible App has been installed on more than 315 million devices and in every country of the world. To learn more or to download the Bible App, visit www.bible.com/app.
About Icelandic Bible Society
The Icelandic Bible Society is one of 200 Bible societies from countries and territories around the world as part of a global network called the United Bible Societies (UBS). UBS believes the Bible is for everyone and works toward a day when everyone can access the Bible in the language and medium of their choice. For more information, visit www.unitedbiblesocieties.org.
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