Julia Evelina Smith: The First and Only Woman to Translate the Bible

Julia Evelina Smith holds a unique position among historical biblical scholars and linguists. She achieved recognition as a self-published professional translator and an activist for American women’s suffrage. Smith was the first woman to translate the Bible multiple times from its multiple original languages into English.

She also wrote the book Abby Smith and Her Cows. This work details the story of Smith and her sister during their period of tax resistance in Connecticut. Her historical accomplishments deserve recognition because she reached literary and political success when society often viewed women as having lesser abilities.

Linguistic Foundation and Scholarly Motivation

Smith maintained a functional command of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and English throughout her life. She dedicated most of her time to studying language and Christian theology. She officially transitioned into work as a translator when she reached the age of fifty-one.

The work of a Baptist preacher named William Miller inspired her during the nineteenth century. Miller had predicted a specific date for the end of the world. When that predicted date passed without incident, Smith decided to translate the Bible herself from its original text. She wanted to gain a more accurate understanding of the scriptures to determine the fate of the globe.

Heritage of Advocacy and Social Reform

Smith grew up in a large family that prioritized intellectual development and social justice. Her sisters, mother, and grandmother were all advocates for women’s education, the abolition of slavery, and women’s suffrage. The entire family received an honor through induction into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.

Julia Smith faced significant pressure from male language students during her studies. This environment forced her to work harder to prove her capabilities. She later received further criticism regarding her role as a biblical translator. At that time, social rules prevented women from attending universities or serving as leaders in the church.

Many people questioned how a woman could interpret religious texts. Smith held a different view and remained largely self-taught. She eventually published her biblical translation independently to ensure her work reached the public.

The Link Between Biblical Study and Civil Rights

Society during Smith’s life did not consider women equal to men in legal or intellectual matters. This inequality created a risk that her biblical translation would be lost to history. However, this same social friction allowed her to bring the translation into the public eye.

A tax collector in her area had raised tax rates specifically for property owned by women. Smith and her sister fought against this taxation without representation. They used the publication of the Bible translation to draw national attention to the issue of women’s suffrage.

Julia Evelina Smith’s translation remains a significant historical document for multiple equality movements. She translated the entire Bible without any assistance from other scholars. She remains the only woman to complete such a massive project alone. Her primary motivation was a love for the text and a desire to grow her own understanding.

Methodology and The Five Translations

Smith spent twenty years completing her translation of the Bible. She skillfully managed the entire text from the original languages without help. Elizabeth Cady Stanton noted that Smith translated the whole Bible five times, including twice from Hebrew, twice from Greek, and once from Latin.

She waited seven years after finishing the work to self-publish the final version. During this interval, Julia and her sister Abby became pioneers for the women's suffrage movement. They emerged as early leaders for the broader feminist groups of the era. The Bible translation finally reached the public in the late nineteenth century.

The Word-for-Word Approach

Smith used a specific technique that presented one word after another exactly as they appeared in the original text. Her translation used English words but followed the original grammar structure of the source languages. This method resulted in a text that often lacked a natural flow in English.

Critics frequently noted the flaws in this literalist style. However, the work is considered a highly accurate reflection of the source languages. It provided an alternative to the King James version and was the only contemporary English translation available directly from the source texts.

Honoring the Legacy of Female Translators

The ongoing efforts to support women in this field include various competitions and recognition events. You can follow the annual Warwick Prize for Women in Translation to see new works. These awards highlight the modern impact of female linguists across the globe.

The community also recognizes Women in Translation Month to celebrate these professional achievements. This annual event brings attention to the history of women who shaped literature through their linguistic skills. You can find more profiles like this in the Famous Translators segment of the MotaWord blog.

About This Article

Famous Translators is a MotaWord segment showcasing notable translated works and linguists. We research and share stories that offer value to every translator. If you have a story to share, you can reach us at info@motaword.com.

Please review our previous articles in this series:

• Translating Feminism with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Constance Garnett: The Imperfect Pioneer of Russian Translation
• The Graphic Translation of Persepolis

Citations: HDS, CBE, Erudit, Encyclopedia, BibleResearcher, MuseumOfTheBible