On the Surface: A Northwest Semitic Fertility Cult Text

The First Seven Rows

The first seven rows of the runic inscription on the Björketorp monument consists of 100 runes, which are arranged on the stone as shown in the following illustration, but with the last seventh row inscribed on the back of the main stone of the monument.

Thus the inscription of the first six rows of runes, i.e. the first 90 runes, looks like the following on the front of the stone (with certain runes enhanced).

And the seventh row on the back of the stone, containing rune numbers 91 - 100, looks like can be seen on the following image:

Transliterated the first seven rows of the inscription can be written as:

o-r-A A-z-A þ-z-A t-b-A-r u t-z
u-t-A A-z-A w e-l-A A-d-A u d-e-A
h-A-e-r-A m-A-l-A u s-z
u h-A A-r-u-A A-z-A-r A-g-e-u
u f-A l-A-h A-k h-A-e-d k-r-e-A
u h-A-e-d z-r-u-A o-r-o-n-u
u þ-A r-A b-A s-b-A

Apparently the language of the Björketorp inscription is quite close to Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, and we can therefore easily write it by means of the Hebrew script: 

The meaning of this is:

The strong light/fire/happiness of the violent love breaks, and cuts off.
Destroy violently! And El, of eternity and wisdom, pours out/destroys wholly and fully.
And the love of the pudenda helps his flash/flame.
And the moist entrance, assure certainly the destruction! And assure the violence of his desire!
And become desolate! Overflow with/by the fullness!

Alternative translations of the word "hAerA" could possibly be "destroy" and "uncover" (compare Leviticus 20:18).

Rows eight and nine

On the upper part of the front of the main stone of the monument we then find rows eight and nine of the runic inscription (runes 101 - 110).

Transliterated rows eight and nine of the inscription can be written as:

o-r-A 

w e-l-o-A j-A-h

If we write this with corresponding Hebrew words, then we arrive at:

אורא

ואלה יה

This means:

The light

and Eloah Jah

Rows 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14

On the upper part of the back of the main stone of the monument we then find rows 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the runic inscription (runes 111 - 133).

Transliterated rows 10 - 14 of the inscription can be written as:

u z-r-u-A

o-r-o-n-u

h-A-e-d

w o-r-A b-A

s-b-A

If we write this with corresponding Hebrew words, then we arrive at:

וזרוע

ארנו

העד

ואורא ב

שבע

This means:

And the violence 

of his desire: 

Assure and rise with/by 

the fullness!

Rows 15, 16, 17 and 18

On the middle part of the back of stone B of the monument we then find rows 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the runic inscription (runes 134 - 148).

o-r-A

d-A

b-A j-A-h-o

A-d-A

If we write this with corresponding Hebrew words, then we arrive at:

אורא

דאה

ביהו

עדא

This means:

The light/fire/happiness

flies

with Jahu

of eternity.

Rows 19, 20 and 21

On the middle part of the back of stone C of the monument we then find rows 19, 20 and 21 of the runic inscription (runes 149 - 168).

Transliterated rows 19 - 21 of the inscription can be written as:

o-r-A s A-d-A

w j-A-h-o

w A-m j-s-r-A-e-l

If we write this with corresponding Hebrew words, then we arrive at:

אורא שעדא

ויהו

ועם ישראל

This means:

The light/fire/happiness which is eternal
and Jahu
and the people of Israel!

Rows 22, 23 and 24

On the northern side of stone D of the monument we then find rows 22, 23 and 24 of the runic inscription (runes 169 - 197).

Transliterated rows 22 - 24 of the inscription can be written as:

j-A-o-o d-A-A-o j-A-o-A-A

j-A-o-A-A-

o-A-A b-A-A-l-A-o-A-A

An attempted translation of this would be:

Jaoo of wisdoaom! Jaoao!

Jaoaa-

oaa! Loaord!

Rows 25 and 26

On the southern side of stone D of the monument we then find rows 25 and 26 of the runic inscription (runes 198 - 210).

The following video seeks to demonstrate how the runes on the southern side of the stone are to be understood.

Transliterated rows 25 - 26 of the inscription can be written as:

o-A-o-A-o-A-A-A

o-r-A-o-A

An attempted translation of this would be:

Oaoaoaaa!!!

The LIGHT!!!