Our mission is to help people engage with God’s Word. And today, thanks to the generosity of our partners, we’re pleased to announce that language number 1,000 comes to us in a Bible. Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 is written in Sukuma, the primary language of 7.6 million people in Tanzania, Africa. As incredible as it is to be announcing this milestone, Sukuma is just one of the 81 new languages and 83 new Bible versions that our partners introduced to the Bible App during the last three months alone. (The full list appears below.)
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We hope that you enjoy the freedom of experiencing God’s Word in your favorite language. If the Bible has impacted your life as profoundly as it has ours, it’s important that you know:
More than a billion people still don’t have a Bible in their language.1
Bible societies, Bible publishers, and copyright holders have worked together to generate a detailed list of which languages do not have their own Bible. Of almost 7,000 languages in the world,2 nearly 2,000 still need translation projects started.3 That sounds like a lot — and it is. But by leveraging today’s technology and communication, it’s within our reach to see the Bible translated into every language…within this generation. And even if you don’t know how to translate, there’s a place for you within this vision:
What if you could help a family like this one get a Bible… just by clicking a button?
You Can
It was for families just like this one that the Bible Society of Tanzania developed the Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015, the Bible that brought Sukuma to the Bible App.5 Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa6 — and to almost 55 million people.7 The Bible is living and active8 among Tanzania’s largest people group,9 the 7.6 million Sukuma: 3.2 million of them are professing Christians.10 And now that they can use Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 in the Bible App, they can engage with God’s Word wherever they go, and even more easily share it with others.
Why now?
In 2011, more than half of all Tanzanians (32 million) had a mobile device, with mobile services there rapidly on the rise.11 Just as in other parts of the world, affordable smartphones have introduced many Tanzanians to their first computing devices — and to their first internet access.12 In developing countries, smartphones not only connect people with more news and information, but even with education, healthcare, and financial services.13 And with more than half of Tanzania’s population (64%) under age 25,14 it’s more important than ever that we equip this generation with God’s Word right wherever they are — through their mobile devices.
Don’t miss this chance to join in what God is doing in the world.
Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 is just one of over 1,300 Bibles — and Sukuma just one of 1,000 languages — that now help people engage with God’s Word in their own language in the Bible App. We do what we do because the Bible changed our lives. We hope it’s changed your life, too.
Our partners are working to ensure that every person on Earth will have that same opportunity: to experience God’s Word in their own language. What will happen when that vision is fulfilled? Let’s find out! Get involved. Just tap on any of these Bible partners to see how you can become a part of this incredible mission:
American Bible Society
Wycliffe
United Bible Societies
Biblica
Bible Society of India
Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Institute for Bible Translation
Bible Society of Uganda
Bible Society of Tanzania
Bible Society of Cameroon
Paraguayan Bible Society
Canadian Bible Society
Bible Society in Liberia
Pioneer Bible Translators
Aramaic Bible Translation
Bangladesh Bible Society
Bible Society of Burkina Faso
Bible Society in the Central African Republic
Bible Society of Côte d’Ivoire
Bible Society of Malawi
eBible.org
Vietnam Partnership
Newest Versions and Languages
‘Abi’uai Apa’uana Mahamahana
Waima
1962 Ndandi New Testament and Psalms
Nande
Adi Bible (Re-edited)
Adi
Aimol New Testament (Re-edited)
Aimol
Alladian New Testament 2003
Alladian
Amri Karbi New Testament
Amri Karbi
Ang Bag-o Nga Kasugtanan
Kinaray-A
Anut san Bilaluŋ Foun
Takia
Apatani New Testament
Apatani
Baibuli Erikwera 1964
Nyankole
Biete Bible
Biete
Lusoga Bible with Deuterocanon
Soga
Biblia Enxet (Lengua Sur)
Enxet
Chakhesang Chokri New Testament
Chokri Naga
Chechen Bible
Chechen
Chiyawo Bible
Yao
Chothe New Testament
Chothe Naga
Crimean Tatar Bible
Crimean Tatar
Datoga New Testament
Datooga
Dii New Testament
Dii
Ekajuk New Testament
Ekajuk
Enhlit Bible
Lengua
Galo New Testament
Galo
God Ye Weng Karadmo
Yongkom
God’s Holy Book
Baga Sitemu
God’s Holy Book in Sankaran
Sankaran Maninka – Sankaran
Jola-Kasa New Testament
Jola-Kasa
Kagulu New Testament
Kagulu
Kaninuwa Scripture Portions
Kaninuwa
Kapsiki Bible with Deuterocanon
Psikye
Kele (Lokele) New Testament 1958
Kele (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Khakas New Testament
Khakas
Kikwango New Testament 1950
Kituba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Kilega New Testament 1957
Lega-Mwenga
Kogi New Testament
Cogui
Kok Borok Bible (Re-edited)
Kok Borok
Komrem Bible Revised
Kom (India)
Kpelle Bible
Liberia Kpelle
ksp Bible in Kaba
Kaba
Kuku-Yalanji Bible
Kuku-Yalanji
Kumam Bible with Deuterocanon
Kumam
Kumyk New Testament
Kumyk
Le Nouveau Testament en Gbaya
Southwest Gbaya
Loma New Testament
Loma (Liberia)
Luganda Revised Bible
Ganda
Maring C.L. Bible
Maring Naga
Masanbo Bible (Re-edited)
Liangmai Naga
Moore Bible with Deuterocanon
Mossi
Ngombe New Testament 1961
Ngombe (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Nivaclé Bible
Nivaclé
Nogai New Testament
Nogai
Nouveau Testament en Langue Kroumen Plapo (Plaawin) de Côte d’Ivoire
Plapo Krumen
Nouveau Testament en Luba-Kalebwe 1952
Songe
Nyishi Bible
Nyishi
Ojibwe Shorter Bible (Roman Script)
Ojibwe: Saulteaux (Western) – Nakawēmowin
Ojibwe Shorter Bible (Syllabic Script)
Ojibwe: Saulteaux (Western) – Nakawēmowin
Oniyan New Testament and Old Testament portions
Bassari
Pere New Testament
Peere
Pochury Naga Bible
Pochuri Naga
Rade Revised Bible
Rade
Rote Tii New Testament and Genesis
Tii
Santali Common Language New Testament
Santali
Scriptures in Misima-Paneati
Misima-Panaeati
Selections from Genesis in the Hanga language
Hanga
Sukuma Bible 2015
Sukuma
Takuu New Testament
Takuu
Tangkhul Naga C.L. Bible (Re-edited)
Tangkhul Naga (India)
Tangsa Holy Bible
Tase Naga
Tatar Bible
Tatar
The Bible in the Tuvan Language
Tuvan
The Gospel of Luke
Even
The Holy Book of God in the Balochi Language
Southern Balochi – Southern Balochi (Roman)
The Holy Book of God in the Balochi Language
Southern Balochi
The New Testament in Longando
Ngando (Democratic Republic of Congo)
The New Testament in Mongo-Nkundu 1958
Mongo
The New Testament in the Akeu Language
Akeu
The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Psalms in Assyrian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Urat New Testament
Urat
Urim-Kalpm New Testament
Urim
Usan New Testament
Usan
Wantoat New Testament
Wantoat
Waris Bible
Waris
Yupik Bible
Central Yupik
Sources:
“Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
“How many languages are there?” BBC.
“Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
“Sukuma People,” photo by paulshaffner, used under Creative Commons license 2.0. (Mr. Shaffner is not affiliated with YouVersion or with the Bible Society of Tanzania.)
Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015, Bible.com.
“Tanzania: Geography,” Wikipedia.
“Country: Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
Hebrews 4:12.
“Sukuma (People),” Encyclopædia Brittanica.
“Sukuma in Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
“Communications: Telephone system” and “Telephones – mobile cellular,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.
“2.2 Mobile driving innovation across the world,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 25.
“Mobile plays key role in socio-economic development,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 4.
“People and Society: Age structure,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.