Bible Translated Into Its 700th Language

According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, bible translating has achieved a new milestone with its being translated into its 700th language.

“This is such exciting news and represents the tremendous work that Bible translators are doing across the world,” stated James Poole, Executive Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators

“Every time we hear of the Bible being translated into another language, we know that means that for the first time the people in that language group can fully access the complete picture of God’s story.”

“It’s good to take a step back and realise what this 700th Bible means: 5.7 billion people who speak 700 languages now have the Bible in the language that speaks to them best.” Poole continued.

“That is a remarkable figure and continues to grow. However, there are still about 1.5 billion people – that’s roughly 1 in 5 – who do not have the Bible in their language. That’s an injustice that Bible translation teams worldwide continue to work to put right.”

It’s still unclear which translation was actually the 700th. This is due to the fact that there have been many bible dedications recently. However, this hardly takes away from the notion that there now is an actual 700th translation!

Like the Huichol (Wixáritari) Bible which was launched in Mexico on 10 July 2020, 52 years after The New Testament translation was completed.

Or the Ellomwe Bible which was launched in Malawi just five years after the Ellomwe New Testament was published. Senior Chief Nazombe, who received a copy of the new Bible on behalf of the Ellomwe community, said: ‘I am grateful to God that I can witness this in my lifetime.’

Regardless of which of these newly dedicated bibles is the actual 700th, it is always great news, worthy of celebration that the bible has been translated into a new language

“It’s amazing that there is so much Bible translation going on that we can’t pinpoint the 700th Bible,” James Poole said.

“We live in exciting times when the vision that all people will be able to read or hear God’s word in their language is becoming a reality.”