The Bible App is the first app in history to offer text content in 1,000 languages!

The Bible App: First to 1,000 Languages

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?

“Sukuma People,” photo by paulshaffner, used under Creative Commons license 2.0.

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 American Bible Society
Wycliffe Wycliffe
United Bible Societies United Bible Societies
Biblica Biblica
Bible Society of India Bible Society of India
Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Institute for Bible Translation Institute for Bible Translation
Bible Society of Uganda Bible Society of Uganda
Bible Society of Tanzania Bible Society of Tanzania
Bible Society of Cameroon Bible Society of Cameroon
Paraguayan Bible Society Paraguayan Bible Society
Canadian Bible Society Canadian Bible Society
Bible Society in Liberia Bible Society in Liberia
Pioneer Bible Translators Pioneer Bible Translators
Aramaic Bible Translation Aramaic Bible Translation
Bangladesh Bible Society Bangladesh Bible Society
Bible Society of Burkina Faso Bible Society of Burkina Faso
Bible Society in the Central African Republic Bible Society in the Central African Republic
Bible Society of Côte d’Ivoire Bible Society of Côte d’Ivoire
Bible Society of Malawi Bible Society of Malawi
eBible.org eBible.org
Vietnam Partnership 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 Bilaluŋ 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:

  1. Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
  2. How many languages are there?” BBC.
  3. Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
  4. 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.)
  5. Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015, Bible.com.
  6. Tanzania: Geography,” Wikipedia.
  7. Country: Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
  8. Hebrews 4:12.
  9. Sukuma (People),” Encyclopædia Brittanica.
  10. Sukuma in Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
  11. Communications: Telephone system” and “Telephones – mobile cellular,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.
  12. “2.2 Mobile driving innovation across the world,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 25.
  13. “Mobile plays key role in socio-economic development,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 4.
  14. People and Society: Age structure,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.

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