Bible translations into the languages of Indonesia and Malaysia

Malaysian and Indonesian Bible translations have a lot of common history up until the modern era. Apart from the shared Malay language which historically was the lingua franca of the Malay archipelago and forms the basis for the national languages of Indonesia and Malaysia today, portions of the Bible have been translated into a variety of indigenous languages in the region.

Ruyl 1629
Ruyl 1629 Cover Facsimile Reproduction
Inside 1629 Matthew Translation

The translation of the Bible into the Malay language was one of the first extant translations of the Bible in an East Asian language.[1]

Albert Cornelius Ruyl, a Protestant first translated the Gospel of Matthew in 1612 into the Malay. This was followed by the translation of the Gospel of Mark in 1638. The full Canonical Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles was revised and published in 1651 by Justus Heurnius, the chaplain of Batavia.[2] The main early Translators of the Bible into the Malay language were Melchior Leydekker, H. C. Klinkert, and W.G. Shellabear. Leydekker was appointed to the ministry of the Dutch churches at Batavia in 1678.[3]

The 3 volume Leydekker translation in the Jawi script was published by J. Willmet in 1824.[4]

Today, there are more than 112 indigenous languages in use in Malaysia, while indigenous Indonesian languages consist of more than 701 languages.[5]

Malaysian languages

Malay (1612)
Main article: Bible translations into Malay

After Malaya became independent in 1957, a radical transformation occurred in the use of Malay in Christian literature. The original thrust had been two-fold, to work amongst the Peranakan Chinese and the Malays. The former had no longer become dependent on Baba Malay literature as the younger generation started becoming more conversant in English while legal and social considerations had essentially halted evangelistic work amongst the Malays, especially in Malaya (and to a lesser extant in Singapore).[6]

The emphasis shifted from providing literature in the Malay language to one that would provide literature in the Malaysian language, a standardised form of Malay in Malaysia, for future generations who would be educated in the language. The Malay Language Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society auxiliary in Singapore, the Bible Society of Malaya was phased out in the 1960s and was replaced by the National Language Committee.[6] The Bible Society of Malaya was re-constituted as the independent Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei (BSSMB) in 1969[7] and continued the work of the originating Bible society.

The first translation in Bahasa Malaysia was published in 1987 by the Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei as the Alkitab Berita Baik (transl. Good News Bible). This was followed by a revision in 1996 by the Bible Society of Malaysia.[8]

A formal equivalence translation of the Bible was published in 2015 and is known as the Alkitab Versi Borneo (transl. Borneo Version Bible). This is the first formal translation of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia since Malaya became independent.[9]

Translation John 3:16
Alkitab Berita Baik (1996) Allah sangat mengasihi orang di dunia ini sehingga Dia memberikan Anak-Nya yang tunggal, supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepada Anak itu tidak binasa tetapi beroleh hidup sejati dan kekal
Alkitab Versi Borneo (2015) Allah begitu mengasihi dunia sehingga menganugerahkan Anak-Nya yang tunggal supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepada-Nya tidak binasa melainkan mendapat hidup kekal

Iban (1864)

Portions of the Bible in the Iban language (Ethnologue: iba) spoken by the Iban people (also known as the Sea Dayak) of Sarawak was first translated in the 19th century. In 1864, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark was published by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. In 1933, the full New Testament was published by the British and Foreign Bible Society.[10]

A new translation of the whole Bible in Iban known as the Bup Kudus was initiated in 1988[11] and published in 2001 by the Bible Society of Malaysia. This was revised and published as the Bup Kudus Baru (transl. New Holy Scriptures) in 2011.[12]

Translation John 3:16
Bup Kudus Baru (2011) Laban Allah Taala balat rinduka dunya, nya alai Iya meri Anak Tunggal Iya, ngambika genap iku orang ke arapka Iya enda mati tang bulih pengidup ti meruan belama iya

Bau Bidayuh (2020)
Bau Bidayuh New Testament

The New Testament in the Bau Bidayuh language (Ethnologue: sne) spoken by the Bidayuh people (also known as the Land Dayak) of Sarawak was published by the Bible Society of Malaysia in 2020. The New Testament is known as Kitab Janyji-Sipokat De Bauh. The print and audio format of the New Testament was dedicated and launched on February 23, 2020 in Bau, Sarawak.

Translation John 3:16
Bau Bidayuh (2020) Sobap Topa' tok-tok rindu' dunya sape Eh serah Onak Tombo' Eh, sa' suo' nya'a de bisaya' daang Yoh idoh di'-eh rie' tibuang, pak eh rie' dapod idip de adu-adu.
Biatah Bidayuh Bible

Biatah Bidayuh (1887)

Portions of the Bible in the Biatah language (Ethnologue: bth) spoken by the Bidayuh people (also known as the Land Dayak of Sarawak was first translated and published in 1887 by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. A complete New Testament was published by the Bible Society of Malaysia in 1963.[10]

A complete revision of the New Testament called the Simanya Bauh was published by the Bible Society of Malaysia in 2003.[12] A complete Bible was published in 2014 by the Bible Society of Malaysia and is known as Buk Kudus.

Translation John 3:16
Simanya Bauh (2003) Tapa ruai rindu ong ndŭg ka mbŭh nggen Anak tambŭ-I, isa barang naan adi sabah di Ayŭh dŭh re kabŭs pak dapŭd udip adi sawŭ adi tan adu adu

Baba Malay (1913)
Baba Malay New Testament (2007)

A New Testament in Baba Malay (Ethnologue: mbf) used by the Straits Chinese was translated and published in 1913 by W. G. Shellabear.[13][14] The Bible Society of Singapore did a reprint of the Baba Malay New Testament in 2007 as there were no longer any copies of the original printing available for native speakers of the language to use.

Translation John 3:16
Perjanjian Baharu Melayu Baba (1913) Kerna bgitu-lah Allah sudah kaseh ini dunia, sampai dia kasi Anak-nya yang tunggal spaya masing-masing orang yang perchaya sama dia jangan binasa, ttapi dapat hidop yang kkal
Volume 3: Portions of the New Testament in Semai language (2019)

Semai (1935)

Earlier referred to as the Sengoi language, portions of the Bible was translated as early as 1935[13] and published in 1951. The book of Luke was revised and published as a diglot with the Semai language (Ethnologue: sea) and Bahasa Malaysia text shown side-by-side in 2012 by the Bible Society of Malaysia. Work remains ongoing for the translation of the whole Bible into the Semai language.[15] Three volumes were released in 2019: Volume 1: Genesis, Ruth, and Jonah; Volume 2: The four Gospels and Acts; Volume 3: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.

Translation John 3:16
Semai Translation (2019) Jenang ihat Kihok ha manusia lei Kiog IKenon de nek nanek, dea jap mai de pecaya nu IKenon ajeh doh pek naidat tapi naikep sinui de lei ditehjeh.

Kayan, Baram (1990)
Kayan Bible (1990)

A translation of the Bible into Kayan, Baram language (Ethnologue: kys) spoken by the Kayan people of Sarawak has been available since 1990 and was first published by the Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Work is on-going for a revision of the Bible in the Kayan language.

Translation John 3:16
Kayan, Baram Translation (1990) Avin Allah kelalau nyalam kelunan té’ usun tana anih, iha’ nah Iha’ ma’uk Anak ji Na’ atih, ja hi-hi aleng nginah té’ Iha’, nusi’ daha’ tasa’, bi daha’ ala urip pa’en aleng sayu.

Kenyah (1971)
Kenyah New Testament (1971)

A translation of the New Testament in Mainstream Kenyah (Ethnologue: xkl) spoken by the Kenyah people of Sarawak and East Kalimantan have been available since 1971 and was first published by the Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.[16] Work has been ongoing since 2002 for a translation of the whole Bible by the Kenyah Translation Committee with technical support and assistance in linguistics, translation and software from the Summer Institute of Linguistics.[17]

Translation John 3:16
Kenyah New Testament (1971) Bioʹ puyan Allah malaʹ neng ilu kelunan kusun tanaʹ ini, ina ukoʹ o mencai Anak ke iaʹ bang ca ina le milu, apan mung kelunan diaʹ ngelan neng ia abeʹ un tai matai penco, un sepuʹo ida ke alaʹ udip saheʹ kelineʹ iaʹ ngeriman

Penan (1974)
Penan New Testament

Translations of portions of the Bible in the Penan language (Ethnologue: pez) spoken by the Penan people have been available since 1974.[18] A complete New Testament in Penan was completed and published in 2011 and is known as the Rengah Jian.[12]

Translation John 3:16
Rengah Jian (2011) Uban ja'au penika Allah ngan kekat kelunan tong tana' iteu', inah Iah mena' Anak Néh éh jah de' ke' inah, dokoo' séé'-séé' éh ngelan tong Anak Néh, bé' éh matai bang néh omok alaa' urip pelinguh


Dusun Kadazan Bible (2007)

Kadazandusun (1975)

While translations of portions of the Bible in the Dusunic languages have existed since 1975, work to translate a new translation of the Bible in the standard Kadazandusun language spoken by the Kadazan people of Sabah was initiated in 2001. Known as the Buuk Do Kinorohingan, it was published in 2007 by the Bible Society of Malaysia.[12][19]

Translation John 3:16
Buuk Do Kinorohingan (2007) Tu' nosianan no kopio o Kinorohingan do tulun do hiti'd pomogunan, gisom do pinatahak dau i Tanak dau dit iso-iso', om pointikid-tikid do tulun di monongkuyaan dau om amu' no apatai, suwai ko' kaanu do koposion dit otopot kopio om i poingompus
Labuk Kinabatangan New Testament (1995)

Labuk Kinabatangan (1995)

The New Testatment in the Labuk Kinabatangan language (Ethnologue: dtb) is known as the Buuk do Pongojonjian di Kavavagu was published by the International Bible Society in 1995.

Translation John 3:16
Buuk do Pongojonjian di Kavavagu

(1996 Edition)

 Do au marong kojuu i Kinoringan di tongotulun siti vonuvo gosob do pinataak Oku Disido do apatai, do Iokuno i TanakJo tunggal, supaya isai-isai nopo aparsaya Dogo om kaanu do kovijaan diri auso koovion om aui obinasa i tatodjo.

Lun Dayeh / Lun Bawang (1982)
Lundayeh / Lun Bawang Bible (1982/1998)

The Bible in the Lun Dayeh language (Ethnologue: lnd) known as the Bala Luk Do' was first translated and published in 1982 by the Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. It was the first whole book published in the language of the Lun Bawang people who reside in the interior border region between Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan. A revision of the Bala Luk Do' was completed and published in 1998.[12]

Translation John 3:16
Bala Luk Do' (1982) Ngaceku Allah mawa kuan uang tana’ ini, pad Ieh nemaré Anak bulengNeh, idi idé’-idé luk manu Neneh na miak maté, iamo’ ieh ngalap ulun luk meruked

Murut Timugon (1998)
Timugon Murut Bible (2013)

The New Testament in Murut Timugon (Ethnologue: tih) spoken by the Murut people of Sabah was published in 1998 by the Bible Society of Malaysia. It is called the Nabantuan Bagu.[12] The full Bible known as the Tanou Moonsoi Timugon was published in 2013 also by the Bible Society of Malaysia in both a Catholic and Protestant version.[20]

Translation John 3:16
Tanou Moonsoi Timugon (2013) Sabap ra maayo kaga' guang ri Aki Kapuuno' ra ulun ru tana' ti, saboi nanaak Io ra Anak Langkuir Nano, maa' raginio moonong ulun ondo' mangintopot Riso kalo mapuso, kaa' mokoowot ra kaayagan mantilayun

Tahol / Tagal Murut (2003)
Tahol / Tagal Murut New Testament

The Bible in the language of the Murut people (Ethnologue: mvv) of southwestern Sabah and northeastern Sarawak known as the Rahu Nu Tuhan Aho Onsoi was published in 2003 by the Bible Society of Malaysia.[12]

Translation John 3:16
Rahu Nu Tuhan Aho Onsoi (2003) Nga maayo hua bonsoi asi' nu Ala ra ulun nu tana' hitu suku' io nanaak ra Anak no saumi hili aun-aun ulun angintopot rio ikaa aukuman io ya akaundut ra bayah otopot am ampus-ampus

Tombonuo (2002)
Tombonuo New Testament (2002)

The Bible in the Tombonuo language (Ethnologue: txa) of northern Sabah known as the Tinongaran Nu Kinoringan was published in 2002 by the Bible Society of Malaysia.

Translation John 3:16
Tombonuo Translation (2002) Pagka osamod sobana Kinoringan nu lobuw so wonuo tu, sinuu' Aku Niyo, ido yo Anak Niyo mian so wonuo tu, su' isai yo po poimaid so Aku, dai oinsaadan nu Kinoringan, sondiang ko taakan nu kowiawan musingkolaid.

Indonesian languages

Indonesian
Main article: Bible translations into Indonesian
Ruyl 1638

Since Indonesia gained its independence, there have been at least ten Bible translations made, due to the rapid changes in the Indonesian language; every few years each translation's language becomes outdated. The most widespread translation used by Indonesian speakers right now is the Terjemahan Baru, or "New Translation" (1974), published by LAI ("Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia," or Indonesian Bible Society).

List of modern (1945 onward) translations:

  • Alkitab Terjemahan Lama (1958): called the Old Translation after the New Translation (1974) came out. Before that it was the only translation in the Indonesian language. However, it was not an original translation; rather, it was a combined translation from Klinkert's Old Testament (1879), in Malay language, and Bode's New Testament (1938) also in Malay language, which was called "an emergency publication"[21]
  • Alkitab Bouma/Ende (1968): first Catholic translation in Indonesian language by P.Y. Bouma, printed in Ende, Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur
  • Alkitab Terjemahan Baru (1974): first fresh Protestant translation in Indonesian language by Indonesian Bible Society's team of translators, printed in Jakarta
  • Alkitab Kabar Baik (BIS) (1985): first dynamic translation in Indonesian language (since Terjemahan Baru was translated in formal Indonesian) by IBS, based on Today's English Version
  • Firman Allah Yang Hidup (1989) by Yayasan Kalam Hidup: printed in Bandung, this translation is based on The Living Bible, and paraphrased by a team led by Dr. Ganda Wargasetia
  • Kitab Suci Terjemahan Dunia Baru (Edisi 1999) - Based on English edition of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures released in 1984, produced by Jehovah's Witnesses.[22]
  • Kitab Suci Injil (2000): a revision of 1912 Malay New Testament by Shellabear, printed side-by-side with its Greek text
  • Kitab Suci Komunitas Kristiani (2002) by Yayasan OBOR: a new Catholic translation, printed in Jakarta
  • Alkitab Versi Mudah Dibaca (2005) by World Bible Translation Center: a new translation based on the Easy to Read Version
  • Indonesian Literal Translation (2008) by Yayasan Lentera Bangsa: a new translation aimed primarily at the wording of "Yahweh" instead of "Allah" (used in every other Indonesian Bible)
  • Wasiat Baru - King James Indonesia (2011): a new translation based on the King James Version and other English versions such as the New International Version
  • Kitab Suci Terjemahan Dunia Baru (Edisi 2017)[23] - This Bible is based from the English 2013 revision of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, replacing the previous Indonesian edition released in 1999, produced by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Javanese

Gottlob Brückner (1783–1857) translated the Bible into Javanese language, the largest local language of Indonesia, in 1820.[24]

  • Brückner Bible: printed 1829 in Serampore
  • Gericke Bible: 1848
  • Janz Bible: 1893
  • Indonesian Bible Society: 1994 (OT and NT in Today Java's Version) and 2006 (NT in Javanese Formal Translation)
  • Kitab-Kitab Yunani Kristen Terjemahan Donya Anyar (New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures): 2018,[25] produced by Jehovah's Witnesses.

Dayak Ngaju

J.F. Becker and A. Hardeland translated the Bible into Dayak Ngaju language of southern Kalimantan (1846 NT, 1858 OT)

Sundanese

J. Esser translated the Matthew into Sundanese language of western Java (1854). Then G.J. Grashuis translated Luke in 1886. In 1877, the whole New Testament was finished by Sierk Coolsma, and followed by the whole Bible in 1891. Coolsma also published some books of the NT in Arabic script (Jawi script) in 1871.

Bugis/Makassar

B.F. Matthes (1818–1908) translated the Bible into Bugis language of southern Sulawesi (1863 Matthew, 1888 NT, 1901 OT) and Makassar language (1864 Matthew, 1888 OT, 1900 NT).

Batak Toba

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen (1834 - 1918), of the Rhenish Mission Society, translated the Bible into Batak Toba of northern Sumatra (1878 in Batak script and 1885 in Latin script)

Jehovah's Witnesses also translate their Bible in Batak Toba. It is called Bibel Hata ni Debata tu Angka Jolma na Naeng Mangolu di Tano na Imbaru (Mateus-Pangungkapon), which based from the Christian Greek Scriptures of the English revision of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures released in 2013.[26]

Sangir

E.T. Steller (1834–1897) translated the Bible into Siau language (1883 NT) and Sangir language of northern Sulawesi (1942 NT).

References
  1. Hunt, Robert (June 1989). "The History of the Translation of the Bible into Malay" (PDF). Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 52 (1): 35–56. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  2. "Sejarah Penerjemahan Alkitab dalam Bahasa Melayu/Indonesia" [The History of Bible Translations in Malay/Indonesian Language]. sabda.org (in Indonesian).
  3. Report of the British and foreign Bible society:11-13 p50
  4. Catalogus van boeken en plaatwerken meerendeels nagelaten door wijlen de WelEerw. Heeren S. G. Jorissen, ... en W. N. Stort, ... Waarvan de verkooping zal plaats hebben op Maandag 11 December 1865 ...
  5. Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D. (2019). Ethnologue: Languages of Asia. Twenty-first edition. Dallas, TX, USA: SIL Internationa. ISBN 978-1-55671-418-4.
  6. Reports of the Malay Language Committee and the National Language Committee (Report). Malaya Annual Conference Journal. 1955–1973.
  7. "Bible Society of Singapore - Our Story". Bible Society of Singapore. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  8. Alkitab Berita Baik. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Bible Society of Malaysia. 2001. p. Preface. ISBN 983-030-013-7.
  9. "Tentang LAB" [About LAB]. Alkitab Versi Borneo (in Malay). LAB Network. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  10. North, Eric M. (1983). The Book of a Thousand Tongues. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale / Cengage Publishing.
  11. "Bup Kudus". YouVersion. Life Church. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  12. "Local Language Bibles". Bible Society of Malaysia. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  13. Kilgour, R (1939). The Bible Throughout The World: A Survey of Scripture Translations. New York City, NY, USA: World Dominion Press.
  14. Soesilo, Daud (2001). Mengenal Alkitab Anda [Knowing Your Bible] (in Indonesian). Jakarta, Indonesia: Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia. ISBN 978-979-463-372-4.
  15. Hassan, Bahalu (1 March 2006). "God's Three Calls Upon Me". Pelita Methodist. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: The Methodist Church in Malaysia. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  16. "Kenyah New Testament". Find A Bible. Digital Bible Society. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  17. "Kenyah Scripture Translation Project". Given Gain Foundation. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  18. "Rengah Jian". YouVersion. Life Church. Retrieved 30 April 2019.https://www.bible.com/versions/134-rj-rengah-jian
  19. "Buuk Do Kinorohingan". YouVersion. Life Church. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  20. "Tanou Moonsoi Timugon (TMT)". YouVersion. Life Church. Retrieved 30 April 2019.>
  21. "Sejarah Alkitab Indonesia: Versi Terjemahan Lama". sabda.org (in Indonesian).
  22. "Tonggak Sejarah Rohani!". wol.jw.org. 1999-10-15. pp. 28–32.
  23. "Terjemahan Dunia Baru (Revisi 2017) | Diterbitkan oleh Saksi-Saksi Yehuwa". JW.ORG (in Indonesian). 2017.
  24. Timeline of BIble translation in local languages of Indonesia
  25. "Kitab-Kitab Yunani Kristen Terjemahan Donya Anyar". JW.ORG. 2018.
  26. "Bibel Online—Jaha manang Unduh ma ndang manggararar: MP3, AAC, PDF, EPUB, Soara". JW.ORG.
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