Translators receive Bibles from Bible Society of Kenya’s General Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth Muriuki

Bible Society of Kenya launched the Revised Ekegusii Bible on 8th October 2021 at Kisii School in Kisii County.

The Bible is written in the Ekegusii language and is specially dedicated to the Gusii language speakers who reside in Kisii and Nyamira Counties in Kenya.

Bible translation work was pioneered among the Abagusii by the Seventh-Day Adventist Mission. From the early 1920s, E.A. Beavon and Ruth Rait (both SDAM missionaries) with the assistance of Mr. Paul Nyamweya managed to have the Gospel of Matthew published in 1929 by British and Foreign Bible Societies (BFBS). Another SDAM missionary Mr. G.A. Lewis, also helped by Mr. Paulo Nyamweya and a local committee, went ahead and managed to translate the entire New Testament. The Gospel of John was published by BFBS in 1945 and the New Testament in 1948.

The present Ekegusii Bible is the product of the cooperation of many of the churches active in the Gusii area – including the Swedish Lutheran, Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Church of God, and SDA. Translation of this Bible began in 1957 and launched in 1988.

Work on the Revised Bible began in November 2012 and it has two editions: the catholic edition and the protestant version.

Bible reading time

The translation of the Bible was done in partnership with the Church in Kisii and Nyamira Counties who were vastly involved in the translation process. The reviewers and Management committee team were drawn from the Church in the Gusii community.

This marks another great achievement for the Bible Society of Kenya and a further fulfillment of the Society’s mission – to innovatively translate, publish, and advocate for the widest use of the Holy Scriptures.

This will be the third Bible to be revised by the Bible Society of Kenya after the Kalenjin and Maasai Bibles and the 22nd Bible to be launched by the Society.

The features in this Bible include;

1. A full-fledged concordance of Ekegusii words as used in the bible.
2. An expanded glossary.
3. A chronological table.
4. A table of parables and miracles of Jesus.
5. Highlighted messages that can be used for special Christian occasions (e.g. weddings, baptism) and areas of the bible Christians can find practical help in time of need.
6. A Jewish calendar and festivals compared to the Ekegusii ones.
7. More illustrations and footnotes than found in the 1st
8. Maps
9. An additional contents table is arranged in alphabetical order.

I was involved in Revising the Ekegusii Bible. I am thankful to God that the process went on well and we have a Bible that my community can utilize for personal study and evangelism. Bible translation work is vast and involves people from different religions. We worked together as a team to ensure that this word will unite us as a community even as we serve in the Lord’s vineyard. Pst. Boaz Nyariki

The Keynote Speaker of the day Dr. Zabron Ayiera read from Isaiah 46:9-10 emphasized that the Bible is the word of God hence should be revered. He added that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness hence our role is to follow the teachings therein and to trust God to accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the generations to come.

We thank God and all our partners for enabling us to bring the word to people in different languages.