In May 1844 Johann Krapf started translating the Bible from Genesis into Swahili. Only the first three chapters of Genesis were published but most of the orthography in these translations reflected the Kimvita language. These are the only published Swahili scriptures by Krapf.

His Swahili leaned more toward the Arabs than the Africans as his mastery of the language was limited. Krapf’s New Testament in Kimvita was the first to be translated into Swahili. This work was passed on to Bishop Edward Steere who led in the translation of the first Swahili Bible in East Africa.Krapf’s work contributed significantly to the ongoing Swahili research, studies, and development. The complete Swahili New Testament was published in 1879 under the supervision of Bishop Edward Steere.

The New Testament revision was published in 1883 by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Since then, continuous revision of this translation has been underway to provide satisfactory and reliable scriptures to users.

Karl Roehl’s New Testament appeared in 1930, and the Swahili translation had adapted words by the locals rather than Arab words. Together with his team, Roehl published his version of a complete Swahili Bible in 1937.

The second edition of this Bible came out in 1939. It was agreed that the translation of the Bible to a standard Swahili would be shared between German and Swahili scholars. There would then be a committee with competent Africans who would be the point of reference. In 1952 the British and Foreign Bible Society published the Swahili Union Bible Translated by British Anglican Missionaries.

The first copy of the Union Version Swahili Bible was presented to St. Stephen’s Church, Nairobi, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Since its publication, this Bible has become a major book read by Swahili speakers.

The Swahili Union Version (SUV) Bible revision work began in 1999 spearheaded by both the Bible Society of Kenya and Bible Society of Tanzania. The Revised Swahili Union Version (RSUV) was published in 2007 by the two societies. It was released in two editions: a Catholic edition with the Deuterocanonical books and a Protestant edition with the Deuterocanonical books. Biblia Habari Njema was interconfessional from its inception and interdenominational.

The translation of this Bible, sponsored by the Bible Society of Kenya and the Bible Society of Tanzania, sought the participation of all churches at all levels. This is the first major translation where East Africans have taken full responsibility. The translation was initiated in the early 1970s. The launch of this Bible was on March 24, 1996, in both Kenya and Tanzania. Biblia Habari Njema is a meaning-based translation as it places priority on the sense of the original text.

The Swahili Bible is the most widely read book in East and Central Africa. There are around 50 to 100 million Swahili speakers. The Swahili Bible has become a major tool in the Christian ministry which is spreading the good news to all these people.

The Swahili can be ordered from www.shop.biblesociety-kenya.prg or read online on the You version app.