Bemba New Testament

Bemba is one of eight official languages spoken in Zambia but is also found in some parts of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This Bantu language is tonal and occasionally borrows words from English, Afrikaans, and Zulu. It is written in Latin script. There are over four million native Bemba speakers with an additional two million secondary speakers.

In 2017 the Society and the Free Grace Evangelistic Association (FGEA) began working together to prepare a faithful new edition of the Bemba New Testament. The native translators are primarily referring to a Received Text interlinear New Testament and the Authorised (King James) Version and secondarily to older editions of the Bemba Bible.

It is with thankfulness to God that the Bemba Gospel according to John was published in 2021. The printing was made in the UK, and copies first arrived in June 2022 for distribution in Zambia, where they were eagerly received. The translation work of the New Testament continues to progress well and Lord willing, we hope it will be published in 2024.

Do remember the Bemba translation team in your prayers as they labour in Zambia to prepare a faithful edition of God’s Word for Bemba speakers across the nation and beyond. ‘The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times’ (Psalm 12.6).