The New Testament in Penan, Eastern (PEZBSM)

Overview

The New Testament in Eastern Penan was published in 2011 by the Bible Society of Malaysia. The Penan are among the last nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples of Borneo, inhabiting the rainforests of Sarawak and Brunei, though only approximately 200 individuals still maintain a fully nomadic lifestyle. [1] Christianity was introduced to the Penan primarily through the Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM), founded in 1928 by three Australian missionaries, which established a Bible school in Lawas in 1948 and made translating the Bible into Borneo languages a priority. [2] The Penan gained international attention from the 1980s onward for their resistance to commercial logging operations in the Baram, Limbang, Tutoh, and Lawas regions of Sarawak, including road blockades against timber companies. [1] The Penan practice of "molong" -- never taking more than necessary from the forest -- reflects a deep cultural relationship with their environment. [3]

Language and People

Eastern Penan (ISO 639-3: pez) is spoken by approximately 6,400 people in Brunei and Malaysia - Sarawak. [Glottolog: east2485]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Bible Society of Malaysia.

References

  • [1] Penan people - Wikipedia. Overview of Penan history, nomadic lifestyle, and forest activism in Sarawak.
  • [2] Borneo Evangelical Mission - Wikipedia. History of BEM founding, Bible translation work, and outreach to indigenous peoples of Sarawak.
  • [3] Penan (archived) - Survival International. Cultural practices and current situation of the Penan people.
  • NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
  • Audio Bible - Audio Bible, Faith Comes By Hearing
  • NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
  • bible.com - YouVersion.
  • ebible.org entry - ebible.org.