Xoiteupo Kuna (SIXEBL)
Overview
This edition contains New Testament portions in the Somau Garia language (also known as Sumau), published in 2024 by Pioneer Bible Translators. The included books are Luke, Acts, Galatians through Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, Philemon, and 1-3 John. Somau Garia is spoken by approximately 4,900 people in the low mountain ranges of southern Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, between the Ramu and Naru rivers [1]. Bible translation work among the Somau Garia people began in 1993 when David and Ann Judd were allocated to Uria village, where they helped organize translation and literacy committees and assisted in devising an alphabet for the previously unwritten language [2]. After the Judds departed in 1995, the community continued translation work independently [2]. In 1997, Todd and Angela Owen of Pioneer Bible Translators moved to Papua New Guinea to continue the translation effort, returning in 2015 after a period away to work toward completing the New Testament [3].
References
- [1] Sumau, Garia in Papua New Guinea - Joshua Project. Population, location, and Bible translation status.
- [2] Pioneer Bible Translators Papua New Guinea (archived) - Christian Standard, 2019. History of the Somau Garia translation project.
- [3] Our Story: There and Back Again (archived) - Owen family mission blog. Details of their return to PNG for translation work.
- Global Bible Catalogue - Global Bible Catalogue entry.
- bible.com - YouVersion.
- ebible.org entry - ebible.org.