Sabaot New Testament (SPYWBT)

Overview

The Sabaot New Testament, titled Biibilya Nyee Tiliil, is a translation into the Sabaot language, a Kalenjin language spoken by approximately 240,000 people on the slopes of Mount Elgon in Bungoma County, Kenya [1][2]. The translation project was initiated in 1981 by Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL), a Kenyan Christian organization established that same year as an affiliate of Wycliffe Bible Translators International [1][3]. Danish linguists Iver and Alice Larsen, who joined SIL in 1977, moved to Mount Elgon in 1979 and developed the Sabaot orthography in 1982, laying the foundation for literacy programs and Scripture translation [4][5]. The New Testament was completed and published on 14 December 1997 at Kapsokwony, Mt. Elgon [1]. Subsequently, Old Testament translation continued, and on 10 June 2012 the complete Sabaot Bible was dedicated at Kapsakwony, making it the first BTL project to produce a complete Bible [1][2].

Language and People

Sabaot (ISO 639-3: spy) is spoken by approximately 296,000 people in Kenya. [Glottolog: saba1262]

Publishing and Organizations

Created by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Translation type: First.

References