De Beebaa Dabu — The Holy Bible in Nukuoro

Overview

The complete Bible in the Nukuoro language was finalized in August 2022 and dedicated to the Nukuoro community on March 25, 2023, at the Nukuoro community center in Kolonia, Pohnpei. 750 printed copies were distributed at the dedication. The project was led by Betty Amon (Wycliffe Canada), whose family connection to the language and community spanned generations — her mother had been involved in earlier translation work beginning in the 1950s. The translation was revised and completed in partnership with Isles of the Sea Bible Translation, with Paulus Kieviet serving as translation consultant from 2011 onward. The Seed Company provided financial support.

At the dedication, Betty Amon presented the Bible to Pastor Johnny Rudolph with the words: "My work is done. It's your Bible now."

Language and People

Nukuoro (ISO 639-3: nkr) is a Polynesian outlier language spoken by approximately 600–860 people on Nukuoro Atoll and around 400 more in the Pohnpei area of the Federated States of Micronesia. Despite its remote location deep in the Caroline Islands, the language has a continuous scripture history: the first portions (Gospel of Mark) were printed in Germany in 1921, the New Testament was published by the Bible Society of Micronesia in 1986, and the full Bible was completed in 2022.

Publishing and Organizations

Translated and published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. in partnership with Isles of the Sea Bible Translation. Financial support provided by The Seed Company. The New Testament (1986) was originally published by the Bible Society of Micronesia.

References