First Zim sign language Bible book out

Herald Reporter

Jehovah’s Witnesses have released the bible book of Matthew in Zimbabwe Sign Language, in a development expected to take the gospel to people that were previously excluded.

The book was released on January 24 in Harare, in what is seen as an epoch marking day in the deaf and hard of hearing community in Zimbabwe.

Mr John Hunguka, a branch committee member, said on the whole, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have embarked on the Bible translation project of the last 27 books of the Bible, beginning with the book of Matthew.

“This work will take about two years. Our goal is to have the entire Bible translated into Zimbabwe Sign Language from Genesis through to Revelation.

“This entire project will take us about ten years to complete,” said Mr Hunguruka.

There are over 50 000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe National Association of the Deaf (ZIMNAD) says there are 1,5 million deaf people in Zimbabwe, who deserve a Bible in their language, in the absence of an interpreter.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to make the Bible available in the language of the heart to the deaf community in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Hunguruka.

Brother Taurai Mazarura, a member of the branch committee added that in many Bibles, translators removed the name Jehovah from Matthew to Revelation.

But in this version of the book of Matthew, the name Jehovah is retained.

“This glorifies Jehovah, the author of the Bible.

“For example, most translations render Matthew 22:44 as saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord’. Our new translation renders this verse as follows: ‘Jehovah said to my Lord’.

“Not only is this clearer, but it also helps us to understand the distinction the Scriptures make between Jehovah God and his Son. This is vital to our salvation,” said Mr Hunguka.

He said one of the challenges they face is the regional differences in the signs used by deaf people in Zimbabwe.

Different schools in different regions teach different dialects, some even teaching foreign sign languages.

“Our translators, therefore, had to make sure that the signs used are understood by the majority of the deaf community in all regions and their translation is meaning based.

“Secondly, translators must understand the source language and the target language well.

“The deaf people who have sign language as their first language do not understand the source language which is English,” said Mr Hunguka.