Whatshot
For the first time in history! The entire New Testament is available in South African Sign Language
For the first time in history! The entire New Testament is available in South African Sign Language
After five years of translation work, in March 2023, Jehovah's Witnesses in South Africa released the New Testament, or the Christian Greek Scriptures, in South African Sign Language. This is a breakthrough moment for nearly 450,000 people using this language!
For many years in South Africa, deaf people did not have access to a reliable translation of even a single chapter of the Bible, and thus could not benefit from learning the Bible. This changed in 2018, when the first publication of the first Bible book in South African Sign Language - The Gospel According to Matthew, was released.
Within five years, from 2017, when the translation work began, the team of translators translated into South African Sign language all 27 books commonly known as the New Testament, including the Gospels: According to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of the apostles: Paul, Peter and John, and the Book of Revelation." One of the translators said:
"With this translation the power and truthfulness of God?s word is felt even more now. This molds my thinking and personality, because Jesus? personality and Bible principles are presented with clarity."
The New Testament in South African Sign Language has been published in electronic form and is available free of charge on https://www.jw.org/sfs/