The Zarma Bible PDF Print E-mail

     The Zarma Bible was printed and dedicated for use among people in West Africa in 1990. Zarma speakers are found predominately in Niger, where it is estimated that more than two million of them live. But the Zarma people spill over into the neighboring countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria as well.
     Missionaries with Evangelical Baptist Mission (EBM) worked with national speakers to arrive at a translation that is both accurate and natural. Early work was begun by missionary Joe McCaba resulting in the first publication of the Zarma New Testament in 1955. In 1988 missionary Heath Bobbett contacted Bibles International, asking for help from BI’s consultants so that the Bible might be translated as accurately as possible. Dr. Henry Osborn and Dr. Bernard Northrup met with EBM missionaries, helping them as they worked through the process of translating accurately, while staying true to the original manuscripts.

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Gordon Katsion helped in reformatting the Zarma
It is now time to reprint the Bible. Again missionaries with EBM contacted BI personnel, asking for help in reformatting the Bible so that another 10,000 copies might be printed. The formatting work has been completed and the Bible is now at the printer. Pray that the Lord will bless this translation of His Word as it goes out to even more Zarma-speakers in West Africa. Pray with us that He will use it to touch the hearts of those He is drawing to Himself. The need is great because in this part of the world very few understand that Jesus is the Son of God, not just another prophet.

     The Word of God has been active in the hearts of Zarma-speaking believers in West Africa. Veteran missionaries tell of God’s work in the hearts of those receiving His Word. Mrs. Norma Bobbett, EBM missionary to Niger, reports the following story.
“The dedication of the Zarma Bible in 1990 had been on Saturday. On Sunday morning one of the translators greeted me, holding his Bible clasped to his heart with both hands, [the African way of showing respect]. His face glowed with a big smile as he spoke. ‘Oh, Madame, I didn’t sleep at all last night. I read God’s Word throughout the night.’”
Even though this man had spent years of his life translating God’s Word, his excitement had not dimmed. Upon having a completed copy of it in his heart language, he had read it throughout the previous night.
     Mrs. Bobbett also tells the story of a lady who had been to the river pounding heavy cloth on the rocks in order to wash her laundry. In the process, she injured her back so seriously that she had to spend several days in bed. When Mrs. Bobbett visited in her home, she was encouraged to hear the Zarma lady say, “Oh, Madame, when I can’t sleep, I read the Psalms. The man who wrote those words, he really knew what we’re going through. God can use his words to comfort us even today.”
     Bibles International personnel look forward to hearing that the 10,000 additional copies are off the press and into the hands and hearts of those who wait to have God’s precious Word in their mother tongue.

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