The history of translating the Bible into English is a journey marked by immense risk, perseverance, and sacrifice. From St Bede’s deathbed dictations to William Tyndale’s martyrdom, key figures fought to make Scripture accessible to ordinary people. Today, while over 900 English translations exist, thousands of global language groups are still waiting for a single verse in their native tongue.

Global translation statistics are always changing, but it is estimated that throughout the world 776 languages have the full Bible (6.2 billion people), while 1,798 have the New Testament (887 million people), and a further 1,433 languages have portions of the Bible (508 million) 1 . These seem like encouraging figures, but they pale when you consider that this means that 1 in 5 people are still waiting for a Bible in their heart language.

But why is ‘Selah’, which appears 74 times in the Hebrew Bible, never translated? Well, the short answer is, no one actually knows what it means! Even the ancient translators of the Septuagint (translated around 130 BC) were stumped, translating it, rather unhelpfully, as ‘apart from psalm.’ 

You want to know which Bible to read; which is the most accurate? Which translation is closest to Jesus’ actual words; which one hasn’t lost the real meaning over time? Currently, there are over sixty English Bible translations to choose from, which doesn’t make the decision any easier.

Our translators are doing God’s work, and their time is valuable. By using AiBT to reduce first-draft labor by 22%, we empower them to focus less on mechanics and more on refining meaning, engaging communities, and ensuring faithful Scripture.

Remember Tyndale’s illegal New Testaments that were smuggled in from Germany, hidden inside Monmouth’s bolts of luxurious cloth? In sixteenth-century England, this was the only way to get Scripture into the hands of the working classes, despite both men facing the death penalty for their actions. It reads like fiction, but people are going to the same lengths today to get God’s Word into hostile countries around the world. The difference is that nowadays the entire Bible fits on something smaller than a fingernail. 

The risk, however, can be identical.