Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the translation of the Bible into languages that currently lack a written version of God’s Word. A team of specialists in California, led by Ulf Hermjakob and Joel Mathew from the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI), is utilizing AI to enhance the efficiency of Bible translation and make it accessible to linguistic communities worldwide.
Collaborating with Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Greek Room project team recognizes the lengthy and challenging process of Bible translation, which can span over a decade. Out of the 7,100 languages spoken globally, only about 700 have a complete Bible, leaving over 6,000 languages without a comprehensive version.
The Greek Room project specifically focuses on low-resource languages often overlooked by major translation initiatives. While popular translation platforms like Google Translate cover approximately 133 languages, the project targets those falling outside the top 500. The aim is to bring the Bible to communities speaking these languages, where access to God’s Word is limited.
Joel Mathew is driven by a passion to see the Bible translated into all languages, and he believes that software technology, particularly AI, can expedite the translation process. The goal is to leverage technology to support and improve translation efforts, thus bridging the gap and making the Bible accessible to different linguistic communities around the world.
However, certain translation aspects require human intervention due to their subjective nature. Cultural nuances and context play a significant role in conveying the meaning of passages accurately. For example, the phrase Behold, I stand at the door and knock poses a challenge when translating into a language or culture that does not have the concept of a door. In such cases, the team working on the Greek Room project aims to adapt translations to local cultures and create meaningful interpretations for the intended audience. By providing a platform for in-depth discussions and analysis of challenging language values, the project ensures that translations resonate with local cultures and enable accurate comprehension of biblical texts.
The Greek Room project, in collaboration with Wycliffe, utilizes a word-aligner tool to compare translated Scripture with the original language source. This tool helps identify inconsistencies and offers suggestions for improved clarity, thereby enhancing people’s understanding of the Bible’s message.
Looking ahead, Ulf Hermjakob and Joel Mathew envision making the Greek Room an open-source platform accessible to translators worldwide. By sharing their data and code, they aim to empower translators with advanced tools and foster collaboration in the pursuit of accurate Bible translations.
Observers within the Christian ministry community recognize the transformative potential of AI in language-related ministry work. While human missionaries are irreplaceable, AI opens up new opportunities to overcome language barriers effectively. The ability to interact with various cultures and languages will bring significant shifts in church planting, discipleship, and other ministry activities.
With technology as a valuable ally, the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) becomes more attainable as the Good News reaches people in their heart languages, thanks to the efforts of projects like the Greek Room.
The impact of AI on Bible translation and cross-cultural ministry is expected to be substantial, paving the way for innovative approaches and global collaboration. AI is not intended to replace human translators but rather to enhance and expedite their work, bridging the gap and making the Bible accessible to those who have lacked a comprehensive version in their own language.
Through the use of AI, the Greek Room project hopes to bring the message of the Bible to the other 90% of languages worldwide that currently lack a written version of God’s Word. This groundbreaking endeavor has the potential to transform how Bible translations are undertaken and to bring the Word of God to new linguistic communities, expanding the reach of the Good News.
