The Word of Jehovah, expressed originally in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, has traversed diverse lands and cultures, reaching peoples who spoke languages far removed from those tongues. This widespread movement of the Scriptures stands as a testimony to the guiding hand of divine providence. Psalm 119:105 (UASV) says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This lamp, carried by believers and missionaries, illuminated countless hearts across continents, no matter how distant from Jerusalem, Antioch, or Rome.
From the earliest centuries, it has been understood that the truth must not remain confined within a single language or region. Christ’s command recorded at Matthew 28:19 (UASV) was clear: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” To accomplish this, it was necessary for the Scriptures, Jehovah’s inspired Word, to be available in a language that local peoples could understand. Historical accounts show that believers heeded the call. Their painstaking labors ensured that the gospel would echo in the tongues of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Even remote deserts and arid plains eventually heard the Word, reflecting the principle stated in Isaiah 40:8 (UASV): “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Among the many lands that encountered the Word of Jehovah was Arabia. In antiquity, the term Arabia referred broadly to vast territories lying west of Mesopotamia and east and south of Syria and Judea, extending all the way to the Isthmus of Suez. This immense region encompassed varied landscapes and peoples, stretching into lands that would be called by geographers Arabia Felix, Arabia Petraea, and Arabia Deserta. Each of these subregions reflected distinctive cultural and linguistic identities. Yet, amid the diversity of these areas, the gospel eventually arrived.
Arabic Bible Version
The introduction of Christianity into Arabia is shrouded in scant and inconclusive data. It is not known precisely when, by what means, or by whom the gospel was first brought into these lands. Early hints exist, though they remain fragmentary. Origen, a third-century Christian scholar, was twice summoned to Arabia to address doctrinal disputes involving heretical tendencies among certain leaders, such as Beryllus and Heraclides. His presence and activities in Arabia during the first half of the third century C.E. confirm that Christian thought was engaging with communities there.
Beyond Origen’s visits, other efforts took place. Christian missions likely reached the nomadic tribes, and it appears that Christian influences penetrated southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, possibly from Ethiopia. Although the details are sparse, the steady spread of the faith echoes the apostolic commission. Romans 10:17 (UASV) reminds us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If faith was to grow among Arabic-speaking peoples, the Scriptures, or at least significant portions thereof, needed to be accessible in their language.
Still, the earliest attempts to translate Scripture into Arabic remain lost in obscurity. Church historians and scholars have only tradition and later references to guide them. Various accounts assign the honor of producing the first Arabic translation to different individuals, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. The earliest known Arabic translations of parts of the Bible probably emerged by about the eighth century C.E., though the exact provenance and timing remain uncertain.
By the time that Arabic translations begin to surface in historical records and manuscript evidence, Christianity had long been established in regions where Arabic was spoken. The impulse to translate Scripture into Arabic would have arisen naturally once Arabic became a dominant language of culture and administration following the rise of Islamic rule. The necessity of providing believers with Scripture in a language they understood led to multiple translation efforts over several centuries. Matthew 13:23 (UASV) says, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it…” To help Arabic-speaking believers become like that good soil, accurate and comprehensible translations of God’s Word were needed.
Arabic Bible Version
The Arabic versions of the Bible did not emerge from a single source or linguistic family of manuscripts. Instead, they came forth from a wide array of textual traditions. The scholar Ignazio Guidi, who examined more than seventy-five Arabic manuscripts of the Gospels, identified six primary groups:
(1) Those translated directly from Greek sources. Given the longstanding prominence of Greek as an ecclesiastical and scholarly language, it was natural that some Arabic translators relied on Greek manuscripts. This approach ensured that the Arabic text retained a strong connection to the earliest and most authoritative language for the New Testament writings.
(2) Those translated from or corrected by the Syriac Peshitta. The Syriac tradition, deeply rooted in early Christianity, provided a stable textual witness. The Peshitta, the standard Syriac version of the Bible, likely served as a bridge language. Skilled translators who knew both Syriac and Arabic could render Scripture into Arabic, benefiting from the accuracy and stability of the Peshitta as a textual foundation.
(3) Those translated from or corrected by Coptic texts, often Bohairic. The Coptic Church, with its own longstanding textual tradition, provided another source. Coptic manuscripts, reflecting an ancient lineage, offered a rich reservoir of biblical texts. Translators working from Coptic to Arabic ensured that communities historically influenced by the Coptic tradition gained the Scriptures in Arabic without losing the textual quality preserved by Coptic scribes.
(4) Those translated from Latin. Though less common, Latin served as a source language for some Arabic translations. Latin versions, widespread in the western Mediterranean regions, occasionally influenced Arabic translations where Latin-speaking communities intersected with Arabic-speaking ones.
(5) Two eclectic recensions produced by the Alexandrian Patriarchate during the thirteenth century C.E. These recensions represented deliberate scholarly endeavors to refine the Arabic text. Drawing from multiple sources and traditions, church authorities aimed to produce more standardized and reliable texts. Their work testifies to ongoing efforts at quality control in the transmission of Scripture.
(6) Miscellaneous manuscripts, some adopting a form of rhymed prose reminiscent of the Koran’s style. Such stylistic flourishes reflect attempts to express biblical content in forms familiar and appealing to Arabic literary sensibilities.
This complex picture shows that Arabic translations did not follow a single path. Instead, they involved a dynamic interplay of linguistic and textual traditions. Some Arabic versions were even corrected from others of a different basic text type. Over time, scribes, monks, and scholars refined and revised these translations, just as Psalm 12:6 (UASV) states: “The words of Jehovah are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” They understood that their task was not merely literary or cultural, but spiritual, ensuring that those receiving the Word in Arabic would encounter authentic teachings.
Beyond these initial attempts, Arabic translations proliferated during the Middle Ages and even into the nineteenth century. Different branches of Eastern Christianity—the Melchites, Maronites, Nestorians, Jacobites, and Copts—commissioned or produced their own Arabic versions. Each community, anchored in its particular confessional and liturgical traditions, desired a text best suited to its own worship and doctrine. This variety attests to the importance placed on Scripture’s accurate communication. Isaiah 45:22 (UASV) urges, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” To turn fully, believers needed access to God’s instructions in the language of their daily prayers and discourse.
These Arabic translations took many forms of Arabic. Besides classical Arabic—the literary form associated with high culture—translations were made into the vernaculars of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, and even into the Maltese vernacular, related to Arabic. This breadth of linguistic adaptation ensured that the gospel message, originally entrusted to the apostles who wrote in Greek and nurtured by Hebrew and Aramaic traditions, would not be hindered by a language barrier. Acts 2:8–11 (UASV) records that devout Jews from many lands heard the apostles’ message in their own tongues. Arabic translations echoed that Pentecostal principle, where language served as a conduit rather than a barrier to divine truth.
Such widespread and diverse textual traditions did raise the issue of textual stability and consistency. Translators working from different sources might produce varying readings and nuances. Yet, the overall message and doctrinal substance remained remarkably consistent, thanks to careful cross-checking and ongoing revisions. Scribes and communities understood that the Scriptures were not human literature subject to arbitrary alteration. Instead, they recognized them as the inspired Word of Jehovah, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 (UASV): “All scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” Maintaining a faithful rendering was not a matter of preference but a sacred duty.
The Arabic versions, in their multiplicity, illustrate the principle that the text was not static. Translators continually strove to align their work more closely with the best sources available. When better manuscripts or more skilled scholars emerged, corrections and revisions followed. This ceaseless quest for accuracy corresponds with the historical-grammatical approach, which seeks the literal and intended meaning of the text. It rejects the flawed methods of higher criticism that cast doubt on Scripture’s reliability. Instead, the careful, reverent handling of texts over centuries confirms that believers treated the Word with utmost respect, exemplifying the stance that God’s truth must not be obscured.
This faithfulness persisted despite doctrinal controversies and external pressures. In Arabia and regions that adopted Arabic, Christians coexisted with Islamic rule. They faced the challenge of preserving their Scriptures in an environment dominated by the Koranic language. Still, they did not compromise the substance of the biblical text. They recognized that John 16:13 was spoken only to the apostles, but they also knew that the Bible was the Spirit-inspired Word, guiding believers. No matter the political or religious climate, they stayed true to the original sense of Scripture, avoiding typology, allegory, and other speculative interpretations that could distort the text. They clung firmly to the literal words, cherishing them as the final authority.
This legacy of Arabic translations offers modern readers an opportunity to compare and verify the authenticity of the Bible’s text. Textual scholars who consult Arabic versions, alongside Greek, Syriac, Coptic, and Latin witnesses, gain a fuller picture of the early textual history. The harmonizing influence of multiple traditions, preserved in different lands and languages, reinforces confidence in the underlying text. As Psalm 33:4 (UASV) states, “For the word of Jehovah is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” The faithful convergence of varied versions upon the same essential truths exemplifies this divine faithfulness.
The spread of Arabic versions also illuminates how the Word reached regions that, in early Christian centuries, might have appeared unlikely fields for the gospel seed. Yet by the eighth century C.E., and certainly by the Middle Ages, Arabic-speaking communities had access to Scripture. This spread confirms that no people or region stood beyond the saving reach of God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 (UASV) promises, “So shall my word be that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty.” The presence of Arabic versions, influencing believers in desert towns, coastal cities, and mountain hamlets, demonstrates that the Word, once sown, continued to bear fruit.
Considering the complexity and multiplicity of Arabic versions, one might ask how believers could be sure of doctrinal integrity. The answer lies in the sober judgment and discerning spirit of those who handled the text. They understood that the Scriptures, though translated into many forms, originated from a single inspired fountain. Their love of truth and willingness to refine translations ensured that errors did not persist unchecked. Moreover, as Psalm 12:6 (UASV) says, “The words of Jehovah are pure words,” and this purity guided the hearts of devout scribes and teachers, enabling them to distinguish between faithful renderings and problematic deviations.
Over the centuries, Arabic-speaking Christians employed the Scriptures for teaching, preaching, and personal devotion. The Bible became a daily companion, shaping liturgy, moral guidance, and doctrinal understanding. Access to the Scriptures in Arabic also allowed believers to defend their faith and articulate it clearly in dialogues with neighbors of other beliefs. The Word’s clarity, when read in a familiar tongue, strengthened their conviction that they had not followed “cleverly devised myths” (2 Peter 1:16 UASV) but had embraced the truth preserved since apostolic times.
The diversity of Arabic versions, drawn from multiple source traditions, also reflects the historical reality that Christian communities in these regions maintained ties with broader Christendom. Pilgrims, merchants, and envoys carried manuscripts and textual knowledge back and forth, ensuring a cross-pollination of textual traditions. Despite linguistic and cultural differences, believers in Arabia and surrounding regions recognized the universal authority of the Scriptures. They knew that “the word of our God will stand forever,” as Isaiah 40:8 affirms, transcending the boundaries of language and geography.
The existence of Arabic versions underscores that the Bible was not the possession of any single linguistic group. Just as Greek speakers once welcomed the Hebrew Scriptures in the form of the Septuagint, Arabic speakers embraced the same truths in their own tongue. These translations allowed them to read the Law of Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Epistles, all testifying to Jehovah’s redemptive plan. The unity of faith that results from sharing the same inspired message—despite linguistic diversity—manifests God’s intention that all peoples come to know Him.
In examining the Arabic versions, modern readers should feel strengthened in their confidence that the Scriptures have been faithfully transmitted. The earliest translators set a precedent that later generations followed. They did not treat the text casually. Instead, they approached it as sacred. When variations arose, scholars worked diligently to clarify and correct. This editorial vigilance preserved the trustworthiness of the biblical narrative, ensuring that the essential doctrines remained intact. The careful historical-grammatical method of interpretation prevailed, warding off subjective or speculative readings that could erode the message’s purity.
Beyond scholarly interest, the Arabic versions also demonstrate the pastoral and missionary impulse within the Church. The motivation for translating Scripture into Arabic was not merely academic. It stemmed from a desire to provide believers with the bread of life, which Jesus identified as His teachings (John 6:63 UASV). Without translating the Scriptures into the local vernacular, believers would remain dependent on foreign tongues or summaries. By giving them the Scriptures directly, the Church recognized the believer’s right and need to access divine counsel firsthand.
As the ages passed and Arabic-speaking Christianity faced numerous challenges—political changes, shifting cultural landscapes, religious pressures—the anchor of Scripture, now accessible in their native language, provided stability. Communities could recall the promise in Psalm 119:160 (UASV), “The sum of your word is truth,” confident that no matter the turmoil, they could lean on the eternal Word.
This understanding forms part of the broader tapestry of how the Bible reached us. Arabic versions contribute to the large body of evidence that the Scriptures were not lost or corrupted as they journeyed through time and space. Instead, faithful believers ensured that even in lands historically associated more with other religions or languages, the Bible found a home. The diligence, reverence, and careful scholarship invested in Arabic translations signify that the chain of transmission remained unbroken.
In conclusion, the Arabic versions of Scripture serve as another chapter in the grand narrative of how the Bible has been preserved and transmitted across centuries, cultures, and languages. They illustrate that believers took seriously the imperative of making God’s Word accessible, understandable, and trustworthy. The complex interplay of source traditions—Greek, Syriac, Coptic, Latin—and the numerous revisions and improvements testify to a commitment that the Word not be diluted or distorted. Instead, it remained the sure guide for faith and practice. Such fidelity to the text encourages modern believers to trust that the Scriptures they hold today accurately convey the original meaning, fulfilling the promise of Psalm 111:7–8 (UASV): “The works of his hands are truth and justice; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are upheld forever and ever, carried out in truth and uprightness.”
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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