World of the Bible Podcast, a Tyndale House Production S9E10 How does Bible translation happen today, and why does it matter?
Oct 16, 2026
Anwar Tjen, an Indonesian Bible translation consultant and ordained minister, leads major translation work across the archipelago. He discusses revising the Indonesian Standard Bible, translating Scripture into heart languages among more than 700 language communities, and the surprising challenges of words like “snow,” “pigs,” and “leprosy.” Technology, local knowledge, and the enduring importance of biblical languages all take center stage.
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Translation Requires Scholarship And Humility
- Bible translation demands rigorous ancient-language scholarship alongside ministry-minded humility.
- Tyndale House trained Anwar Tjen in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Latin, and modern research languages.
A Twenty-Year Revision For Indonesian Churches
- Indonesia’s revised Standard Bible updated a widely used 1950s translation while preserving wording unless strong reasons justified change.
- The interconfessional project involved Protestant and Catholic scholars and took roughly 20 years.
When Old Bible Words Change Meaning
- Revision corrects both outdated language and changing exegetical understanding.
- One Indonesian word now meaning marijuana once referred to a building beam, while “leprosy” became a broader skin-disease description.