Commitment to Whole Word Bible translation

David Swarr, PhD. Photo: Whole Word Institute

Dr. David Swarr is President and CEO of Whole Word Institute, which is located in Jerusalem. It was originally called the 4.2.20 Foundation, after the 4,220 remaining languages without a full Bible at the time. Whole Word Institute is committed to helping provide ‘the whole Word for the whole world’ by equipping translators with skills in biblical Hebrew so they can translate directly from the Hebrew texts into their own languages. Whole Word Institute also offers training in translation consulting, oral Bible translation and specialised training for Deaf translators.

Can you give a brief history of Whole Word Institute and how it evolved?

In 2015, only one in five Bible translation projects included the Old Testament. Concerned about the missiological implications of this fact, a number of leaders in Bible translation movements researched why this was the case. The research showed that one reason was that there were so few translators and consultants proficient in biblical Hebrew. At a gathering in Jerusalem, it was determined that the multiple resources available in the land of the Bible made for an ideal place and opportunity to launch a fast-track Hebrew program with the goal of translating the whole Bible and not just the New Testament.

How does Whole Word Institute’s mission fit into the overall picture of global Bible translation movements?

Whole Word Institute fills a critical gap, strengthening the global Bible translation and church growth movements by equipping local leaders with the biblical language skills necessary to produce their own scripturally accurate and culturally appropriate translations and biblical resources.
Whole Word Institute’s Guiding Principles are:
● Translation from the original biblical language can result in better translations done faster and cheaper.
● Equipping mother tongue translators to work directly from the original biblical language into their own language accelerates the effort.
● Source language capacities empower indigenous church movements for translation, theological development and self-sustenance.

2024 graduates of Hebrew training celebrate. Photo: Whole Word Institute

You offer courses in Jerusalem and also onsite training in various countries. How does the training differ in those two approaches?

Our mission is to accelerate access to the whole Bible for people of all languages and our unique value-add is the context, culture, and language of the Old Testament. We began the intensive nine-month School of Biblical Hebrew in Jerusalem. The plan was, as the program gained credibility and traction with translation agencies, to develop an extension program as well. COVID caused us to jumpstart online training for students around the globe who could not come to Jerusalem. We called it the Hebrew Extension Learning Program or HELP for short. As this proved successful, and as more and more church movements became involved in Bible translation, we added the dimension of assisting indigenous entities to establish their own Hebrew training programs. Students learn Hebrew in Hebrew from day one (Communicative Language Learning).

This approach can be effective whether in Jerusalem or elsewhere. The advantage of the Jerusalem program is intensity and speed. Students can go from beginner level to translation proficiency in as short as nine months. It is also the best environment to fast track the training of consultants or Hebrew Instructors preparing to establish a local Hebrew program.

A group of local leaders At HELP intensive in Mozambique, 2024. Photo: Whole Word Institute

How does the consultant-in-training degree differ from similar training offered elsewhere?

Whole Word Institute’s consultant training program (MA in Biblical Hebrew and Translation Consulting) combines biblical language proficiency, consultant skill sets and a supervised field internship in a location coordinated with a partner translation organisation. No other program combines these three essential elements, preparing translation consultants in as short as 15 months, and providing a fully accredited MA degree.

Where do your students come from, where they are serving and what roles do they fill? There seems to be quite a variety.

Our students have come from over 50 nations in all parts of the globe and as many translation entities. They now serve as consultants, checkers, translators, biblical Hebrew instructors and original language translation advocates in church movements, agencies, and academic institutions. They are working in over 300 translation projects around the world.

For Alliance organisation leaders all over the world who will read this, what would you most like them to know about Whole Word Institute?

Local capacities in the original and authoritative biblical languages are essential both for Bible translation and for the long-term health and self-sustenance of church movements. Whole Word Institute exists to serve and support the church and Bible translation movements by training current and future translators and leaders in these critical capacities.

Email interview: Gwen Davies, Wycliffe Global Alliance

Alliance organisations are welcome to download and use photos from these articles.

For more information, email: info@wholewordinstitute.com