together with
Happy Bible Translation Day, {{first_name | everyone}}!
Today, we’re proud to be partnering with Seed Company to share what Bible Translation day is, where it came from and why it’s such an important part of the mission of God.
And speaking of languages…we’ll dig into some ancient Hebrew in our memory verse today: the word behind “declare” is not a word for announcing. It’s a word for telling a story you were there for...
In today’s email…
🗣️ Three Hebrew words in this verse
🌍 A question about what you have actually seen God do
📚 Three books, a video, and this week’s song…
MEMORIZE 🧠
Ia, an gavgavim __ ingangarir aghuir __ amibar ___ kantriba bar ___ gumazamizibav kɨm.
Onger Akaba 96 96:3 (Language: ARUAMU*)
*This is a language spoken mostly in Papua New Guinea that Seed Company has helped translate the Bible into.
_______ his _____ among the _______, his _________ works among all the _______!
Psalm 96:3
Want to review all your memorized verses in one place? Try our new iPhone app here.
TOGETHER WITH SEED COMPANY
Why Today Is Bible Translation Day
Around 400 AD, a scholar named Jerome spent years translating the Bible into Latin, the everyday language of his world. He wanted ordinary people to be able to read God's Word for themselves.
Today, September 30, the anniversary of his death, is Bible Translation Day. And 1,600 years later, the work Jerome gave his life to still isn't finished.
There are over 7,100 active languages in the world, but only 807 have a full Bible. That leaves 1.4 billion people still waiting for the complete Word of God in their own language.
And for over 37 million people, there isn't even a single verse translated in their langauge.
Seed Company exists to change that.
This Bible Translation Day, see how they're carrying that work forward and how you can be part of it.
CONTEXT 📕
Let’s discover three Hebrew words in this verse:
“declare”: sāp̄ar
We tend to think of a declaration as a loud announcement of some sort. So, we get on our soapbox and give our practiced speech without pausing for so much as a breath.
Yet when this Psalm encourages us to ‘declare’, it is saying sāp̄ar - which means to recount, tell, or even write down.
This is less of a declaration and more of a testimony, or even better yet, a “Come and see what God has done” story (Psalm 66:5a).
Why?
Because stories touch hearts.
“his marvelous works”: pālā'
The ways of God are described as pālā' in this verse - they are extraordinary, wonderful, yet at times difficult to understand.
This is the basis of the stories we share; the content of the kind of testimonies that impact generations.
Consider Gideon’s response when he met the angel of the Lord. He actually uses both pālā' and sāp̄ar together:
And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds (pālā') that our fathers recounted (sāp̄ar) to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
Gideon’s frame of reference was shaped by generations before him who faithfully shared their testimony — their stories about what God did for them.
Your God-story is made to be shared far and wide.
“all” = kōl
“All” (kōl) in our verse means whosoever, everyone and anyone, or as many as possible.
Jesus spoke about the end of days and said:
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
You have a story to recount about God’s wonderful deeds and all the world is desperate to hear it!
APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃♂
🤔 Reflect
What have you actually seen God do?
I’m always amazed by the questions children ask. Their faith teaches me to remember the truth of my own testimony. Take a moment today to consider this question for yourself.
🏃♂ Act
Identify one real thing you’ve experienced about God and one person you can share it with today. It doesn’t have to be at church or to a specific person, remember kōl - anyone and everyone.
🙏 Pray
Father, I want to recount your marvelous works to all. Please guide me by your Holy Spirit to discern the moment to share, and give me boldness to do so confidently. Amen.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 📚
Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into our memory verse and its themes:
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ANSWER KEY ✅
Ia, an gavgavim ko ingangarir aghuir an amibar gun kantriba bar dar gumazamizibav kɨm.
Onger Akaba 96 96:3 (Language: ARUAMU*)
*This is a language spoken mostly in Papua New Guinea that Seed Company has helped translate the Bible into.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Psalm 96:3
If you missed our emails from earlier this week, you can read them here:
Best,
The Malachi Daily team 🙏
Today’s Contributors
Eljoh is a South African writer, editor, and artist with a Master’s in Practical Theology. She creates resources to help believers of all ages abide in Christ and grow in faith. Explore more free resources and creative tools at Vine Creative Studio.
Kieran is a husband and father living in NJ. In addition to Malachi Daily, he writes a personal newsletter about the intersection of faith, fatherhood and entrepreneurship.
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Malachi Daily 📧 | Within 📱 | |
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Bible translation(s) | ESV | ESV, NIV, NLT, KJV, and NASB |
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