After more than a decade of work, the entire Old Testament has been translated into the Khalkh dialect of Mongolian. This marks the first time that the Scriptures have been translated in Mongolian by a team of all Mongolian translators. It is now freely available on its website, via a dedicated mobile app, and in print form.
A translation that is more understandable and that has more natural Mongolian language has been the felt need for many years now, expressed and talked about by church leaders and believers. The most common current version used in Mongolia is a translation from English using a literal translation approach. Therefore, this project was launched to improve the Bible translation quality and establish exemplary standard in Bible translation in Mongolia.
Bayarmagnai, Executive Director of the Mongolian Union Bible Society, explains that Bible translation was the reason they were formed. Speaking about the translation project, he explains,
“Many Christian people are waiting for this translation to be printed very patiently and [are] very excited.”
The project was guided from its inception by five key goals: to translate the original text into Mongolian by a team of all-Mongolian translators, to ensure accuracy and faithfulness to the original text, to create a translation that is clear when read aloud, to use natural Mongolian language and expressions, and to be understandable by modern readers.
The newly printed Mongolian Standard Version of the Old Testament includes hundreds of glossary entries, nearly 2,000 cross-references and over 11,000 footnotes. It features a culturally resonant and easy-to-use design, complete with traditional Mongolian patterns on the covers and page headings. Every detail of the design was carefully considered to enhance reader engagement with the Scripture and invite introspection.
The project is expected to impact 80,000 people, including 65,000 Mongolian Christians as well as non-Christians in Mongolia interested in reading the Bible and Mongolic speakers across the globe. Already, diaspora Mongolians in Europe and North America — many of whom previously lacked biblical resources — have received the translated Scriptures with joy.
Mongolia has a population of over three million, 95% of whom read and write in the official Khalkh dialect. Church leaders and believers alike have been asking for a more up-to-date, accurate and readable translation of the Bible in this dialect for years.
Purevdorj J, the principal of Union Bible Theological College in Ulaanbaatar, is confident in the project’s impact. “We expect this project to have a lasting impact and contribution to the growth of the Mongolian Church”, he says.
The project began in 2015 with the books of Ruth, Jonah, Joshua and Judges, with each subsequent book being released online as they were completed.
Now, 21 books of the New Testament are available to read in Mongolian online, with the team aiming to complete the remaining books this year.
Following this, the team is also making preparations to print the complete Bible in physical form. Bayarmagnai explains that one of the biggest needs among the people is a physical Bible, “Amongst Mongolians, they need to have a paper Bible. So, in the midst of this need, we are, working with churches and ministries in Mongolia in order to distribute Bibles to them.”
Once it is completed, the Bible has the potential to benefit not just Mongolian Christians, but the 5 million Mongolic speakers around the world.
The team at the Mongolian Union Bible Society are grateful for the international Bible Societies and donors who have supported the project over the years.
Prayer for Mongolia
If you would like to know more about this Bible translation project in Mongolia, you can read more and support the work here.
