Faith Beyond Hearing
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Daveen Koh A Stories from the Field sharing from Siew Foong’s session on July 7, 2026. Siew Foong is a consultant with SIL’s Global Sign Languages team who specialises in sign language translation, EthnoArts and Trauma Healing.
God’s word in 3D
Through working with sign language communities, Siew Foong began to read God’s word “in 3D” – as if all her senses were awakened. She shared examples of Bible passages in Malaysian Sign Language to illustrate how sign language makes vivid not only actions, but also emotions.
In Luke 19:1-10, Zacchaeus meets Jesus. Siew Foong listed some questions a Deaf person might have while reading this passage:
As Zacchaeus tries to get a glimpse of Jesus through the crowd, what facial expression does he have?
When Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, is Zacchaeus surprised?
When Jesus is a guest at his house, how does Zacchaeus feel? What does the community think about Zacchaeus?
In Malaysian Sign Language, the signer’s face and gestures would show Zacchaeus’ joy and excitement, and the crowd’s displeasure.
God desires to communicate with people. Having the Bible in a language we can understand clearly is important because how we understand the Bible forms the core of our thinking as Christians. The New International Version (NIV) Bible uses “understanding” approximately 110 times, and employs synonymous phrasing throughout the text. For example, the Psalmist writes, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). To understand what God is communicating, we should be present with our whole being, with our senses and emotions engaged. He wants us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Given its visual nature, sign language storytelling can help Deaf communities engage with, and understand, God’s word more deeply.
There are different ways of counting sign languages. The World Federation of the Deaf puts the number of distinct sign languages in the world at over 200, while Wycliffe USA put the number as over 380.
Two common misperceptions
Siew Foong highlighted common misperceptions that people have about sign language Bible translation.
1. If the Deaf can read, why is there a need for Sign language Bibles?
Sign languages are as rich as spoken languages, capable of expressing complex ideas and having unique grammars and syntactical structures. However, they are not the same as the written grammar and syntax of a written language. Wherever the Deaf meet regularly, there is a sign language, and most Deaf communities communicate best in a sign language that they have developed.
Just as people from various countries understand the world differently and so interpret text differently, the Deaf have their own way of understanding the world and interpreting text, because their world is shaped by what they see. When they read, they translate the words (a less familiar language) into visual images (their native language) in their minds. As such, while some Deaf people can read the Bible in their national language, reading can be like trying to crack a code.
2. Translating content vs translating meaning that touches hearts
In churches, although most Deaf are able to understand the interpreted sermons, perhaps only 50% of the messages' meaning touches their hearts. The primary reason is that most church interpreters are not Deaf and sign language is not their native language. They are mostly volunteers who are not professionally trained, and may not have the skills and fluency to convey the message well and meaningfully in the heart language of the Deaf. To bridge this gap, some churches engage Deaf interpreters to work alongside hearing interpreters. The hearing interpreter signs in Signing English Exact (SEE) and the Deaf interpreter signs the message in a way most meaningful to the Deaf recipients. Of course, the ideal would be for sermons to be delivered directly in sign language."
Sign language translation projects can be slow and expensive
The projects require costly equipment, such as a studio setup with a green screen, lighting, a camera and a computer that enables good quality video editing.
The process also involves many steps:
- creating a storyboard to tell the story in pictures,
- translating the story into signs,
- drafting the story in sign language and making a video,
- checking the story videos for accuracy in meaning and clarity,
- community testing for naturalness, comprehension and acceptance, and
- consultant checks to ensure translation quality.
Throughout the process, revisions will be made and repeated videos recorded. Translators also need to understand the emotions in the text and these have to be expressed clearly in the signing. Video editing always takes more time than editing text as it also involves checking visuals and graphics for historical, cultural and geographical accuracy.
How to support sign language Bible translation
Siew Foong pointed out that the hearing world sometimes does not see or listen to the hearts of the Deaf. Through Sign language Bible translations, Deaf communities can see that God remembers them and speaks their language.
How churches can support sign language Bible translation:
Allow the Deaf to share with church congregations about the work of sign language translation
Allow support and encourage Deaf congregation members to test translations
Pray and contribute finances to maintain ministries
Contribute expertise, technical skills and networks
Communicate with the Deaf, get to know the Deaf, and listen to what they have to say
Learn to sign, advocate and interpret for the Deaf
Pray for sign language Bible translation:
Pray that Deaf communities, especially in the Asia Pacific, would experience God’s truth and His grace in ways that they understand best and in forms that best capture their hearts.
Pray that God gives the existing Sign Language Bible Translation teams knowledge of His will, spiritual wisdom and understanding so that the way they live will please God and produce every kind of good fruit.
Pray for people who are called by God to serve the Deaf communities, and that those who are called will humble themselves to learn, to preserve and to overcome obstacles.
Pray for God to bless the generous givers.
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