When you hear the word Nubia, what comes to mind? For many, it’s the golden sands along the Nile, the echoes of pyramids and temples, or the proud heritage of one of Africa’s earliest civilisations. But Nubia is also a land where the Bible has deep roots, stretching back in history.
Today, in the middle of conflict and displacement, Sudanese people—whether you speak Nobiin or Arabic or another language—can take pride in this incredible story. Because the Gospel of Mark and the Lord’s Prayer are not only available in Greek, Latin, or Arabic, but also in Nobiin, the living descendant of the Old Nubian language.
Nubia: Where history and faith meet
Nubia stretches from southern Egypt into the heart of Sudan, and its people have lived along the Nile for thousands of years. Around 685,000 people still speak Nobiin today, even after many were displaced by the building of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s.
What makes this story extraordinary is that Nubians have been hearing the Bible in their own language for centuries. By the 6th century AD, Old Nubian was already a language of faith. The earliest translations of Scripture into Old Nubian are among the very first African Bible translations. That means when we open a Nobiin Gospel today, we’re stepping into a tradition that stretches back to the very beginnings of Christianity in Africa.
From Lepsius to today
Fast forward to the 19th century. In 1860, the German scholar Karl Richard Lepsius translated the Gospel of Mark and the Lord’s Prayer into Nobiin, using the Latin alphabet. His work was later edited, republished, and even transliterated into Arabic script.
Think about that for a moment: at a time when the world was just beginning to discover photography, trains, and telegraphs, Nubian believers were already reading the Gospel of Mark in their own language.
A living heritage for a new generation
For young Sudanese today—whether displaced by war, studying abroad, or seeking hope in difficult times—the Nobiin Gospel is more than just an old text. It’s a reminder that Sudan is not forgotten in God’s story. Our ancestors heard the words of Jesus in their own tongue. And now, with digital tools and online platforms, a new generation can rediscover and share that same heritage.
Nubia’s story even connects with the Bible’s big picture. Around 1500 BC, Nubia was conquered by Egypt’s Pharaoh Thutmose I—right around the time Israel was enslaved in Egypt and preparing for the Exodus. Sudan’s history has always been close to the heart of the Biblical story.
Hope in hard times
Right now, many Sudanese are scattered, separated from their homes, and longing for peace. In times like these, the Lord’s Prayer in Nobiin takes on fresh meaning:
“Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”
It is the same prayer that has carried believers through wars, famines, and exiles for centuries. And it is now a bridge—linking today’s young Sudanese with their ancestors who prayed the same words in Old Nubian, Nobiin, and Arabic.
A story worth sharing
The Nobiin Gospel of Mark and the Lord’s Prayer are not just translations. They are living proof that God has always spoken to Sudan’s people in their heart languages.
As you read, share, or even just marvel at these texts, remember: you are part of a 1,500-year-old tradition that still shines today. Sudan’s history is rich. Its future, even in hardship, carries hope. And the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus in Nobiin is a reminder that Sudanese voices are forever part of God’s story.
Read the Nobii translation.
This is an article in a series about Sudan language Bible translations, which are highlighted for the International Translation Day on 30 September. Read more articles in the series: