Before working on Bible translation, time is set aside for devotion. Importance is place on a personal relationship with God and His Messiah, and the team are encouraged to seek God’s wisdom and direction for their personal lives, as well as listening to His guidance regarding the work He has assigned.

"The practice we have when we meet together as a team, to have daily devotions and pray together, I have brought in my own home. As a family, we now have regular Bible studies. This is strengthening our faith, as we stand firm in what God promises. The work we do has also given me a heart for my community. I am now involved in social relief initiatives to help those in need in our community" – Carlitos, Marenje Translation Team

Exegesis comes from the Greek word exēgeisthai, which means “to explain” or “to interpret.” It is the process of uncovering the meaning of the message in a text by examining factors such as vocabulary and the meaning of words, literary genre—including narrative, poetry, letters, idiomatic expressions, laws, and regulations—as well as the author, audience, and estimated date when the text was written or edited. It also considers the socio-political, economic, and religious circumstances surrounding the text.

Internalisation is a core part of Oral Bible Translation, and involves absorbing the message of the text to be translated through activities such as role play, song-writing, and other participatory methods. This both increases the personal impact and transformative power of the text, and helps the team prepare the translated text to be recorded.

Biblical examples connected to this concept include God’s instruction to Ezekiel: “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you… go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them” (Ezekiel 3–4), as well as the imagery of eating the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and eating the Word of God (John 6:53).

Pre-recording involves a member of the translation team memorising a passage and recording it from memory rather than reading it aloud. This approach creates a more authentic oral recording, with the passage being spoken naturally and by heart. A recording environment is prepared so that the team can produce a high-quality recording that meets international standards.

Revision involves reviewing the recording to identify any language issues and to assess whether the translation is clear, natural, and accurately conveys key concepts. This process is carried out by the reviewers together with the translation team, and includes evaluating aspects such as discourse, vocabulary, cultural appropriateness, naturalness, clarity, and the communication of key terms and concepts.

Adjustments and corrections are made based on suggestions and observations from the review process.

Transcription and back translation involve converting the oral recording into written form and then translating it into a language of wider communication for the consultant. The translation team transcribes the recording directly from its oral format, producing a written document based on what was spoken. Transcription may be done manually by a transcriber or through mechanical means. The transcription is then back translated word-for-word into English to assist an external consultant in evaluating the translation.

Community testing is carried out with members of the language group to ensure that the translation is understandable, communicates the intended meaning, and is accepted as authentic by the community. This process includes assessing language issues as well as whether the translation sounds natural to its audience.

"We were told that Marenje community interest in the Word of God is increasing, as many who participate in community testing meetings often request to be given recorded scriptures to go listen to by themselves or with loved ones."

The consultant check is carried out by a trained consultant with extensive knowledge of Scripture and its original languages to ensure that the translation remains true to God’s Word. The consultant will typically be involved throughout the translation process and evaluates whether the translation is natural, clear, and faithful to the source text. At the same time, it is recognised that the translation does not belong to the consultant, but to the language community.