The Incarnated Word in the Language: A Case Study of the Dungra Bhil Tribe in Western India

This research attempts to understand the impact of the Word of God in transforming the lives of the Dungra Bhil tribe in Western India.This transformation is understood through John chapter 1,where Jesus Christ is referred to as the “Word becoming the flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14). The term “Logos” is used for “Word” in John chapter 1.It usually implies a total message in reference to God’s message to mankind. In a broader sense, this indicates that the total message of God is available to the peoples in the form of Word translated in their mother tongues.The Logos interacts intimately with them; talks to them, guides them and corrects them in their heart language.Thus, this paper attempts a broader theological reflection on John 1:14, and explains the close relationship between the Word incarnated and the Bible translation into mother tongues of the peoples.It also discusses the multiple challenges in transferring the Word into the languages of the nations . It focuses on the specific strategies that the Bible translators have employed to build inroads to transfer the Word into the mother tongue of Dungra Bhil tribe.It describes the various ways in which the Bible translators have built bridges from the beliefs and practices of Dungra Bhils to introduce six key Biblical concepts. Thus, this paper contextualizes the Biblical representation of the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the Dungra Bhil community that has laid the foundation for their transformation.