The first translation of the Bible into Cambodian language, or Khmer, was by the American Arthur L. Hammond, who began translating the Bible in 1933 and completed it in 1954 for it to be printed in Phnom Penh. It was revised in 1962. The UBS affiliate Bible Society in Cambodia was established in 1968.
Christianity in Cambodia was ruthlessly suppressed during the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia (1975-1979), then began to resurface under the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. New modern language versions followed in the 1990s but were initially not well received. Currently, the Bible Society in Cambodia supplies the Khmer Standard Version (2005) and the "Khmer Old Version" (Hammond Version 1954, 1962).
In 2008 The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society produced the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures in Khmer. A translation of the entire Bible is anticipated to follow. Most notably, this translation replaced much of the Khmer royal language with more common terminology, making it an easier translation to understand than the Hammond Version. However, like the Hammond Version it continues to use the divine name យេហូវ៉ា (Jehovah). This is contrary to the move by the translators of the Khmer Standard Version who replaced that name with titles such as "God" and "Lord" in their work.