Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In this verse, the Greek that is translated as “word” in English is translated as o-kotoba (おことば), combining “word” (kotoba) with the respectful prefix o-.

Other uses of honorifics in this verse include:

• The usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title. This is evident here from the form anata-sama (あなた様) “you” which is the combination of the nominal “you” anata and the suffix title –sama.
• The choice of benefactive constructions. Here, iyashite (癒やして) or “heal” and ukagau (伺う), a humble form of tazuneru (訪ねる) or “visit” are used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”
• The usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words. Here, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.
• The choice of an imperative construction. The honorific form kudasai (ください) reflects that the action is called for as a favor for the sake of the beneficiary. This polite kudasai imperative form is often translated as “please” in English. While English employs pure imperatives in most imperative constructions (“Do this!”), Japanese chooses the polite kudasai (“Do this, please.”).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )