Japanese benefactives (-toshite)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -toshite (として) or “make it/someone” is 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).”

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

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:4

This verse begins with the common Hebrew conjunction. Since verse 3 says that God did not want David to build the Temple, the information in verse 4 comes as a surprise: that God still chose David. Revised Standard Version correctly translates this Hebrew conjunction as Yet. Other similar translations include “Nevertheless” (Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “However” (New American Bible), and “Even so” (New Jerusalem Bible). Another possible connector is “In spite of that.”

The LORD God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel for ever: See 1 Sam 16.1-13 for the story of how God chose David from among his brothers. Of course, David himself was not going to rule for ever. Peregrino says “for life.” But the allusion here is to his dynasty, not just to his own life. For this reason Good News Translation renders me as “me and my descendants” (also Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). For this whole sentence La Bible du Semeur says “The Eternal, the God of Israel chose me from my family to be king of Israel and to begin an eternal dynasty.”

For he chose Judah as leader: The Hebrew word rendered for introduces why God chose David to be the king over Israel. Good News Translation omits this connector, but it is important to show the relationship between the two parts of this verse in some fashion. Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie do so by beginning this part with “Formerly.” The Hebrew word translated for may be an emphatic particle here, so it may be rendered “Indeed” ( NET Bible). Judah refers to “the tribe of Judah” (Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), not the individual ancestor (although see Gen 49.8, 10). The Hebrew word rendered leader is sometimes translated “prince” (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.2). For this whole clause Contemporary English Version says “The LORD God chose Judah to be the leading tribe in Israel,” Revised English Bible has “For it was Judah that he chose as ruling tribe,” and La Bible du Semeur translates “Indeed, it is the tribe of Judah that he has chosen to lead the others.” Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje provides another helpful model: “For he chose the tribe of Judah so that from it might come the kings.”

And in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel: God specifically chose David from the tribe of Judah to be king over Israel. New Century Version provides a helpful model here, saying “and from the people of Judah, he chose my father’s family. From that family God was pleased to make me king of Israel.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .