at hand (Japanese honorifics)

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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 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.

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “at / on hand” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-temoto (お手もと), combining “at hand” (temoto) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

complete verse (1 Samuel 21:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 21:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, what type of food do you have so that you give me? Give me five loaves of bread or anything you have.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Now, what food do you have? Give me five loaves of bread or as much as you have.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, do- you (sing.) -have food there? Please give me five pieces/(loaves) of bread or whatever.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Now I want to know, do you have any food here for me to eat ? Could you give me five loaves of bread, or whatever other food that you can find?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

respectful form of "give" (kudasaru)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.

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

See also respectful form of “give” (tamawaru) and give (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 21:3

Now then: literally “And now.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “Meanwhile.” This expression shifts the conversation from one topic to a more important topic that David wishes to deal with.

At hand: literally “under your hand.” The expression simply means “available” or “with you” (New Century Version). Another possible way of translating this is to follow the Contemporary English Version model, “Do you have any food you can give me?”

Give me: literally “give in my hand.” But a literal rendering will probably not be natural in most languages.

New Jerusalem Bible avoids the use of the question format and translates “Meanwhile, if you have five loaves of bread to hand, give them to me, or whatever there is.”

Whatever is here: literally, “what is found.” David is prepared to accept any food that is convenient if the five loaves of bread are not available. New American Bible “whatever you can find” is close to the form of the original and is meaningful English. Others may prefer to say “whatever you have.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .