Honorary "are" construct denoting God (“say”)

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.

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

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 12:7

You are the man: Nathan abruptly changes from an indirect approach to a very direct statement to David. The king is said to be guilty of a crime that he himself has judged totally unacceptable and deserving of death. In some languages translators may have to say “You are that rich man!” or “You are the person I have been talking about!”

Thus says the LORD: here Nathan uses the common prophetic formula to introduce a solemn declaration to the king. On the meaning of this formula in general, see 7.5, 8 as well as 1 Sam 10.18 and 15.2. The actual word from the LORD which follows is, in most English versions, a quotation within a quotation, which may present certain problems in other languages. In some cases the problems may be solved by using indentation to mark the words of the LORD, which continue through the end of verse 12. In other languages the direct quotation of what the LORD says may be made indirect by using the third person pronoun in place of the first person, beginning “The LORD God of Israel says that he anointed you king of Israel….” But if possible it will be better to retain the force and directness of the first person.

Anointed you king over Israel: on the verb anointed in this context, see 1 Sam 2.10; 9.16; and 10.1. See also 1 Sam 15.17, where Samuel uses this same expression as he denounces Saul.

Delivered you out of the hand of Saul: this is a reminder of David’s past experience of God’s deliverance from Saul. Here, as often elsewhere, the word hand stands for the power of Saul. See 1 Sam 23.12 and 27.1.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .