1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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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 first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

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

See also pronoun for “God”.

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

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

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 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 Acts 2:17

The pronoun this at the beginning of verse 17 must be related to what follows; in fact, it stands for the following direct quotation. For many languages the first line of verse 17 must undergo considerable change of order, for example, “God says, This is what I will do in the last days,” or “In the last days I will do this” (that is, the following).

In the last days is a typical Jewish expression used to describe the time of the Messianic age in which God would fully accomplish those promises that he had made to his people. It was taken over by the first Christians and applied to the period that began when Jesus came into the world, especially from the time of his resurrection onward. It is quite significant that these words are not in the Hebrew or Greek texts of Joel but are supplied by Peter.

An expression for last days is often not easy to find. In fact, it is entirely too easy to adopt some expression which is entirely wrong, for example, “in the most recent days,” or “in the days that have just passed.” The real focus of meaning is “the days just before the end,” or as in some instances “the days just before the new time,” or “the days just before the new age.”

I will pour out my Spirit is literally “I will pour out of my Spirit” (see King James Version; Phillips “forth of my Spirit”; New English Bible “a portion of my spirit”). What Peter means by the use of this phrase is obvious: God will let all people share in his Spirit. So it seems best to translate as Good News Translation and most other translations have done. In many languages, however, one cannot “pour out Spirit,” since “Spirit” is not regarded as a mass. In such instances one may “give my Spirit to” or “cause my Spirit to come to.”

Upon all men is literally “upon all flesh,” a Semitic idiom meaning “all mankind.” In the biblical setting to prophesy primarily means to “proclaim God’s message to men,” rendered in some languages as “they will say to people, This is what God says, ….” However, in certain contexts this term refers to foretelling the future.

To see visions and to dream dreams are in biblical thought ways of receiving divine revelation. In many languages it is not easy to distinguish between visions and dreams. Technically, visions occur in trancelike states in which people are not regarded as asleep, while dreams are related to the state of sleep. In other cultures, however, any vision or dream which has some supernatural significance, that is, which involves a message from the spirit world, is identified by a single term. When there is only one term, it is possible to combine the subjects “your young men and your old men will…”

Since in this context visions and dreams are spoken of only as vehicles for the communication of divine truth, one must sometimes make the reference more explicit, since visions and dreams as such may convey no reference to the revelation involved. Hence, one can have, “your young men will see truth from God in visions and your old men will know about the truth from God through their dreams.”

In societies where terms for age-grading are very specific, the term for young men can refer to young men before marriage and the term for old men can most appropriately refer to men who are the respected leaders—the type of men who make up the group of older counselors of the chief. Of course, insofar as possible, one should avoid expressions which are too specific.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:17

2:17a

In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people: The Greek and Berean Standard Bible put the phrase God says in the middle of what he said. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to have this phrase first. For example:

God says, ‘In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…’

Peter adds the words God says to make it clear who spoke the words which follow. Those words are not in the quote from Joel.

In the last days: The phrase the last days refers to the period of time just before the current age ends. It was used to describe the final activities that would happen before this age ended and the new age began. It does not say how long this time is. It implies that the new age will soon begin. In some languages a literal translation would indicate only a few days. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Indicate it is a period of time at the end of the current age. For example:

In the last part of this era

• Explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This phrase refers to the last part of the current time period.

I will pour out My Spirit on all people: The verb pour is a figure of speech that means “give” here. In some languages the phrase pour out can apply only to liquids, not the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, use a word or phrase that can apply to the Holy Spirit. For example:

I will give my Spirit to everyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will send my Spirit to all people

I: Here the pronoun I refers to God, not to Joel.

My Spirit: This phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages the word “Holy” must be included to have the correct meaning. For example:

my ⌊Holy⌋ Spirit

2:17b

Your sons and daughters: The people there would have understood Your sons and daughters as referring to their own children.

prophesy: This verb refers to speaking a message on behalf of God. God speaks to the prophet through words and visions. Then the prophet tells God’s message (prophesying) to the people or writes it down for their use. For example:

speak what God has revealed (God’s Word)
-or-
proclaim my message (Good News Translation)
-or-
speak on God’s behalf

2:17c

young men: In Jewish culture at that time the phrase young men referred to males from about 24 through 39 years of age. Here the exact ages are not important. Also, probably young women are included as well. For example:

young people (New Jerusalem Bible)

visions: Here the word visions refers to things that God causes people to see supernaturally. A vision is not normal seeing. It is like seeing things in a dream, but the person is usually awake.

old men will dream dreams: These dreams come from God. With them God shows people what he wants them to know. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that God gave the dream and its meaning to them. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

old men will dream dreams ⌊from God⌋

In some languages only the verb dream is needed for the correct meaning. For example:

old men will dream

In some languages only the noun dreams is needed for the correct meaning. For example:

old men will see dreams

old men: Here probably old women are included as well. For example:

old people (New Jerusalem Bible)

General Comment on 2:17c

In some languages the translation of “vision” and the translation of “dream” is the same word. If possible indicate the difference between the two meanings. For example:

your young men and old men will see visions/dreams, during the night and during the day

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