Japanese honorifics (Acts 2:33)

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 morphemes rare (られ) or are (され) are 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, ut-are-ru (打たれる) or “strike” is used.

Another way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction. Here, sosoide (注いで) or “pour” 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 Acts 2:33

The passive expression he has been raised can be placed in the active, with God as the agent, for example, “God has raised Jesus to his right side.” To the right side of God, indicating the place of authority and power, may possibly be rendered “by means of the right hand (that is, power) of God.” But inasmuch as the reference in verse 30 is to “sitting upon the throne” and the reference in verse 34 is to “sitting at the right side of God,” it seems most likely that the phrase has a local reference in this verse, that is, “at God’s right side.” However, one may also translate as “at the place of honor at God’s side.”

In some languages he … received from him the Holy Spirit is more naturally rendered as “God gave him the Holy Spirit.” This restructuring is particularly useful if the first clause is shifted to an active form, with God as the agent.

The clause as his Father had promised is one way of rendering the elliptical Greek expression “promise of the Holy Spirit.” When the text says literally that Jesus “received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father,” it really means that he “received the Holy Spirit, who had been promised by the Father.”

Though the Greek text does not employ a possessive pronoun with “Father,” it is essential in many languages to add some pronominal relation, even as in the Good News Translation his Father.

It is important in translating this verse not to suggest that God and his Father are two different persons. Hence, one may need to employ an appositional expression, for example, “God, his Father, had promised.”

“He poured out this which you see and hear” is translated by the Good News Translation what you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us. “This” of the Greek may refer back to the Holy Spirit (as many translations have it), but the Good News Translation understands “this” as referring back to the total experience that the believers have shared in connection with the coming of the Holy Spirit; and since this experience comes from God, it is spoken of as his gift (see also New English Bible “all that you now see and hear flows from him”).

This last part of verse 33 is difficult to translate. One usually cannot speak of “pouring out” an event. One can “cause” an event, but not “pour it out.” Moreover, if one says “pour out this gift,” then it would appear that Jesus is pouring out the gift of the Spirit, which has just been given to him by God, but the Scriptures consistently speak of God pouring out his Spirit. In many languages the most satisfactory way of treating this last portion of the verse is to translate “and Jesus is the one who has caused what you now see and hear.”

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 2:33

2:33a

Exalted, then, to the right hand of God: There are three ways to interpret the Greek grammar that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to:

(1) It means by. It indicates that the right hand of God exalted Jesus. For example:

Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)

(2) It means to. It indicates that God took Jesus from the grave and raised him to sit at his right hand. For example:

He has been raised to the right side of God (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(3) It means at. It indicates that Jesus was already at God’s right hand when God exalted him. For example:

Being…exalted at the right hand of God (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because “by God’s right hand” is a common expression in the Old Testament and because there is no other place in the New Testament where this type of Greek construction clearly indicates the meaning “to.”

Exalted: This verb means “to give a high position to” or “honor greatly.” God honored Jesus when he took Jesus up to heaven and put him in the first/highest place of authority under his (God’s) own.

The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ has raised Jesus
-or-

⌊God⌋ has greatly honored

2:33b

He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit: In English, the word received implies someone else willingly gave what was received, and the word “take” does not imply that someone else willingly gave it. It is implied here that God willingly gave the Holy Spirit.

In some languages the same word is used for both “receive” and “take.” In some of those languages a literal translation would indicate that God did not give it willingly. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a different word than received. For example:

he was given the promised Holy Spirit by the Father
-or-
the Father gave the promised Holy Spirit to him

Jesus received the Holy Spirit when he was baptized by John. That occurred for his earthly ministry. Here Jesus received the Holy Spirit to give it to believers. In some languages a literal translation would indicate or imply that this was the first time that Jesus received the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

the Father gave the right for Jesus to give the promised Holy Spirit ⌊to his people⌋ ⌊and he did so⌋
-or-
God empowered Jesus to send the promised Holy Spirit ⌊to his followers⌋ ⌊and he did so⌋

He: The pronoun He refers to Jesus.

the Father: This refers to God. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to include the word “God.” For example:

⌊God⌋ the Father

In some languages kinship words must indicate whose relationship it is. For example:

God ⌊his⌋ Father

the promised Holy Spirit: The word promised refers to God earlier promising to send the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ followers.

Holy Spirit: See how you translated this phrase in 1:2 or 2:4.

2:33c

has poured out: The phrase poured out is a figure of speech. Like a whole container of water is poured out, the Holy Spirit is given in full measure to God’s people. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech in the text. For example:

has given ⌊in full⌋
-or-
has given ⌊to us⌋ ⌊and caused us to do⌋

• Translate literally and explain the meaning of the figure of speech in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

The phrase “poured out” is a figure of speech. Like a whole container of water is poured out, the Holy Spirit is given in full measure to God’s people.

what you now see and hear: This phrase refers to Jesus’ followers speaking the various languages of the people there. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

these many languages that you see and hear ⌊the people speak⌋

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