name (of God) (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. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-na (御名) or “name (of God)” in the referenced verses.

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

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

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, tayas-are-ru (絶やされる) or “eradicate” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 21:5

The priests … shall come forward: once they have been notified of the case, they are to be in charge of the proceedings.

For the LORD your God has chosen them: for introduces the reason why the priests are to have a role in the case.

To minister to him: that is, they are in charge of worship (see 10.8). Good News Translation has “chosen them to serve him,” but Contemporary English Version is better, with “chosen them to be his special servants at the place of worship.”

To bless in the name of the LORD: the priests, the authorized representatives of the LORD, invoke his blessings upon the people. This may also be expressed as “to ask Yahweh to give them prosperity and well-being.” Translators should look for the most natural way of expressing the idea of “well-being.”

By their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled: again a repetition, the general class (every dispute, that is, “quarrels,” “arguments,” “controversies”) and the particular type of case (every assault, that is, arguments that result in “violence” or “bodily harm”). See also 17.8-13. Bible en français courant translates “matters of blows and wounds.” Good News Translation has “every legal case involving violence.” We may also translate “every legal case where people hurt each other.”

For the statement by their word … shall be settled, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “their decision will be final.” This final clause may also be translated as “they are to decide every legal case involving violence.”

A possible alternative translation model reordering the clauses of the verse is:

• The priests the descendants of Levi are to go there also, because they are to decide every legal case where people hurt each other. The LORD your God has chosen them to serve him and to ask him to give the people prosperity and well-being.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .