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

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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, shukufukus-are-ru (祝福される) or “bless” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 30:16

If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God: as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, this is not in the Hebrew text but in the Septuagint; it is endorsed by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project ({B} rating, stating that the omission is due to a scribal error), and is followed by Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible. Some translations, like New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, follow the Hebrew text in not including the clause. It is recommended that translators follow the Septuagint with a textual footnote as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation do.

Which I command you this day: as in other parts of the book, the day when Moses was giving that discourse (his third speech) in the plains of Moab.

By loving … walking … keeping: this is how the Israelites were to obey God’s law.

Loving the LORD your God: in 6.5 it was stressed that this kind of “love” contains not only the elements of liking and affection, but also devotion and loyalty. If translators cannot find a term that contains all these elements, an expression such as “Love and be loyal [or, faithful] to the LORD” may be required.

The two participial phrases, by walking in his ways and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, are parallel and have a similar meaning. However, if at all possible translators should retain both expressions. In a number of languages a figurative expression similar to by walking in his ways may be used. An example is “walking along his paths,” meaning “to live your life the way he has told you.” By keeping his commandments means “obeying all his laws and teachings.” For commandments, statutes, and ordinances see 4.1, 2.

You shall live and multiply: that is, they will increase in number. Good News Translation offers a good model: “you will prosper and become a nation of many people.”

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 .