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 Genesis 28:13

Behold serves the same function as in verse 12. It is repeated often in dreams.

The LORD stood above it: the Revised Standard Version footnote gives the alternative meaning “beside him.” See also Good News Translation footnote. New Revised Standard Version has reversed Revised Standard Version and placed “beside him” in its text. This is the preferred position; the picture is of the LORD standing beside the sleeping Jacob. Some translators feel that it is necessary to emphasize for their readers that this appearance of the LORD is still within Jacob’s dream: “The LORD appeared in the dream and stood close to him” or “In that dream Jacob saw the LORD standing there….”

I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father: for the words I am the LORD, see 15.7. Since Abraham is not literally the father of Jacob, some translations prefer to say “your grandfather Abraham.” For the sense of the God of Abraham, see 26.24.

The land on which you lie: the promise of the land is now given to Jacob, as it had been to Abraham earlier. If taken literally this expression would mean only the ground where Jacob’s body is resting, but the sense is not so restricted. It may be necessary in some cases to say, for example, “I will give you and your descendants all this land, even where you are lying” or “I will give you and your descendants this land of Canaan on which you are lying.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .