complete verse (Isaiah 22:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 22:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “When that day arrives, I shall call for my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “LORD says to Shebna, "On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In that day, I will-summon my servant Eliakim the child of Helkia.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then I will summon Hilkiah’s son Eliakim, who has served serve me well, to replace you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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”.

Translation commentary on Isaiah 22:20

In verses 16-19 the LORD addressed Shebna through the prophet. Now in verses 20-25 he addresses him directly, so first person pronouns are used for the LORD instead of third person references. Revised Standard Version ignores this shift in pronouns, but Good News Translation recognizes it by beginning verse 20 with “The LORD said to Shebna” and adding a paragraph break. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch adds “says the LORD” at the end of the verse to clarify who is speaking. Bible en français courant adds this clause in the middle of the previous verse. These are all valid models.

In that day refers to the time when Shebna will be removed from his position of steward. It may be rendered “At the same time” or “At that time.”

I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: The verb call here means “summon for appointment.” The LORD will summon Eliakim to replace Shebna. Eliakim is described as my servant, an expression with special meaning in the book of Isaiah. It is applied to various people, including the prophet (20.3), Eliakim, the nation of Israel (41.8-9), and a particular individual (42.1; 53.11). Eliakim is also mentioned in chapters 36–37 and 2 Kgs 18–19. Hilkiah was his father.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “At the same time I will issue a summons to my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.

• “At that time I will send for Hilkiah’s son Eliakim who serves me.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .