complete verse (Isaiah 42:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 42:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “Who is there among you who will listen to these words?
    Who will cut the ear well from now on?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “What! Have any of you heard of this matter?
    What! From now on will anyone pay attention and listen to this matter?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Is there anyone of you (plur.) who wants to listen or pay-attention to these-things that you (plur.) have-heard from now?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on Isaiah 42:23

Good News Translation, New International Version, and Bible en français courant insert a stanza break before this verse. Since the prophet changes from describing his people to addressing them here, this break is appropriate.

Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come?: In this verse the prophet challenges his people to listen to what he is about to say. He asks two real questions here. The interrogative pronoun Who is implied for the question in the second line. The Hebrew verbs rendered give ear, attend and listen are synonymous. The prophet often uses three synonymous expressions for emphasis. Here he uses them to underline the urgency of listening to him. For give ear, see the comments on 8.9. The Hebrew verb for attend means to pay attention to something said. If three synonymous verbs for listening are not available in a language, translators may combine them into two or even one if needed. Good News Translation has two: “listen” and “listen with care.” The demonstrative pronoun this points forward to what the prophet is about to say. For the time to come is literally “to the back.” Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “From/from now on.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Who among you will take note of this?
Who will pay attention and listen from here on?

• Will any of you take note of this?
Will any of you pay attention and listen from now on?

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 .