complete verse (Isaiah 43:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 43:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Let every person come home
    who is called by my name
    and I created them for me to be exalted.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “everyone who belongs to me,
    whom I have created for my glory,
    whose formed and whom I made."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They are the people whom I called; I created them for my honor.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

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 43:7

In this verse Yahweh describes his people who will come back from exile. He continues to address the nations, but within his speech to the Israelites. As noted in the introductory comments on this section [43.1-7], the expressions called by my name, created and formed form an inclusio with verse 1, so consistent terms should be used.

Every one who is called by my name means there is a close relationship between all the Israelites and God. They are his people. Compare this expression with “I have called you by name” in verse 1. My name is the name “Yahweh.” Who is called by my name may be rendered “who is associated with my name” or “who belongs to me.” For this whole line Revised English Bible has “everyone who bears my name” (similarly Bible en français courant). Good News Translation expresses it nonfiguratively with “They are my own people.”

Whom I created for my glory: God formed the Israelites as a nation, so that they and other nations would honor him. For created see Isa 43.1; for my glory, see 42.8. This line may be rendered “whom I created [as a people], so that all of them [or, all nations] may give me glory [or, praise me].”

Whom I formed and made is parallel with the previous line, emphasizing that God established Israel as a nation. The verbs formed and made are synonymous with created. For formed see Isa 43.1.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• All of them are people whom I have given my name,
whom I created to bring me honor,
whom I formed and made.’”

• All of them bear my name,
and I created them for my own glory,
I formed and made them.’”

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 .