forget

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Isaiah 44:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 44:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “God is saying,
    ‘Think (plur.) about these words, stomach of Jacob.
    Think (plur.), oh, people of Israel
    because you are my servants.
    I am the one who made you to be my servants.
    I will not forget you, oh, people of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O Jacob, O people Israel, remember these things,
    for you are my servant.
    I made you that you might serve me.
    O Israel, I will never forget you. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD said, ‘Remember these things, O Israel, for you (sing.) are my servant. I have made you (sing.) to serve me, and I will- never -forget you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 44:21

In verses 21-22 Yahweh addresses his people Israel. Good News Translation identifies Yahweh as the speaker here by beginning with the quote frame “The LORD says.” Other languages may find this addition helpful.

Remember these things, O Jacob: Yahweh calls on his people in exile to recall certain things, to reflect on them, and to live accordingly. For Remember see the comments on 43.18. These things probably points forward to the following statements, especially those in verse 22. However, for some commentators it refers back to the scorn heaped on idols and their makers. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders Remember these things as “reflect on this,” which is a valid alternative. It may also be translated “Take this to heart.”

And Israel, for you are my servant: And Israel begins a new line in Hebrew, which is parallel to the previous line. For the parallel names Jacob and Israel, see the comments on 9.8 and 40.27. For you are my servant is the reason why God’s people should Remember these things. For most versions the Hebrew particle ki rendered for functions as a logical connector here. However, for Good News Translation this particle introduces the content of what people should remember, so it renders this line as “remember that you are my servant.” Translators may follow either interpretation of the particle here. For my servant, see the comments on 41.8.

I formed you, you are my servant is literally “I formed you [as a] servant to/for me,” which emphasizes Israel’s service for Yahweh. Good News Translation expresses this line well with “I created you to be my servant.” It may also be rendered “I formed you to serve me.” For I formed you, see the comments on 43.1.

O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me is literally “you, Israel, will not be forgotten by me.” In Hebrew the expression for “you, Israel” places emphasis on the name here, which Revised Standard Version reflects with the vocative O Israel. “You, Israel” also retains the emphasis. You will not be forgotten by me renders a rare Hebrew verb that occurs in an unusual form here. This passive verb may be rendered “I will not forget you” in languages that prefer active forms. Here Yahweh promises to commit himself to his chosen people.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The LORD says,
“Jacob, remember this;
Israel, remember that you are my servant.
I formed you as a servant to me.
Israel, I will never forget you.

• “Israel, remember these things,
because you are my servant.
I have created you to serve me.
I will never forget you, Israel.

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 .