complete verse (Isaiah 46:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 46:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “I said long ago
    what is going to happen in the end.
    I talked about things that had not happened before,
    my plans shall not be spoiled
    and I am making what I want come to pass.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From the beginning to the end,
    and from the time of former generations
    I make known what will happen now
    I say: My purpose will stand,
    and I will do all that I please” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At the beginning I already revealed the future. From ancient times, I already prophesied what will-happen. My plans will- surely -be-fulfilled; I will-do all that I want/desire.” (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 46:10

Verses 10-11 describe activities of the incomparable Yahweh. The Hebrew participles rendered declaring, saying, and calling introduce three of his activities.

Declaring the end from the beginning means that Yahweh predicts events before they happen (see the comments on 41.26-27). The end refers to the occurrence of some event, while the beginning refers to the time before it happens. One event referred to in verse 11 that Yahweh predicted was Cyrus’ rise to power. For this line New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “I foretell the end from the beginning.” Bible en français courant says “From the beginning I have announced my goal,” which fits the context of the last two lines well.

And from ancient times things not yet done is parallel to the previous line. The verb declaring is implied here. From ancient times is literally “from before.” Revised Standard Version renders this same phrase as “long ago” in 45.21. Here Good News Translation has “long ago,” and Bible en français courant says “Long in advance.” In this context the phrase could simply mean “in the past,” without referring to the distant past, so it may be rendered “in advance” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “beforehand.” The things not yet done uses the key verb “do.” This passive expression may be rendered in an active form by saying “what has not yet occurred” (New Jerusalem Bible), “what is still to come” (New International Version), or “what I will do.”

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’: These two parallel lines describe another activity of Yahweh. He accomplishes what he plans to do. My counsel refers to the plans the LORD makes. The Hebrew word for counsel has the sense of “plan” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “purpose” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible) here, as in 5.19 and 44.26 (see the comments there). Shall stand is literally “will be established,” which means Yahweh’s plans will take place (see the comments on 8.10 and 14.24).

For I will accomplish all my purpose, see the comments on 44.28. Accomplish renders the same Hebrew verb as the one for done in the second line. For this line New Jerusalem Bible says “I shall do whatever I please,” and Bible en français courant has “All that I want to do, I do it.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I announce from the beginning what the end will be,
I state beforehand what is yet to be.
I say, ‘My plans remains firm,
I will certainly accomplish what I intend to do.’

• I announce what the end will be from the outset,
I announce beforehand what I will do.
I say that my purpose will be achieved,
that I will do everything I intend to do.

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 .