complete verse (Isaiah 48:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 48:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “I am the one who has called (him) and I have spoken to (him).
    I have led (him) and he shall prosper in his plans.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Yes, I have really said this.
    I have called him.
    I will bring him,
    and he will succeed in his work.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I myself who-spoke and called him. I will-command him and he will-be-victorious in what he will-be-doing.” (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 48:15

I, even I, have spoken and called him, I have brought him: There is a change from the third person references to the LORD in the previous verse to first person references here. The speaker is obviously Yahweh. His words are highlighted by the repetition of the pronoun I in Hebrew. I, even I may be rendered “I myself.” Three verbs follow with Yahweh as their subject: spoken, called, and brought. It is typical in Isaiah to use three similar expressions for emphasis. Here they stress God’s initiative in calling Cyrus to his task (see also 45.3-4; 46.11). I have brought him is literally “I have caused him to come/go,” which emphasizes that Cyrus’ mission is due to the divine call and empowerment. However, this third clause is rather vague, and this can be seen in the modern versions; for example, Good News Translation has “I led him out,” Revised English Bible says “I have brought him here,” Bible en français courant translates “I made him come [here],” and New International Version uses “I will bring him.” Contemporary English Version perhaps hints toward a meaningful translation by rendering the last line as “I have brought him this far, and he will be successful.” This means that the LORD has led and directed Cyrus all this time, and the outcome will be the success of the Persian emperor’s military campaigns. Like Good News Translation and New International Version, translators may opt for a general rendering, but their rendering of the first three verbs should underline God’s initiative in leading Cyrus all the way (see the examples below).

And he will prosper in his way means everything Cyrus does will succeed because he is carrying out God’s plan and purpose. The connector and may be rendered “so [that]” to show that the expected success of Cyrus is the result of God’s calling him. His way refers to Cyrus’s mission, his military pursuits. In simple terms it is whatever Cyrus does. For this whole line Bible en français courant translates “What he takes upon himself will succeed,” and Good News Translation says simply “and [I] gave him success.” New International Version has “and he will succeed in his mission.” Revised English Bible is similar with “and his mission will prosper.” All these are valid models.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• I, I am the one who spoke to him,
called him, and led him,
so whatever he does will succeed.

• I myself spoke to him, called him, and directed him,
so his mission [or, work/task] will succeed.

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 .