Honorary "are" construct denoting God (“say”)

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.

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

Sung version of John 21

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

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Translation commentary on John 21:12

In classical Greek the verb translated eat here and had eaten in verse 15 means “to eat breakfast.” The only other instance of this verb in the New Testament is in Luke 11.37, where the reference is to the main meal of the day. The related noun is used in Matthew 22.4; Luke 11.38; 14.12. In all three verses the word designates the main meal of the day, rather than breakfast. However, it is possible to translate the verb here with the original meaning “to eat breakfast,” because of the contextual setting. New English Bible has “Come and have breakfast.”

The Greek verb translated dared may also be rendered “was brave enough” or “… bold enough.” The reason given (because they knew it was the Lord) seems illogical, since it suggests that the disciples did not need to ask Jesus who he was. Nevertheless, even though they knew it was Jesus, they may have wanted some confirmation from him.

As in verse 7 (It is the Lord), so in this verse the title Lord is used of the resurrected Jesus.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .