Japanese benefactives (awarende)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, awarende (あわれんで) or “have mercy/compassion” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Luke 18:13

Exegesis:

ho de telōnēs makrothen hestōs ‘but the tax-collector, standing at a distance.’ As contrasted with statheis (v. 9) hestōs is a neutral term. makrothen is used with reference to the Pharisee, or, to those present in the temple in general, preferably the latter.

ouk ēthelen oude tous opthalmous eparai eis ton ouranon ‘would not even raise his eyes to heaven.’ The double negation ouk … oude goes with the clause as a whole. Eyes were raised in the direction of those that were going to be addressed (cf. 6.20; 16.23; Jn. 4.35; 6.5), hence before a prayer they were raised upward.

etupten to stēthos autou ‘he kept beating his breast,’ iterative imperfect. The beating of the breast was a gesture of sorrow or contrition.

hilasthēti moi tō hamartōlō ‘have mercy on me, the sinner, i.e. sinner that I am.’ As contrasted with eleēson ‘have pity on me’ (16.24; 17.13; 18.38f) hilasthēti refers not to some physical need or distress, but to a spiritual predicament, the nature of which is indicated by tō hamartōlō (cf. on 5.8), in apposition to moi, the object of hilasthēti.

hilaskomai, in the passive ‘to be merciful, or gracious,’ ‘to have mercy.’

Translation:

Standing far off, or ‘kept at a distance and,’ ‘did not dare to come near (or, to the front) and.’

Lift up his eyes to heaven, or ‘look towards the sky, or, upwards,’ for which several languages possess a specific verb.

Beat his breast is expressive of sorrow, contrition, or remorse in some languages (e.g. Marathi, Zarma, Uab Meto, Batak Toba) but in several others it indicates something quite different, e.g. delight (Dan), anger (Mezquital Otomi), self-congratulation, or boasting (Sranan Tongo, Tepeuxila Cuicatec of Teutila, Chokwe, Ekari, some European languages); hence, cultural equivalents such as ‘beat his head’ (Dan), ‘got low’ (Ekari), ‘beat his heart’ (Sranan Tongo, which uses an equivalent, but slightly archaic idiom, ‘laid his hand on his head,’ in 23.48), or a literal rendering followed by an indication of its functional meaning, e.g. ‘beat-himself on his chest to show his sorrow’ (Kituba, similarly Chokwe), or again non-symbolic renderings, cf. “with a gesture of despair” (Phillips).

Be merciful to me, or ‘have mercy on me,’ cf. on “mercy” in 1.50. Here the reference is to compassion that is ready to forgive offenses.

Sinner, see references on 5.30.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 18:13

18:13a

But: The tax collector’s prayer in this verse contrasts with the Pharisee’s prayer in 18:11–12. The Berean Standard Bible has introduced this contrast with the conjunction But. Some English versions do not have a conjunction. Translate the contrast in a natural way in your language.

the tax collector stood at a distance: The phrase at a distance indicates that the tax collector stood away from the Pharisee and probably also from the other people who were praying. The tax collector was probably in an outer court of the temple, but in a place where the Pharisee could still see him.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate at a distance more specifically. For example:

at a distance ⌊from other people⌋
-or-
far ⌊from the Pharisee⌋

The tax collector was standing far from other people because he knew that he was a sinner. He felt unworthy to come nearer to them. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

The tax collector stood ⌊humbly⌋ apart ⌊from other people⌋

18:13b

unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven is a common expression that often simply means “looked” (as in 16:23). In this context, it refers to looking upward toward the sky. Jews often looked toward the sky when they prayed to God. In that context the sky was a symbol of God’s dwelling place.

The tax collector did not want to look up, because he was ashamed. He knew that he had sinned against God and he did not feel worthy even to look up toward him. Some other ways to translate this are:

and would not even raise his face to heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
and did not feel worthy to even look toward heaven
-or-
he thought, “I am unworthy to look up to heaven/God.”

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the meaning by saying that he looked down. For example:

he kept his head down/bowed

lift up his eyes to heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven here refers to the sky as a symbol of God’s dwelling place.

Since the tax collector would not look upward, you could translate the word heaven here with the usual word for sky. See heaven in the Glossary.

18:13c

Instead: The word Instead indicates a contrast with the action “lift up his eyes to heaven” in 18:13b. The tax collector did not have the confidence to look up to heaven. Instead, he showed his distress over his sin. The Berean Standard Bible, like the New Living Translation (2004) and God’s Word, introduces the contrast with Instead. The New International Version and several other translations say “but.” In some languages no conjunction is needed.

he beat his breast: In that culture people beat their chests with their fists either in anger or distress. Here the tax collector was greatly distressed because he had sinned. He felt sorry and ashamed. In some cultures, beating the chest does not have this meaning. If that is true in your culture, some other ways to translate it are:

• Translate the action and indicate the meaning. For example:

he felt so sorry that he hit his chest
-or-
he beat his chest in sorrow (New Living Translation (2004))

• Substitute an action that has the right meaning in your culture. For example:

he bowed his head

• Translate the meaning without the action. For example:

feeling very sorry/ashamed
-or-
he showed his sorrow

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

and said: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and said is literally “saying.” It indicates that the tax collector prayed the words in 18:13d as he beat his breast.

In some languages it may be more natural to use a verb such as “prayed” rather than said. For example:

and prayed (Contemporary English Version)

18:13d

God, have mercy on me, a sinner: In this prayer the tax collector confessed that he was a sinner. He begged God to pity him. The context implies that he was asking God to show compassion to him by forgiving him. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

God, I am a sinner. I beg you to be merciful ⌊and forgive⌋ me.

me, a sinner: A sinner is someone who habitually offends God. The ways a person may offend God include doing and thinking things that God does not approve. A person may also offend God by his attitudes and by not doing what God wants him to do. Some ways to translate sinner in this context are:

⌊I am⌋ a person who sins
-or-

⌊I am⌋ a person who does not obey you
-or-

⌊I am⌋ a wrongdoer

General Comment on 18:13d

At the end of this verse, the tax collector ended his prayer. In some languages it may be natural to indicate this explicitly. For example:

‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ⌊That is what he prayed.⌋

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