formal 2nd person plural pronoun (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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on Matthew 11:11

In some languages there needs to be an indication that the Malachi citation of verse 10 is finished. This can be done by beginning verse 11 with “Jesus continued by saying” or something similar.

Truly, I say to you: see comments on 5.18.

Among those born of women: scholars agree that this expression is merely a way of contrasting human beings with supernatural beings, which is the basis for Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “John is more important than any man who has ever lived.” Barclay is accurate, though somewhat flowery: “… among mortal men no greater figure than John the Baptizer has ever emerged in history.” Other ways to express it are “of all the people who have ever lived, not one of them is more important” and “no one who has ever lived has been more important than John the Baptist.” Note that greater here means “more important.”

Has risen, meaning “has appeared on the scene” or “has come into existence,” is generally rendered as “has lived,” as in the examples above.

Yet marks a contrast. It can also be “nevertheless” or “but.” Quite often translators begin a new sentence at this point.

He who is least in the kingdom of heaven refers to the disciples of Jesus. See comments on 10.42. The phrase can be here “even the person who is the least important among those under God’s rule” or “anyone under God’s rule, even the least important person.”

Greater than he (Good News Translation “… John”) contrasts Jesus’ disciples with John the Baptist. Their greatness is that of privilege to participate in the rule of God rather than greatness of achievement or character. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “The least one in God’s new world is greater than he,” Malay common language version “The least one under God’s rule enjoys blessings greater that those of John,” and INCL “The least one among God’s people is greater than John.”

As in the first part of the verse, greater does not refer to physical size but to importance and privilege.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .