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 26:65

The high priest tore his robes: according to the Mishnah, when the charge of blasphemy (see 12.31) was made against someone, “the judges stand on their feet and rend their garments, and they may not mend them again” (Sanhedrin 7.5). However, this same source also states, “The blasphemer is not culpable unless he pronounces the Name itself,” which suggests that “Power” was understood as a reference to God himself. Therefore Good News Translation translates “Power” (verse 64) as “the Almighty” (so also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

The robes were his outer garment, but “clothes” seems the easiest way to render it. Some translators have to name the garment, and they can say “coat” or “cloak.” He did not tear the clothing to pieces but merely made a tear in the garment, so tore his robes can be “tore part of his clothing” or “ripped his outer garment.” It may be helpful to have a footnote explaining the significance of this act, that is, it was done as a sign of grief or horror. Some translators put this in the text: “tore his robes to show his grief.”

Sometimes it helps to indicate the High Priest is addressing the Council here, as in “and said to the Council.”

He has uttered blasphemy has often been translated “He has spoken evil things about God” or “He has insulted God.” However, see the discussion at 9.3. Perhaps here the High Priest can say “He thinks he’s equal to God! This is an insult to God!”

Why do we still need witnesses? is a rhetorical question. In some languages the meaning can be expressed with a strong statement: “We don’t need any more witnesses.”

Witnesses: see verses 59-61; the meaning is “witnesses against him” or “people to tell what he did.”

His blasphemy may need to be transformed into a verb construction: “heard him insult God” or “heard him say that he is equal with God.”

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 .