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”.

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God (“enter”)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 rare (られ) 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, hai-rare-ru (入られる) or “enter” is used.

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

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

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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. )

Translation commentary on Matthew 9:28

The house is most logically taken to be Jesus’ own home in Capernaum, though according to the context it may refer back to the house mentioned in verse 10. Most translations are noncommittal, rendering either “indoors” (Good News Translation, New English Bible) or “the house” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). In Greek the phrase normally refers to one’s own house; see comments at 9.10. Some translators will follow the normal meaning of the Greek phrase here and say “his house.” Others will leave it unclear, saying “went inside” or “went in the house.”

Revised Standard Version says the blind men came to him. This can also be “went to him” or “approached him.”

Do you believe places upon the blind men the necessity of faith in Jesus’ power and willingness to heal them.

That I am able to do this is more precise in Good News Translation: (“that I can heal you”); New English Bible has “that I have the power to do what you want.” Since the healing they wanted was to have their sight restored, the phrase can be rendered “that I can give you your sight” or “that I can make you see.”

The noun of address rendered “sir” by Good News Translation and most other translations may also mean Lord (Revised Standard Version, New American Bible). The problem of interpretation relates to the perspective from which Matthew writes. That is, does he conceive of the men as acknowledging the lordship of Jesus at this point, or does he see them as merely addressing Jesus with a term of respect? Translators are referred to 8.2. Certainly support can be found for the Christian “Lord” here, but most translators have used the equivalent of “sir.” Some languages may require a fuller response on the part of the men, as in “Yes, sir, we believe you can.”

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 .