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 to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title. These titles are distinct from nominal titles such as “master.” This is evident from the forms such as go-shujin-sama (ご主人) “master” or “lord” which is the combination of the nominal title shujin “master” and the honorific prefix go-. Go- (御 or ご) is also used here is go-ran (ご覧), a combination of “behold / see” (ran).
Other uses of honorifics in this verse include:
- Esau is addressed as Esau-sama (エサウ様), combining a transliteration for “Esau” and the formal title –sama.
- The choice of a benefactive construction. Here, goran (ご覧) or “see/behold/look” 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).”
- A lexical honorific forms, i.e., a completely different word. In this verse, sashiageru (差し上げる), a respectful form of ageru (あげる) or “give” is used.
- An imperative construction the honorific form kudasai (ください) reflects that the action is called for as a favor for the sake of the beneficiary. This polite kudasai imperative form is often translated as “please” in English. While English employs pure imperatives in most imperative constructions (“Do this!”), Japanese chooses the polite kudasai (“Do this, please.”).
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
