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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 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, ikite-rare-ru (生きておられる) or “living” is used.
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
For swore see the comments on “swear” in verse 13. In Good News Translation the idea of swore is contained in the verb “promise,” which is made a part of what David said. It is perhaps better in some languages to introduce the direct quotation by saying “took an oath” (New International Version) or “made this promise” (New Century Version).
As the LORD lives is literally “on the life of the LORD.” This expression is used frequently in the Old Testament. It constitutes a very strong oath or promise that David will actually do what he says in the following verses. In many languages translators will be required to add something like “I promise” (Good News Translation) or “I swear” to show clearly that this is a forceful oath.
Redeemed my soul: The Hebrew noun translated soul (nephesh in Hebrew; see verse 12) refers to the “self” here, so my soul may be translated by the pronoun “me” in this context. Unlike the English word “soul,” which is often understood as referring to that part of a person that lives after the person’s death, the Hebrew noun refers to the whole person. The Hebrew verb translated redeemed sometimes has the sense “to buy back” or “to release [someone] by the payment of a price.” Other times, however, it means simply “rescued” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “delivered” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or “saved” (New Revised Standard Version) without reference to any payment. The verb is used here in the second sense.
Adversity: This translates a Hebrew noun with the general meaning “misfortune,” without reference to the specific cause of the misfortune. Compare the different English translations, all of which express basically the same thought: “adversity” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible), “trouble [or, troubles]” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Century Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible), and “distress” (New American Bible).
In certain languages, the whole relative clause who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity will be better translated as a separate sentence. For example, David’s words in this verse may be rendered “The LORD has rescued me from all kinds of difficulty. So as surely as he lives, I swear….”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Then the king swore with an oath, -or-
The king solemnly declared,
1:29b “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
“Yahweh is/be eternal ⌊witness⌋ ! He has saved me out of all kinds of difficulties. -or-
“The living Yahweh has rescued me whenever I have been in distress. ⌊Now⌋ I swear
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