before / in the sight of / presence of (God) (Japanese honorifics)

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-mae (御前) or “before (God)” in the referenced verses. In some cases in can also be used in reference to being before a king, such as in 1 Samuel 16:16.

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

See also presence (Japanese honorifics) and before you / to you.

people (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-sumai (御民) or “people (of God)” in the referenced verses.

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

Japanese benefactives (kanaete)

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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, kanaete (かなえて) or “grant” 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).”

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

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 8:59

Since this begins a new appeal, it may be helpful in some languages to restate the fact that this is something that Solomon is requesting of God. New Century Version begins with “I ask that….”

Let these words … be near to the LORD our God day and night: A literal rendering of this expression will probably sound awkward in many languages. The meaning is more clearly communicated in the following renderings: “May the LORD our God be constantly aware of my request” and “I ask that the Lord our God always remember this prayer” (International Children’s Bible).

The words wherewith I have made supplication mean simply “which I have prayed,” but may be translated even more simply as “my prayer” or “this prayer.”

Day and night is an idiomatic way of saying “continually” or “always.”

May he maintain the cause of his servant: For maintain the cause, see the comments on verse 45. His servant refers to Solomon, who is the one making this prayer (see the comments on verses 28, 36, and 52).

As each day requires is literally “a thing of a day in its day.” This may be translated “all the things we need every day” or “each day, in whatever way we need it” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 8:59

8:59a And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD

May these words which I have prayed to Yahweh
-or-
May these prayers that I have prayed before Yahweh

8:59b be near to the LORD our God day and night,

remain in the thoughts/heart of Yahweh our God day and night.
-or-
be remembered by Yahweh our God always.

8:59a-b (reordered)

⌊I ask that⌋ day and night Yahweh our God will remember these prayers of mine.

8:59c so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel

I pray that Yahweh may act justly to help me, his servant, and his people Israel.
-or-
Then he will go on doing what is right for me his servant, and for his people Israel.

8:59d as each day requires,

May he meet the needs that ⌊we(incl.) have⌋ each day.
-or-
May he help us with whatever problems/issues come/arise day by day.

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.