Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("together with")

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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, tomo ni o-rare-ru (ともにおられる) or “together with” is used.

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

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 32:8

With him is an arm of flesh: This idiom refers to the power of human beings. In many cases a literal rendering is not advisable. So it may be better to say “He has only human strength” (New Jerusalem Bible), “He has with him mere human strength” ( NET Bible), or “He has only human power” (Anchor Bible). Compare the somewhat similar expressions in Isa 31.3 and Jer 17.5.

But with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles may be rendered “but the LORD our God is on our side to help us and fight our battles” (God’s Word).

The exhortation of Hezekiah is in the form of a direct quotation; but in those languages that favor indirect discourse, the same meaning may be conveyed by saying:

• 7 He urged them to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or discouraged by the king of Assyria or the big army with him. He said that someone greater was on the side of Judah. 8 The king of Assyria had human power on his side, but the LORD God was on the side of Judah to help them and fight their battles.

And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah: As in verse 6, the Hebrew word for people may refer specifically to the army. The Hebrew verb rendered took confidence often refers to support or strength that has been provided. In its form used here, it sometimes refers to the action of leaning on or against something. The people “leaned on” the words of the king, which means that they “were encouraged” (New Century Version), “were buoyed up” (Revised English Bible), or “were reassured” (An American Translation). But where passive verbs are not a realistic option, translators may prefer to render this whole sentence as “These words greatly encouraged the army of Judah” (Contemporary English Version) or “And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said” (similarly New International Version). Instead of saying Hezekiah king of Judah, it may be more natural in some languages to say “Hezekiah, their king.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 32:8

32:8a With him is only the arm of flesh,

The arm of King Sennacherib is only a man’s arm.
-or-
He has a human army on his side

32:8b but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

But Yahweh, our God, is with us to help us fight our battles.”
-or-
but our God Yahweh will fight for us.”

32:8c So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

When Hezekiah the king of Judah said this, the people regained their courage.
-or-
The people became more determined after hearing what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

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