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

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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 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 2 Kings 21:7

The structure of verses 7-8 is complicated since they contain a flashback quotation of what the LORD had said to David and to Solomon as contrasting background for the evil actions of Manasseh. A proposed restructuring of the two verses together is given at the end of the comments on verse 8. But note that Contemporary English Version provides a different kind of model, restructuring verses 6-7 together as follows:

• and even set up the pole for Asherah there. Manasseh practiced magic and witchcraft; he asked fortunetellers for advice and sacrificed his own son. He did many sinful things and made the LORD very angry.

• Years ago the Lord told David and his son Solomon:

• Jerusalem is the place I prefer above all places in Israel. It belongs to me, and there I will be worshiped forever.

The graven image of Asherah that he had made: The Hebrew word for graven should be understood to mean “sculptured” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “carved” (New Revised Standard Version). Compare 2 Kgs 17.41. In many languages it will be helpful to remind the reader that Asherah is a goddess, as Good News Translation has done. New Century Version translates the whole expression “Manasseh carved an Asherah idol.”

Which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel: This clause qualifies the city of Jerusalem. See the comments at 1 Kgs 11.32.

I will put my name for ever: As in earlier passages where this expression is used (1 Kgs 9.3; 11.36; 14.21 and verse 4 above), this indicates the LORD’s determination regarding a permanent place where he was to be worshiped.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 21:7

21:7a Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made

He took the carved pole for ⌊the goddess⌋ Asherah that he had built/formed.

-or-

He ordered his carved symbol/idol of ⌊the female god called⌋ Asherah

21:7b and set it up in the temple,

He put it inside ⌊Yahweh’s⌋ house.

-or-

placed inside God’s temple.

21:7a-b (reordered)

He placed in ⌊Yahweh’s⌋ temple the Asherah image that he had made.

21:7c of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon,

Yahweh had spoken about this house when he had talked with David and his son Solomon. He had said,

-or-

This is the temple that Yahweh had spoken about to David and ⌊then/later⌋ to David’s son Solomon. He had said,

-or-

Yahweh referred to this temple when he spoke to David and his son Solomon. He told them that

21:7d “In this temple and in Jerusalem,

“In this house and in Jerusalem,

-or-

“This temple is in ⌊the city of⌋ Jerusalem,

-or-

this temple was to be in Jerusalem city.

21:7e which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel,

which I have chosen from all Israel’s tribes,

-or-

the city I have selected from all ⌊the cities⌋ throughout Israel.

-or-

He had chosen Jerusalem from the whole land of Israel.

21:7f I will establish My Name forever.

I will live forever.

-or-

⌊This is where⌋ I want ⌊my people⌋ to worship me forever.

-or-

He wanted to live in the temple in Jerusalem permanently.

21:7d-f (reordered)

[He told them that] Jerusalem was the city that he had chosen from all the tribes of/in Israel. In the temple in that city his name was to be ⌊known/honored⌋ .

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