sirs (Japanese honorifics)

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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 choice of a formal plural suffix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In these verses, the Greek that is translated as “sirs” in English is translated as sensei-gata (先生方), combining “sir / teacher” — sensei — with the honorific plural suffix -gata. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

save

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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Acts 16:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:30:

  • Uma: “He brought them outside and he said to them: ‘What must I do so I will not be punished?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then he took them outside and he said to them, ‘Sirs, what must I do so that I will be saved?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he took them outside, and he said, ‘What can I do so that I might be freed from the punishment of God?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he brought-them -out to the outside and said, ‘Sir(s), what must I do to be saved?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He then caused them to go with him outside and then he questioned. He said, ‘Excuse me, tell me what I must do so that I can be saved.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 16:30

Saved should be taken with full theological meaning, since this is evidently the meaning intended by Luke, and not simply as a reference to what the jailer hopes to do in order to save himself from this bad situation. However, in many languages a term for saved implies both physical escape as well as moral and spiritual change. If both can be combined in this context, the meaning becomes even more relevant.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:30

16:30a

Then he brought them out: The jailer brought Paul and Silas out of the inner cell. It is not clear if he brought them completely outside the prison.

In some languages it is necessary or more natural to indicate where he brought them to. If that is true in your language, refer to the inner cell. For example:

He then brought them out ⌊of the inner cell⌋

brought them out: The jailer politely brought them out. He did not force them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

led them out (Good News Translation)
-or-
escorted them out (New Jerusalem Bible)

16:30b

Sirs: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sirs is a respectful and humble way to begin to speak to people that the jailer felt were greater than him. The Greek word is often translated “lord” or “master,” which may be appropriate in your language here.

what must I do: The word must indicates that the jailer wanted to know what he is required to do. Other ways to translate this clause are:

what is necessary that I do
-or-
what am I required to do

to be saved: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The verse does not say who the jailer expects to save him, but he probably is thinking of the god that Paul and Silas served. For example:

⌊for your god⌋ to save me

saved: It is not clear how much the jailer knew about the Christian way to be saved. He probably expected to do something to be accepted by Paul and Silas’s god. He may have also been worried about being rescued from the anger of their god. Translate this word in that way.

In some languages the usual translation of saved clearly refers to Christian salvation, such as: “save from the punishment of sins.” If that is true in your language, translate more generally, referring to a god accepting him.

Do not translate in a way that implies he already knew the Christian way to be saved.

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