Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("take")

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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, to-rare-ru (取られる) or “take” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Acts 20:28

The phrase keep watch over yourselves must not be translated in such a way as to imply “look out for yourselves,” in the sense of trying to gain whatever benefit one can from circumstances. The implication here is that the church leader should be concerned about his own spiritual welfare as well as the welfare of all those whom the Holy Spirit has placed in his charge.

It is frequently impossible to carry over the idiom implied in the use of the flock, particularly since in so many parts of the world sheep are not cared for. Rather, they are the scavengers of the village or are permitted to run loose on the surrounding hillsides. Therefore, the flock must be translated as “the people” or “the congregation.” If the figure of flock must be abandoned, obviously some adjustment must be made in the related figure of shepherd. The concept of shepherd may be expressed as “those who take care of” or “those who protect.”

In this verse Paul is describing the function of the church leader rather than his office. For this reason the Good News Translation has translated the literal phrase “(the Holy Spirit) has made you overseers” by has placed in your care. This word rendered “overseer” or “guardian” by a number of translators has been rendered elsewhere as church leaders by the Good News Translation (Philippians 1.1; 1 Timothy 3.2; Titus 1.7; and in 1 Peter 2.25 it appears as Keeper, in reference to Christ). Has placed in your care may be rendered as “has given to you as your responsibility to take care of.”

Be shepherds is actually an infinitive, but it may be used in the sense of an imperative, parallel with keep watch. On the other hand, it is possible to take it as an infinitive of purpose after the verb keep watch: “keep watch … so that you may be shepherds.” In instances in which the metaphor be shepherds of the church cannot be employed, it is sometimes possible to approximate the meaning of this figure of speech by a simile—for example, “take care of the church of God in the same way that shepherds take care of their sheep.” If the metaphor must be abandoned entirely, one can say “take care of the church of God” or “provide for the church of God.”

There is a textual problem as to whether the reading should be the church of God or “the church of the Lord.” The choice of the reading at this place depends in large measure upon the choice one makes regarding the phrase rendered by the Good News Translation through the death of his own Son. The text followed by the Good News Translation at this point literally reads “through the blood of his own.” “Blood” in the present context is, of course, a reference to death and should generally be translated in that fashion. Moreover, those who accept this reading understand “his own” to mean his own Son, and so the Good News Translation has made this explicit. The alternative reading at this point is literally “through his own blood,” which also must be understood in the sense of “through his own death.” However, if this second reading is followed, then it would go much easier with “the church of the Lord” than it would with the church of God. Since the textual evidence more strongly favors the reading which the Good News Translation has in the text, through the death of his own Son, it would seem better to follow the text which reads the church of God rather than “the church of the Lord.” On the other hand, if one feels bound to follow the text “through his own death,” this would refer to “the church of the Lord” (that is, the Lord Jesus).

Through the death of his own Son specifies the means by which God made the Church his own, but in many languages it is not easy to introduce an event such as death as an instrument. The closest equivalent may be “the fact that his own Son died made this possible,” “by dying his own Son caused this to be,” or “his own Son died, and this made the church belong to God.”

The verb translated made his own by the Good News Translation has been understood in the sense of “purchased” or “bought” by some translators (see King James Version, Jerusalem Bible). This gives the wrong impression, as though the Lord paid somebody something in order to acquire the church. The verb itself can mean simply “to acquire for one’s self,” without any thought of purchase involved. In fact, there are some passages in the New Testament where commentators understand the verb to mean “rescue from destruction” (see Luke 17.33; Hebrews 10.39), and so believe that it should be translated with that meaning in the present context. The meaning of “make one’s own” or “get for one’s self” seems to be the best meaning in the present context.

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 20:28

20:28a–29b

In 20:28–29, Paul compared believers to sheep, church leaders to shepherds, and enemies of God to wolves. If possible, keep these metaphors in your translation. They are used elsewhere in the Bible.

20:28a

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Keep watch means “be alert” or “give full attention.” In this verse Paul told the church elders to be like shepherds who are awake and carefully watching in order to protect the sheep. Here this clause indicates that the elders should be concerned about people with bad intent who might corrupt the good teaching they and their flock have received. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock (English Standard Version)
-or-
Be vigilant over yourselves and the whole flock

Here the word flock is used figuratively for a group of believers. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to a group of believers. If that is true in your language, you may want to change it to a simile. For example:

Like shepherds guarding their sheep from harm, keep watch over yourselves and all God’s people
-or-
Keep watch over yourselves. As shepherds watch over and care for their sheep, watch over and take care of the people/churches

Also see note below.

flock: Literally, this word refers to a group of sheep or goats. Here the word is a metaphor for a group of believers. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to a group of believers. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:

flock, ⌊that is, the believers⌋

• Translate literally and explain the metaphor in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “flock ⌊of sheep⌋” refers here to believers. The Bible often compares believers to sheep.

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

the believers

You may then want to tell what the literal word is in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally “flock ⌊of sheep⌋.” The Bible often compares believers to sheep.

• Translate literally and allow 20:28b–c to explain them.

In some languages flocks are allowed to roam around without anyone watching over them. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate the meaning of the metaphor, as above.

20:28b

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God. See how you translated this phrase in 1:2 or 19:2.

overseers: This word refers to leaders who are responsible for a project, a business, or a group of people. When overseers are leaders of a church, they are responsible to lead and care for those people. Other ways to translate this word are:

guardians (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
leaders

20:28c

Be shepherds of the church of God: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be shepherds:

(1) It indicates the purpose of the Holy Spirit making them overseers. For example:

to shepherd the church of God (New Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, English Standard Version, King James Version)

(2) It is a command. For example:

Be shepherds of the church of God (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual way to understand the Greek grammar here.

Be shepherds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be shepherds is a verb that describes the work of a shepherd. This work includes leading, feeding, and protecting sheep. Here it is a metaphor that refers to leading, teaching, and protecting believers.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the above meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This refers to leading, teaching, and protecting believers, the church of God.

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

⌊care for⌋ the church of God ⌊like a⌋ shepherd ⌊cares for his sheep⌋

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

care for (Revised Standard Version)

the church of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as church usually refers to groups of believers who follow Jesus Christ. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

congregation of God
-or-
God’s people ⌊who live there⌋
-or-
the gathering of believers in God

See how you translated the word church in 5:11 or 20:17.

20:28d

which He purchased with His own blood: This clause tells the reader more about the church, the people of God. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other peoples of God and only this one was purchased with His own blood. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the church. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He bought the church with his own blood.

He: Here this word refers to God (20:28c).

purchased: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as purchased refers generally to someone getting something so that it belongs to him. Jesus’ death was the way that God obtained his people. It does not mean that God paid someone to buy his people. Other ways to translate this word are:

obtained (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
made his own (Good News Translation)
-or-
bought (New International Version)

with His own blood: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase translated as with His own blood:

(1) It means with the blood of his own (Son). For example:

with the blood of his own Son (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It means with his own blood. That is, the church was purchased at the price of God’s blood. For example:

Be shepherds of the church of God, which he purchased with His own blood. (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because God is spirit and because of similar usage in 4:23, 24:23, and John 1:11.

blood: This word is a figure of speech for the death of Jesus. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Here the word “blood” refers to death.

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in your translation. For example:

the blood of his own Son, ⌊that is, his death⌋
-or-
the blood of his own Son ⌊which he shed when he died on the cross⌋

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

death (New Century Version)
-or-
when Jesus died ⌊on the cross⌋

You should keep the word blood in your translation if at all possible, since this is such an important figure of speech in the Bible.

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