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 Acts 20:35

For the exegetical problem related to the translation of in all things, see 20.34. This expression may be idiomatically rendered in a number of languages as “I have shown you in every way” or “I have shown you how under all kinds of circumstances.”

By working hard in this way may be rendered as “by working hard as I have worked” or “by doing hard work as I have done.”

Weak should be taken as a reference to the sick.

Paul quotes a saying from the Lord Jesus, and though this appears nowhere else in the New Testament, there is no reason to doubt its authenticity. Not everything that our Lord said and did was recorded in the Gospels (see John 20.30-31). For the translation there is more happiness in giving than in receiving, see also the Jerusalem Bible. Happiness is a very difficult term to translate; it refers to the kind of joy one experiences when God rules in one’s life and when one’s values are based upon the values of the Kingdom of God rather than on the values of this world.

Again, the verb remembering must be understood in terms of “bearing constantly in mind” or “reminding oneself constantly.” This is not the remembering after a time of forgetting.

The rendering of there is more happiness in giving than in receiving may require considerable readjustment, since in so many languages it is only people who can be happy, give, and receive. Therefore one may translate as “when a person gives he is happier than when he receives” or “if a person gives to someone else, this makes him happier than if he just receives from someone.”

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 20:35

20:35a

In everything, I showed you: This phrase in Greek is literally: “all (things).” Here it refers generally to deeds that Paul did. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

By every deed
-or-
That’s what I have always done in order that

20:35b

this kind of hard work: This phrase indicates that Paul working with his hands (20:34) is an example of hard work. Paul worked hard with his hands to support himself and others financially. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that kind of working hard
-or-
working hard in this way (Good News Translation)
-or-
my example by working hard ⌊with my hands⌋

weak: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weak refers to weakness of any kind. They may not have been able to work because they were sick or disabled. They may have had low social status and people in general avoided them. Here it probably refers to anyone who could not support themselves financially.

In some languages a literal translation would have a different 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 “weak” refers to people who could not work and support themselves.

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

weak ⌊and unable to work⌋

• Translate only the implied meaning. For example:

those who are unable to work

20:35c

remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: Here the word remembering means “to continue to think about.” It does not refer to remembering something that had been forgotten. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said (Revised English Bible)
-or-
think about this saying of the Lord Jesus
-or-
think about that the Lord Jesus himself said this:

20:35d

It is more blessed to give than to receive:
This saying is stated in an impersonal manner: It is more blessed. It indicates that people who give are more blessed than people who receive. It probably implies that God will bless them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

He who gives is more blessed than he who receives
-or-

⌊God⌋ blesses the person more who gives than the person who receives
-or-
You/We who give ⌊something⌋ ⌊to someone⌋ are more blessed than those of you/us who receive ⌊something⌋

blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed describes a person who is in a good situation. In the Bible, the good situation results from God being favorable/kind to the person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Joyful/desirable is your situation
-or-
How good it is for you
-or-
You are blessed/favored/fortunate

This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings like happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed, occurs frequently in the Gospels in the form “Blessed/happy is the person who….” See for example, Matthew 5:3–11 and Luke 6:20–22. You will probably want to translate the word blessed in this verse in the same way you translated it in the Gospels.

give…receive: It is not stated what is given or received. Here the meaning is general. Some languages must say what is given or received. For example:

give ⌊things⌋…receive ⌊things⌋

receive: In some languages “take” and “receive” are translated by the same verb. The English verb “receive” implies that someone gave the gift, but the English verb “take” does not imply that.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate “take” with no one giving it. If that is true in your language, indicate that someone gave here. For example:

to be given ⌊something⌋
-or-
the blessing you have when ⌊someone⌋ gives you ⌊something⌋

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