3rd person pronoun with high register (Japanese)

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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 third person singular and plural pronoun (“he,” “she,” “it” and their various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. While it’s not uncommon to avoid pronouns altogether in Japanese, there are is a range of third person pronouns that can be used. In these verses a number of them are used that pay particularly much respect to the referred person (or, in fact, God, as in Exodus 15:2), including kono kata (この方), sono kata (その方), and ano kata (あの方), meaning “this person,” “that person,” and “that person over there.”

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

See also third person pronoun with exalted register.

Translation commentary on Acts 2:25

The statement which introduces the direct discourse should indicate clearly that David is speaking about Jesus. In some languages the proper name must be introduced. I saw is translated by some translations “I foresaw”; but it is best to take the form of the verb in the sense of “to see (in front of oneself)” rather than “to see beforehand.”

The term for Lord must, of course, be the regular expression used in speaking of Jesus as Lord, for this is the contextual setting of this New Testament usage.

There is a problem in some languages in the shift of figurative usage in before me and by my right side, for people argue that he cannot be in two places at the same time. However, since by my right side refers primarily to a position taken by one who wishes to help and sustain another, it is entirely appropriate that this be rendered as “with me.” This makes it possible to preserve the sense of location without introducing seemingly contradictory expressions.

The clause so that I will not be troubled may be shifted into the active form as “so that people will not trouble me” or “so that people will not be able to trouble me” (some languages require the indication of potentiality in such a result clause projected into the future).

In most languages one can speak of an organ such as the heart (though the equivalent may be “liver,” “kidneys,” or “stomach”) as being “glad.” In fact, there may be a regular idiom for such an emotion, for example, “my heart is warm,” “my heart dances,” or “my heart is cool”; but in some languages only a “person can be glad in his heart.” Under such circumstances, the translation needs to be appropriately adapted.

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 2:25

Paragraph 2:25–28

2:25a

In the Greek, 2:25a begins with a conjunction that the Revised Standard Version translates as “For.” This conjunction introduces support from Scripture for Peter’s statement in 2:24. Psalm 16:8–11 supports the idea that God caused Jesus to become alive again.

David says about Him: King David was the writer of this psalm, and the pronoun Him here refers to the Messiah. Peter was interested in the prophetic meaning of Psalm 16:8–11, so he introduced 2:25b–28b with about Him. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

David says concerning him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
David says of him (New Jerusalem Bible)

David: David was king of Israel. In some languages it may be more honoring to name him as king. For example:

King David (New Living Translation (2004))

says: King David lived about a thousand years before Jesus. In some languages a literal translation would imply that King David lived at the same time as Jesus, or people might assume that. If that is true in your language, you may want to indicate that King David lived long before Jesus. For example:

said ⌊long ago⌋

2:25b

I saw the Lord always before me: The phrase saw…before me is a figure of speech. It indicates that, in all that David did, he was always aware of God being present. It also implies a close relationship with God.

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

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech in your translation. For example:

I was aware of the Lord always being present with/before me

You may then want to indicate the literal words and explain them in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “I saw the Lord always before me.” This is a figure of speech. It indicates that, in all that David did, he was always aware of God being present. It also implies a close relationship with God.

• Translate literally and explain the meaning of the figure of speech in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This is a figure of speech. It indicates that, in all that David did, he was always aware of God being present. It also implies a close relationship with God.

the Lord: This refers to God here.

2:25c

because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken: The conjunction because introduces the reason that David would not be shaken. It does not introduce the reason for seeing the Lord always before him (2:25b). Here are some other ways to translate these words:

Since he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken
-or-
I will not be shaken, because he is at my right hand
-or-
he is at my right hand, so I will not be shaken

He is at my right hand: This clause is a figure of speech. It indicates that God was with him and always ready to help him. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

with him at my right side (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he is close by my side (New Century Version)

This clause does not indicate that God was a physical presence at David’s right side. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

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

he is always ready to help me

You may then want to indicate the literal words and explain them in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “he is at my right hand.” This is a figure of speech. It indicates that God was with him and always ready to help him.

• Translate literally and explain the meaning of the figure of speech in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This is a figure of speech. It indicates that God was with him and always ready to help him.

I will not be shaken: This clause is a figure of speech. It indicates that David would not fear anyone who wanted to harm him. He would be confident that God would take care of him. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I will not be troubled (Good News Translation)
-or-
I will not be afraid (Contemporary English Version)

The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊No one⌋ will shake me
-or-

⌊No one⌋ will cause me to be troubled

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