complete verse (Deuteronomy 1:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 1:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “At that time I told those people many things that they needed to do.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time I told you the work you need to do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And I also told you (plur.) at-that-time all that you (plur.) should do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At that time I also told you other things that you should do.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 1:18

I commanded: as in verse 16. New Jerusalem Bible has “I gave you instructions.”

At that time: as in verse 9, at Mount Sinai.

All the things that you should do: Moses was talking to Israelites, giving them instructions about their duties and responsibilities as the people of God.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .