complete verse (Deuteronomy 11:32)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 11:32:

  • Kupsabiny: “you must keep/guard well all the commandments and decisions that I am giving you this day.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “obey carefully all these decrees and Laws that I have put before you today.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “you (plur.) be sure to obey all the commands and statutes I am giving to you (plur.) now.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “be sure to obey all the rules and regulations that I am giving to you today.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 11:31 - 11:32

All the words and phrases in this verse have appeared several times before.

Pass over the Jordan: this means to cross over to the west side of the river.

For statutes and ordinances see 4.1.

Which I set before you this day: this refers to what follows (chapters 12–26).

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 .