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 Deuteronomy 1:14

This verse offers no problems for translators. New Revised Standard Version is clearer than Revised Standard Version; it has “The plan you have proposed is a good one.” New Jerusalem Bible is even more concise, “Your plan is good.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible are alike: “What you propose to do is good.” Contemporary English Version has “That’s a good idea!”

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:4

Here Moses recalls the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea (Exo 14.23-29).

The army … their horses … their chariots: all these words are also found in Exo 14.23. Army refers to the Egyptian soldiers or fighting men, and in many languages it will be expressed as “all the Egyptian soldiers.” The Egyptian war chariots were pulled by two horses. In many languages translators will need to use a descriptive phrase for chariots; for example, “horse-drawn war carts” or “war carts pulled by two horses.” It will be helpful in cultures where horses are unknown to use a descriptive phrase, for example, “animal called ‘horse,’ ” and include an illustration of this animal, preferably pulling a chariot.

He made the water of the Red Sea overflow them: that is, as explained in the account in Exodus, God allowed the waters of the Sea to fall back in place and drown the Egyptians. For Red Sea see 1.40.

As they pursued after you: the Egyptian soldiers rode in their chariots as they pursued the Israelites. It will therefore be helpful to place this clause at the beginning of the verse as follows: “When the Egyptian soldiers chased you in their war carts pulled by horses, you saw the LORD drown them in the Red Sea and destroy them completely [or, decisively].”

To this day: this means “and so things remain to this day” (Revised English Bible). New International Version has “the LORD brought lasting ruin on them.”

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 .