Japanese benefactives (tame ni shite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, tame ni shite (ためにして) or “do for the sake of” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("battle")

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 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, tatakaw-are-ru (戦われる) or “battle” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 1:30

The LORD your God: see verse 10.

Who goes before you: or “who leads you,” or “who is in charge of you” (since in a military campaign the officer in charge led his troops).

Will himself fight for you: this is quite emphatic, and the translation should be equally emphatic. Other ways to express this clause are “He will fight on your side” (Contemporary English Version) or “He will help you as you fight.”

As he did for you in Egypt before your eyes: few if any of the Israelites with Moses in Kadesh Barnea had been present in Egypt when the exodus took place, since all the adults who had left Egypt had died in the wilderness (Num 26.63-65). But the Israelites Moses was addressing had heard the story and knew what Yahweh had done for his people.

Before your eyes means “as you saw [him do it]” (see Good News Translation), and this final sentence may be expressed as “just as he did when we saw him do all those things to the Egyptians” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .