Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("order/command")

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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 morphemes rare (られ) or are (され) are 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, meiji-rare-ru (命じられる) or “order/command” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 9:16

I looked, and behold: see verse 13.

You had sinned against the LORD your God: the verb normally translated “to sin” is used in this passage. In the Bible its basic meaning is to do something that is contrary to God’s will. It is a religious concept, not a legal one. The verbal phrase “to sin against God” means to disobey God; it is an offense that is an affront or an insult to God. So “sinned and disobeyed the LORD” will catch the meaning better.

You had made yourselves: that means “you had made for yourselves,” that is, “to bow down to,” “to worship” (as in verse 12).

A molten calf: a metal statue, or figure, in the shape of a calf. Both Good News Translation and Revised English Bible have “bull-calf.” It is not certain whether this idol is to be understood as a fertility symbol, as was true of some religions at that time. It could have been an image honoring some pagan god, or even one that was designed to honor Yahweh. Whatever the intention of those who made it, it was clearly an idol, so “they have taken metal and made an idol in the shape of a calf” may serve as a model.

You had turned aside quickly: see verse 12.

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 .