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 Ezekiel 21:3

And say to the land of Israel: God tells Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel. If it is awkward in a language to address the land of Israel, then translators may say “the people [of the land] of Israel.”

Behold renders the attention-getting Hebrew particle hinneh. Here it highlights the words that follows.

I am against you is a common expression in Ezekiel when God is about to judge people (see the comments on 5.8).

And will draw forth my sword out of its sheath: In the previous prophecy the judgment will come through fire; here God says he will use his sword. A sword is a large knife used for fighting (see 5.1). A sheath is a cover or holder for a sword. Draw is the technical English term for taking a sword out of its sheath. The picture of taking a sword out of its sheath refers to killing people.

And will cut off from you both righteous and wicked means God will kill everyone in Israel. For righteous and wicked, that is, the good people and the bad people, see 3.18-21. Good News Translation provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “and kill all of you, good and evil alike” (similarly Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .