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 28:25

Thus says the Lord GOD: This traditional prophetic formula marks the beginning of a new prophecy (see Ezek 28.2), which is very brief.

When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered …: This prophecy looks forward to a time when God will “bring back” (Good News Translation) his people to their land and allow them to live there in security, free from the threat of any enemies. Contemporary English Version begins the prophecy with the word “Someday” to give the impression of the distant future. For the house of Israel, that is, “the people of Israel” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New International Reader’s Version), see verse 24. The peoples among whom they are scattered refers to the “nations” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version) where the people had gone into exile (see 11.16). In some languages the most natural way to begin this prophecy is “The people of Israel are scattered among many nations. When I bring [or, take] them together out of those nations….”

And manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations: See the comments on verse 22. Contemporary English Version says “and every nation will see that I am holy.”

Then they shall dwell in their own land: Dwell means to live or stay.

Which I gave to my servant Jacob: Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, and he is considered the father of the nation of Israel. Many languages render servant as “working man.” But translators should take care that readers do not understand my servant to mean that Jacob was just God’s laborer. My servant Jacob may be rendered “Jacob who did what I required.”

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 .