with a loud voice

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “with a loud voice” in English is translated in Low German idiomatically as luuthals or “loud-throated” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

It is also used in Acts 19:28 for krazó (κράζω).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Ezra 10:12)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding Ezra.

complete verse (Ezra 10:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 10:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then that group all shouted and said, ‘You have said it, we will do as you have said.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then all the people gathered in the assembly gave an answer with a loud voice, "Just as you say, like that we will do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The whole assembly replied loudly, ‘You (sing.) are very right! We (excl.) will-do what you (sing.) will-say.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The whole group answered, shouting loudly, ‘Yes, what you have said is right! We will do what you have said.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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

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, 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 Ezra 10:12

All the assembly: According to the text, all the people in the assembly or “the whole assembly” (New Living Translation) agreed with the instruction of Ezra. Good News Translation interprets this as exaggeration and therefore renders it simply “The people.” BNT is similar with “the assembly.” It is preferable to include reference to all the gathered people or to the “entire” assembly as most versions do.

Answered with a loud voice: The Hebrew text follows the familiar pattern of using two verbs, which here are “they answered” and “they said.” Only the most literal translations translate both verbs individually (so New King James Version , Darby). Most translations render them as one verb, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done. The answer with a loud voice indicates strong affirmation and commitment (compare 2 Chr 15.14-15, where the people took an oath “with a loud voice”).

It is so; we must do as you have said: It is so represents a Hebrew adverb that may be translated “thus,” “so,” or “right.” It is an emphatic beginning of the response of the people that follows dramatically in the form of direct quotation. It may be rendered as an emphatic affirmation as Revised Standard Version has done, or like Chouraqui with “Yes, it is for us to do according to your word!” (similarly Darby). New Jerusalem Bible renders it “Yes, our duty is to do as you say.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “It’s true! Up to us to act according to your word!” New International Version says “You are right! We must do as you say.” It is so may also be incorporated into the first declaration of the people as Good News Translation has done: “We will do whatever you say.” King James Version is similar with “As thou hast said, so must we do.” Several versions punctuate this affirmation and declaration with exclamation marks. Some languages achieve the effect of emphasis with sentence final particles. Such marking would be appropriate here.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ezra 10:12

10:12a And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice:

¶ The whole crowd/community that had gathered answered in a loud voice ⌊and said⌋,
-or-
¶ All the people who had gathered shouted together:

10:12b “Truly we must do as you say!

“We will do just as you have said.
-or-
Yes, what you say is right. We must follow it.

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