humble form of "receive" (itadaku)

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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 to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In these verses, itadaku (いただく), a respectful form of morau (もらう) or “receive” is used. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also receive (Japanese honorifics), humble form of “receive” (tamawaru) and humble form of “eat” (itadaku).

Translation commentary on Hebrews 4:16

This verse, like 4.10-11, contains some repetition which it may be better to avoid in translation. Languages have other ways than repetition by which to stress particular words and phrases. A possible translation avoiding this repetition would be “So let us go forward to God in confidence, knowing that he will freely give us all we need at the right time,” or even “… when we need it most.”

Let us have confidence is literally “with confidence”; see discussion on 3.6b. In some passages, especially of Acts, the Greek for this expression refers to confident “speaking out” in witness. Here the context shows that it refers to inner confidence. The translation of Let us have confidence should not suggest an unnecessary fear which people might have in approaching God. It may be necessary in some languages to translate Let us have confidence as “Let us not hesitate to” or “Let us be confident in.”

Approach God’s throne, where there is grace: most English translations have approach or “come forward.” “Go forward” seems more natural in English, since the writer’s point of view is that of human beings, not that of God.

“The throne of grace” (Revised Standard Version) is one of the writer’s ways of speaking indirectly about God. Indirect references to God were common among Jews and therefore among Jewish Christians. “God who is gracious” or “God who gives us such good gifts” would be non-Jewish equivalents. Approach God’s throne may be expressed as “go before God’s throne” or “go near to God’s throne.” But a literal rendering of this might be interpreted exclusively in the sense of “going to heaven.” Furthermore, it may not be natural to speak figuratively of a throne, so it may be best to translate approach God’s throne as “to approach God.” If one uses “God” in place of God’s throne, then where there is grace will be rendered as “who is kind” or “who shows kindness to people.”

Receive mercy is difficult to distinguish from find grace, and there is another reference to grace in the first part of the verse. Mercy and grace both have the meaning of a free gift from a superior, in this case God. In Paul’s writings, grace frequently refers to God’s gift of his Son, but this is not explicit here, though 5.9 expresses the same idea without using the word for “grace.” In some languages grace is a word little used outside church circles. If so, the translator may need to replace it by some such word as “love” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

We will receive mercy may be rendered as “God will be merciful to us” or “God will show us kindness.” A literal rendering of find grace might suggest accidental discovery or coming upon as the result of searching. In fact, find grace is merely an equivalent of “experience kindness” or “experience love.” Accordingly, we will receive mercy and find grace may be restructured as “God will be kind to us and show us his love.” This may be further explained as “he will help us just when we need help.”

Us, following find grace to help, is not expressed in the Greek. The idea of asking God to help other people is not excluded.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hebrews 4:16

4:16a

Let us then: Here the word then introduces an exhortation that is based on 4:14–15. It is the same word that was used in 4:14a. Connect this exhortation with 4:15 in a way that is natural in your language.

Let us…approach the throne of grace with confidence: In this exhortation the author used a figure of speech. Literally, the word throne refers to the chair or seat on which a king sits to rule his people. Figuratively, the phrase approach the throne refers to coming to God by praying to him. The phrase of grace indicates that God rules with kindness and generosity. The author used the whole exhortation to encourage his listeners to pray to God with confidence (confidence).

Some ways to translate this clause are:

we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
let’s come to God’s seat with confidence, knowing that he is gracious

In some languages a translation like “come to the throne of God” may wrongly imply that a person dies and comes to God in heaven. If that is true in your language, you should translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

let’s pray with assurance to God, our gracious King
-or-
let’s come with confidence into the presence of God. He shows grace/kindness

Let us…approach: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let us…approach is an exhortation. The English words Let us indicate that the exhortation includes the author. It is not a request for permission here. In many languages (as in Greek), words like “let us” are not needed because the form of the verb indicates who should approach. Another way to translate this exhortation is:

we should approach
-or-
let’s come/pray to

approach: The verb approach is important in this context. It implies that God’s people can now freely come to God by praying. In the OT, no one except the high priest could approach the “mercy seat,” which symbolized God’s presence. Now because of Jesus, all of God’s people can come to him.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

get near to God by means of praying
-or-
come into God’s presence
-or-
go/come to God

the throne of grace: The word throne usually refers to a special chair that is reserved for the king. It also refers to the king’s authority. The phrase the throne of grace is a figure of speech to refer to God himself. It indicates that he rules with grace and mercy. The term throne of grace is similar to the term “mercy seat,” which was used in the OT. It also symbolized God’s presence.

Some other ways to translate the throne of grace are:

• Translate the figure of speech. For example:

God on his Seat in heaven

If you use this option, be sure that it does not imply coming to God in heaven after death.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

God who rules with mercy/grace
-or-
God, the source/owner of grace
-or-
God praying to him because he loves and is merciful

For more translation examples, see the note on grace in the next part of the verse.

with confidence: The phrase with confidence refers here to having a confident attitude toward God, not being afraid of him. It was also used in 3:6, where the Berean Standard Bible translated it as “confidence.” and it will occur again in 10:19 and 10:35.

Some ways to translate with confidence are:

confidently
-or-
without fear

4:16b–c

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need: This clause tells the purpose of coming near to God in 4:16a. We come to him so that he will be merciful to us, and so that he will help us with his grace. Another way to translate this purpose is:

so that we will receive help and gracious kindness when we need it

The context indicates that God is the source of the mercy and grace that we receive. In some languages it is more natural to make that explicit in this clause. For example:

so that God will be merciful to us and graciously help us when we are in need

mercy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mercy refers to an act of kindness for someone in need. It does not refer only to feeling pity for a person. In this verse it refers to the kind of help that God gives to people in need. He heals them, forgives their sins, and provides what they need. He comforts and sustains them when they endure sorrow, danger, or persecution.

Some other ways to translate mercy are:

show kindness
-or-
have compassion/pity ⌊on us⌋

The word mercy occurs only here in Hebrews. For more information, see mercy, sense 2, in Key Biblical Terms.

find grace: The phrase find grace refers to receiving grace. The grace is given by God, just as “mercy” is in the preceding phrase. In some languages a word like find may imply the wrong meaning that the grace was discovered by accident. The context indicates that God is the source of the grace, and this should be clear in your translation of the verse.

Other ways to translate find grace are:

receive grace
-or-
experience grace

grace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grace, refers to kindness or help that is given to people freely, not because they have done anything to deserve it. In this context, the word refers to God’s grace. He is good to people because he loves them. The people have not done anything to deserve his goodness.

Some other ways to translate grace in this context are:

kindness
-or-
generous help

In many languages it may be more natural to translate grace with a verb or verb phrase. In this context the implied subject is God. For example:

so that God will be kind/generous to you
-or-
so that God will graciously help you

For more information, see grace, sense A2(b), in Key Biblical Terms.

to help us in our time of need: The phrase to help us in our time of need means “to help us when we need help.” Some ways to translate the phrase are:

whenever we need help (NET Bible)
-or-
and He will help us at the time of difficulties

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