second person pronoun with low register

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 show different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples.

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

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on Isaiah 36:5

Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war?: This is another rhetorical question asked by the Assyrian king. Mere words is literally “a word of two lips,” which is an idiomatic expression. Unfortunately, its precise meaning here is not clear. It may refer to the promise of help from Egypt, or to the thought of rebellion against Assyria, or even to the words of assurance given by God through the prophet. It is also possible that all of these meanings are in view. Mere words is an attempt to render the idiom contextually. Since it could refer to words of support, it may be rendered “promises.” Strategy translates the Hebrew term for “counsel” or “advice.” With this rhetorical question the Assyrian king tells Hezekiah that any promise of help, from whatever source, will not be enough to win a war against Assyria. If a rhetorical question is not suitable here, translators may use a strong statement, for example, “Mere words/promises are certainly not sufficient for you to win a war” (see also the third example below).

There is a textual problem in this question. Instead of the second person pronoun you, Masoretic Text has the first person pronoun “I.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers Masoretic Text here (also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but the emended text with you fits the context better. The parallel text in 2 Kgs 18.20 also uses second person here.

On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?: This third question from the Assyrian king may be a real one since he answers it in the next two verses, where he lists two possible sources of help: Egypt and God. The question sounds rhetorical since it implies serious doubt about whether Hezekiah can rely on anyone for victory. The verb rely renders a Hebrew root meaning “to trust,” which is a keyword in this section (see the previous verse). In Hebrew the clause rendered that you have rebelled against me begins with the particle ki and uses a perfect form of the verb for have rebelled, so the whole question is better rendered “Whom do you think you can rely on for help since you have joined this rebellion against me?” The order of the clauses may be reversed by saying “Now that you have joined the rebellion against me, who will you rely on for help?” Me refers to the Assyrian king, not to his ambassador.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Do you really think that promises will give you wisdom and power to fight? Now that you have joined the rebellion against me, whom will you count on for support?

• Can mere promises be considered good advice and give strength for battle? Since you have rebelled against me, whom will you rely on for help?

If rhetorical questions cannot be used, we suggest:

• Promises will not give you the needed advice and power for this fight! You are foolish to rely on anyone for help, now that you have joined the rebellion against me!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .