Japanese benefactives (-naide)

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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

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

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 14:21

Elsewhere in Jeremiah the verb spurn is used only in 23.17 and 33.24, where it is translated “despise/despised” by Revised Standard Version. Literally the text has Do not spurn, which both Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version, as well as many other translations, have interpreted as “Do not spurn us.” However, one commentator points out that the poetic structure supports the interpretation whereby the object of spurn is the same as that of dishonor; that is, the translation should be “Do not spurn your glorious throne.” Revised English Bible makes thy name’s sake parallel to throne with “Do not despise the place where your name dwells or bring contempt on your glorious throne.”

For thy name’s sake is rendered “for the sake of your honor” by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. If the interpretation given above for the object of spurn is accepted, this phrase might better be at the beginning of the line: “For the sake of your honor, do not despise or dishonor the place of your glorious throne.”

Thy glorious throne refers to Jerusalem, the city where God was enthroned as king: “Jerusalem, the place of your glorious throne” (Good News Translation) and “the city in which your glorious throne stands” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). For throne see 1.15. Here we can say “that glorious place from which you rule.”

For covenant see 3.16.

Remember states positively what is rendered negatively by do not break. Although in Hebrew covenant is the object of both verbs, Good News Translation restructures somewhat differently: “Remember your promises … Do not break the covenant.” In this arrangement “promises” are equivalent to “covenant.” Another way to express this last line is “Remember the covenant you made with us. Don’t break your agreement.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .