formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on Job 42:7

The LORD translates the name of Israel’s God Yahweh, which was used in chapters 1 and 2. See discussion of the name in “Translating the Book of Job,” page 21, and in 1.7. These words creates confusion, since the last words were spoken not by the LORD but by Job. Good News Translation avoids this problem by saying “After the LORD had finished speaking to Job.” Eliphaz is the only one addressed, since he is probably the oldest of the friends. For the translation of Eliphaz the Temanite, see suggestions on 2.11.

My wrath is kindled against you means “I am angry with you.” The reason for God’s anger is you have not spoken of me what is right. What is right means what is correct and consistent with the facts. It is used in the Hebrew of Deuteronomy 17.4; 1 Samuel 23.23. Good News Translation renders it here as “the truth.” In some languages against you and against your two friends may create confusion. In such cases it may be better to translate “against you, Bildad, and Zophar.”

Job’s friends have insisted that Job’s calamities were God’s punishment for his sins. Job maintained that he had not brought this punishment on himself through sin. So the friends are saying things about God that are not true. Job is correct in what he is saying about God, but he draws conclusions from it that make God out to be unjust. It is for these wrong conclusions that Job has just repented. In some languages the contrast between Job’s speaking the truth and what the friends said may have to be expressed in the following way: “Because you (plural) have lied in what you have said about me. Only my servant Job has told the truth” or “Because my servant Job has told the truth about me, but you (plural) have not told the truth.” My servant Job is the same expression used by God in 1.8; 2.3. See there for translation suggestions.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .