Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("answer")

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) 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, kotae-rare-ru (答えられる) or “answer” is used.

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

Translation commentary on John 10:25

Jesus answered is literally “Jesus answered them,” but here again the indirect object is clearly implied in the Good News Translation rendering.

I have already told translates a simple past in Greek (Revised Standard Version “I told”), rendered in some English translations “I have told” (New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible). There is no indication in John’s Gospel that Jesus explicitly told the Jews that he was the Messiah (only to the Samaritan woman did he clearly declare this, 4.26). On the other hand, his actions and teachings were such that there should have been no doubt among the Jews concerning his identity. In this very verse Jesus refers to the works that he has done as testimony to who he is.

Jesus literally says “you do not believe,” which Good News Translation takes to have the force of you would not believe (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). An equivalent of you would not believe in some languages is “you didn’t want to believe” or “you refused to believe.”

By my Father’s authority is literally “in my Father’s name” (so most translations). In Jewish thought the name of a person can represent that person and his authority, and so Good News Translation translates by a more natural English equivalent (see 1.12). (See 14.13 for a discussion of “in my name.”) In some languages by my Father’s authority may best be rendered “just as my Father told me to do” or “this is precisely what my Father ordered” or “this is just what my Father said I could say.”

Speak on my behalf is literally “testify concerning me.” (On the use of the verb “to testify” or “to witness” see 1.7.)

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 10:25

Paragraph 10:25–30

Jesus answered those who were challenging him. He told them clearly that he was one with his Father.

10:25a

I already told you: This clause indicates that Jesus already told the people who he was. It is good to translate this clause with emphasis. For example:

I did tell you (New International Version)

Jesus replied: These words introduce Jesus’ response to those who had just challenged him. In some languages it is more natural to say whom he answered. For example:

Jesus answered them (God’s Word)

but: The common Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here introduces something that is not expected.

you did not believe: This clause indicates that the people listening to Jesus did not believe what he said. The problem was not that Jesus had not told them if he was the Messiah. The problem was that they did not believe him. In some languages it is natural to say whom or what they would not believe. For example:

but you don’t believe me (God’s Word)
-or-
you refused to believe me (Contemporary English Version)

10:25b

The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf: Jesus indicated that the miracles he did were evidence of who he was. They showed that he told the truth when he said that he was the Messiah or Savior. Here is another way to translate this clause:

The deeds I do by my Father’s authority speak on my behalf. (Good News Translation)

The works I do…testify on My behalf: Jesus returned to the metaphor of the law court that he used in 5:36. He spoke of his works as though they were witnesses in a trial, giving evidence that he spoke the truth. This is a figure of speech. There are two ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the figurative language. For example:

The works that I do…bear witness about me. (English Standard Version)

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

The proof is the work I do…. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The miracles I do…show who I am. (New Century Version)

Translate this in a way that makes the meaning clear in your language.

The works I do: This phrase refers to Jesus’ healing miracles. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The miracles I do (New International Version)

in My Father’s name: This phrase means “by God’s authority and power.” The miracles that Jesus did showed that he was the Messiah because only God’s power could do those things. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

by my Father’s authority (Contemporary English Version)

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