1st person pronoun referring to God (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 first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

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

See also pronoun for “God”.

Japanese benefactives (arawashite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, arawashite (現して) or “reveal 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 John 12:28

Father, bring glory to your name! is changed in some late manuscripts to read “Father, bring glory to your Son”—evidently changed on the basis of Jesus’ prayer in 17.1. One ancient manuscript reads “Father, bring glory to your name with the glory that I had with you before the world was created”—obviously inserted on the basis of 17.5. Evidently all modern translations follow the reading of the UBS Greek text, as reflected in Good News Translation. Bring glory to your name may be rendered “reveal how glorious you are” or “show people how wonderful you are.”

The expression of direct address Father must be rendered in some languages as “my Father.”

According to the Synoptic Gospels a voice spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3.17; Mark 1.11; Luke 3.22) and from a cloud at his transfiguration (Matt 17.5; Mark 9.7; Luke 9.35). Also Acts 11.7 and Revelation 10.4 mention voices speaking from heaven. In each one of these New Testament instances, the voice from heaven is understood as the directly heard voice of God.

It may appear strange, if not impossible, to say in some languages a voice spoke. A person may speak, but not a voice. The reference, of course, is to God, but here, as elsewhere, a direct mention of God is avoided. In some languages, however, it may be necessary to say “God spoke from heaven.” Some translators try to reproduce the indefiniteness of a voice spoke by translating “someone said.” This type of rendering, however, would lead some to think it was someone other than God who spoke.

I have brought glory to it, and will do so again appears in most translations “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” Good News Translation avoids the use of the archaic “glorify” and translates the second occurrence of the verb by and will do so again, for stylistic reasons. The meaning of “glorify” in this verse must be taken in light of the conclusions reached in verse 23 (see also 13.31,32). That is, Jesus’ prayer is for God to reveal the true glory of his name, his own true glory. In the signs Jesus performs (see especially 11.40); God does reveal his true glory; and in the death and exultation of Jesus, he will reveal it again. In some languages an equivalent of I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again is “I have shown how glorious I am and I will do it again” or “I have shown people my wonderfulness….”

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 12:28

12:28a

Father: This word refers to God. Jesus was praying to God his Father.

glorify Your name: This phrase here means “reveal your glory/greatness” or “show people how great/wonderful you are.” The phrase Your name refers to God himself. His name represents who he is. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

bring glory to yourself (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
honour your own name! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
reveal your greatness

Paragraph 12:28b–29

12:28b

Then: This word introduces what happened in response to Jesus’ prayer to God.

a voice came from heaven: This clause indicates that God spoke from heaven. In some languages it may not be natural to say that a voice came. It may be more natural to use a different verb to describe what a voice does. For example:

a voice spoke from heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
A voice from heaven then said (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
these words were spoken in heaven

If your readers will not understand that this refers to God, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ spoke from heaven

I have glorified it: The word I refers to God. He had already glorified his name (it refers to his name, which represents himself). That means that he revealed his greatness through the miracles Jesus did. People were already praising God for the wonderful things he was doing through Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I have brought glory to it (Good News Translation)
-or-
I have already brought glory to myself (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I have honoured it (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I have already revealed my glory/greatness

12:28c

I will glorify it again: This clause indicates that God would again reveal his greatness. This refers to the resurrection of Jesus, but you should not say this in your translation. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and I will give it glory again (God’s Word)
-or-
and I will do it again (New Century Version)

it: This pronoun again refers to God’s name, representing God himself.

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