formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff. ), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In Nepali translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and other people with the medium honorific pronoun timīlē (तिमीले) or timīlēharū (तिमीलेहरू). This disciples respond with a high honorific pronoun. (Source: Chitra Chhetri in The Bible Translator 2009, p. 73ff. )

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

See also formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese).

complete verse (John 13:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 13:17:

  • Uma: “If you know this teaching, you are blessed if you follow it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now you understand this my teaching to you. If you follow/obey this, you will be glad.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If you understand this which I have taught to you, you will be very happy when you do it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And since you understand these-things, you are fortunate if you obey them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If you can understand these things, as long as you do them you can be happy.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If you understand these words I speak to you and you follow then, then you are fortunate.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

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 John 13:17

The first part of this verse is literally “If you know these things….” Here again, as in verse 14, the “if” clause in Greek states a condition that is true to fact. On this basis Good News Translation transforms the “if” clause into a statement: Now that you know this truth (Jerusalem Bible “Now that you know this…”). This truth translates the more generic “these things” of the Greek text. Although the antecedent of “these things” is not altogether clear, it is best taken as a reference to the words of Jesus in verses 13-16.

In some languages it is not possible to speak of this truth; that is, something which is true may not be spoken of simply as an abstract in a nominal (or noun) form. However, one can say “Now that you know this” or “Now that you know this is true” or “Now that you realize that what I have said is true.”

How happy you will be is literally “you are happy (Greek makarios).” The Greek adjective used here is the same one used in each of the Beatitudes. It occurs once again in John’s Gospel (20.29). It is a difficult word to translate with precision, but most modern English translations render it as either “happy” or “blessed.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “joy without end.” In biblical thought the ideas of “blessed” and “happy” are related, but there is a slight difference in focus. “Blessed” focuses attention on the source of the benefit, that it has come from God, while “happy” describes the state of the person who receives the benefit. In the present passage, as in most other New Testament passages where this Greek word occurs, the focus is upon the subjective state of happiness shared by persons who have received God’s blessing. For this reason, the translation “happy” is preferable to “blessed.”

If you put it into practice is literally “if you do these things,” referring to this truth at the beginning of the verse (literally “these things”). Jerusalem Bible translates the two clauses as “happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly,” while New English Bible renders “happy are you if you act upon it”; and Phillips has “you will find your happiness in doing them.”

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 13:17

13:17a

If you know these things: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If here implies that the disciples did know these things. The condition is assumed to be true. For example:

Now that you know these things (New International Version)
-or-
You know these things (Contemporary English Version)

you know these things: This phrase refers to Jesus’ disciples understanding what he just said in verses 13–16. There he talked about his example and its meaning, that his followers should serve others in humility. For example:

you understand all of this (God’s Word)

13:17b

you will be blessed if you do them: Jesus’ disciples would be blessed if they did as he showed them, following his example of service to others. For example:

you are blessed whenever you follow my example (God’s Word)

you will be blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed in this context means “happy, enjoying God’s favor.” God would be pleased with them and so their situation would be good if the condition (“you do them”) was fulfilled. See how you translated this word in Matthew 5:3–11. For example:

God will bless you (God’s Word)
-or-
happy are you (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will be truly happy
-or-
you will have joy

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to the disciples.

if you do them: This clause refers to doing what Jesus said and did, serving others in a humble way. It is the condition for them being blessed. For example:

if you act upon it (Revised English Bible)
-or-
if you follow them

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