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). His 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 15:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 15:27:

  • Uma: “And you also become my witnesses, because you are the ones who were with me from the beginning of my work in the world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You also, you also witness about me because from the beginning we (incl.) have been together.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And you will be able to explain this also because you were my companions when I first began to teach.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And you also, you will confirm/verify-concerning me, because you have-been-accompanying-me starting-from back then.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And as for you, it’s necessary that you also will testify for me, because from the beginning of this work of mine of teaching, you have been my companions.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You also testify as to who I am because we have been together since the word began.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

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”.

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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 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 15:27

The pronoun you is emphatic.

Will speak about is the same verb referred to in the previous verse.

From the very beginning translates a Greek phrase which occurs also in 8.44. Whereas in 8.44 it means “from the beginning of the world” or “from the beginning of his existence,” here it means “from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.” In this context from the very beginning may therefore be translated “from the time that I began to teach.”

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 15:27

15:27a

And you also must testify: There are two ways to interpret the form of the word testify here:

(1) It is a command as in the Berean Standard Bible:

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, possibly King James Version)

(2) It is a statement about what will happen. For example:

Then you will also tell others about me (Contemporary English Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Good News Translation)

If you must choose between these two options, it is recommended that you follow the major-language translation in your area. There is strong support for both interpretations.

15:27b

because you have been with Me: The disciples would be able to tell others about Jesus’ life and ministry because they had been his companions. They were with him when he taught and healed the sick, and they knew his true character.

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to Jesus’ disciples.

Me: This pronoun refers to Jesus.

from the beginning: This phrase means “from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.” It refers to all of Jesus’ ministry, from the beginning until that time. For example:

from the beginning of my ministry (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
starting from the time I began to preach to the people until now

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