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).

Christ the grapevine (icon)

Following is a contemporary Ukrainian Orthodox icon of Christ as the grapevine by Ulyana Tomkevych.

 

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

complete verse (John 15:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 15:7:

  • Uma: “If you remain in-harmony with me and my words remain in your hearts, just ask God whatever you want, he will definitely give it to you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if you remain in/with me, and you really tie-fast my teachings in your liver, God will satisfy you whatever you ask.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for you, if you do not separate from me and if you take hold of my teachings, anything that you ask from me I will give it to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if however you continue to be united-with me and to store-away my words in your minds in order to follow-them, no matter what you request, it will be given to you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If you hold fast to me and my word remains with you also, that you are always following/obeying it, whatever you will ask for from God will be easy. It really will be given to you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If you do not forsake me and you keep in your hearts what I teach you, then ask what you want and I will give it to you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Lalana Chinantec:”You must be connected to me. My word must be in your hearts. If you will do that, you will receive whatever you ask for.” (Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

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 15:7

Verse 7 again picks up the imagery of the disciples’ remaining in Jesus, and the metaphor of the vine is dropped.

There is no distinction between Jesus’ remaining in his disciples and his words’ remaining in them; both Jesus and his words are the absolute revelation from God.

The specific content of the disciples’ prayer you will ask for anything you wish is not indicated, though it is assumed that it is in keeping with God’s will. You will ask (New American Bible, Jerusalem Bible “you may ask”) may also be taken with the force of the imperative “ask” (so Moffatt, Goodspeed, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version).

If you remain in me and my words remain in you should be translated in a manner parallel to that employed in previous verses which speak of continuing the relationship of the believer to Jesus and of Jesus to the believer. A most common way of expressing the relationship implied by remain in is “remaining a part of” or “continue to be a part of.” In some instances the expression “be joined to” is very useful.

And you shall have it is a pseudo-passive construction in which God is the “hidden subject.” You will ask for anything you wish and you shall have it may then be translated, “you will ask the Father for anything you wish, and he will give it to you.”

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 15:7

15:7

This verse tells what would happen to and for those who do remain or abide in him. God will answer their prayers.

15:7a

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you: This is a conditional clause. It indicates two conditions that both must be fulfilled before someone’s prayers will be answered. If possible, translate the word remain the same way both times. For example:

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
If you live in me and what I say lives in you (God’s Word)

you remain in Me: The phrase remain in Me refers to living in union with Christ, in close fellowship and agreement. Translate it as you did in 15:4 and 15:5. For example:

Stay joined to me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you abide in me (New Revised Standard Version)

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

My words remain in you: This clause refers to remembering Jesus’ words and obeying what he taught. Jesus’ words abide or remain in a person when that person thinks about them and follows them. In some languages it may be natural to translate this with the person/disciple as the subject. For example:

you let my words remain in you
-or-
you keep in your hearts what I teach you (Otomi Back Translation)

My words: This phrase refers to all that Jesus had taught. For example:

my teaching
-or-
the things I have told you

15:7b

ask whatever you wish: The verb ask is short for “ask God in prayer” or “pray to God.” When a person abides in Christ, the things that he wants and asks for are also things that will please Christ. Everywhere in this chapter Jesus referred to God as “the Father” or “my Father,” so it is good to do so here also. For example:

ask ⌊the Father⌋ for whatever you want

it will be done for you: This clause is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

it will be granted (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
your prayer will be answered (Contemporary English Version)

• Use an active verb. God himself is the one who will answer these prayers. For example:

you shall have it (Good News Translation)
-or-
it will be yours (God’s Word)
-or-

⌊the/my Father⌋ will give you ⌊what you ask for⌋

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