Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("say")

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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 are (され) 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, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.

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

Translation commentary on John 17:1

After Jesus finished saying this (Jerusalem Bible “After saying this”; New English Bible “After these words”; New American Bible “After he had spoken these words”) is more literally “Jesus said these things.” In Greek the first two clauses are coordinate (“Jesus said these things and lifting his eyes to heaven said…”), but Good News Translation and most other modern translations make the first a subordinate clause (After Jesus finished saying this) and the second an independent clause (he looked up to heaven and said). Although some translations maintain the literalism “he lifted up his eyes to heaven,” Good News Translation, New English Bible, and New American Bible all translate he looked up to heaven. A similar expression is used in 11.41 (literally, “he lifted his eyes up”). This of Good News Translation (“these things” of the Greek) refers to the discourses of Chapters 13–16.

In some languages After Jesus finished saying this may be rendered “After Jesus finished saying these words” or “After Jesus finished talking to his disciples.”

In rendering he looked up to heaven, it is important to avoid the impression that Jesus looked into heaven in a literal sense. In some languages, one must use such an expression as “he looked up toward heaven.” Heaven, in this context, may be rendered “where God dwells” or “God’s abode.”

In 11.41 and 12.27, both of which introduce prayers, Jesus also addresses God as Father. It is important in rendering Father to employ a term applicable to an individual addressing his own father. In some instances the expression is simply “my Father,” but in others special forms of direct address are used when an individual speaks to his own father.

The hour has come is used in 12.23 (see 13.1). Jesus “hour” is first referred to in 2.4 (Good News Translation my time). The reference is to the hour in which the Son of Man will reveal his true glory, and this glory will be accomplished by means of his death on the cross. In some languages the hour has come may be rendered “the time has come,” but more often an equivalent expression is “this is the occasion” or “now is the time.”

Where most translations have “glorify,” Good News Translation has give glory to (so also New American Bible; Goodspeed “Do honor to”). However, the focus of “to glorify” is, not on giving honor to the Son and the Father, but on revealing their true glory. Note Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “show the glory of your Son in order that the Son can show your glory.” In place of the Son, some Greek manuscripts read “Your Son.” The UBS Committee on the Greek text had a difficult time deciding between the two readings. Some scribe may have omitted “your” because he thought it was superfluous in the light of your Son earlier in the verse, or it may have been inserted for the sake of adding solemnity to the style. The weight of the manuscript evidence is in favor of omitting “your,” and so the UBS committee decided in favor of the reading the Son. However, a number of translations render it as “your Son,” which may be necessary on translational grounds. Phillips translates “he,” referring to “your Son” in the earlier part of the verse.

In some languages it is difficult to translate such an expression as Give glory to your Son or the Son may give glory to you. How can the Son actually give glory to God who already possesses an absolute degree of glory? It may therefore be essential to translate give glory to your Son as “reveal your Son’s glory,” “show to people how glorious your Son is,” or “how wonderful your Son is.” It may also be necessary to introduce a first person reference, since in many languages one cannot use a third person in speaking of oneself. Therefore it may be necessary to translate “reveal to people how glorious I, your Son, am.”

After a first person reference to your Son, it may be necessary to employ a first person singular pronoun as the subject of the final clause, for example, “so that I may show people how wonderful you are.”

There is a problem in choosing words for “glory,” “glorious,” or “wonderful,” because in this type of context such terms may be understood as egotistical. That is, readers may assume that Jesus is requesting God to “show him off.” The possibility of such misinterpretation is greatly reduced by the purpose expressed, namely, that Jesus himself may reveal to people how wonderful God is. Nevertheless, the terms must be selected carefully to minimize the possibility of misunderstanding.

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 17:1

Section 17:1–26

Jesus prayed to his Father

In this section, chapter 17, Jesus prayed to God his Father. He asked his Father to restore the glory that he had before he came to earth. He also asked his Father to protect his disciples from evil. He prayed for people in the future who would believe in him. He also told his Father that he wanted his disciples to always be with him.

Sometimes it is difficult to know to whom the pronouns “they” and “them” refer. Most of the time, Jesus was praying for the 11 disciples with him. However, he also prayed for all Christians, including those who would believe in him in the future. And even some of the prayers for the 11 disciples could also be thought to be prayers for future believers.

Here are some other possible Section Headings:

Jesus Prays for Himself, His Disciples, and His Church (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus’ prayer for his disciples

Paragraph 17:1–5

In this paragraph Jesus asked his Father to restore the glory that he had before he came to earth.

17:1a

When Jesus had spoken these things: This clause refers to all that Jesus said in chapters 14–16. Jesus finished talking to his disciples and then began to talk to God his Father. This clause acts as a conclusion to the previous section and a link to the following section, Jesus’ prayer. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

When Jesus had finished saying these things (NET Bible)
-or-
After saying this (God’s Word)
-or-
After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples (Contemporary English Version)

17:1b

He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said: This clause indicates that Jesus looked up toward God in heaven to pray. Jewish people usually looked up when they prayed. (See 11:41.)

heaven: This word refers to where God lives. People thought that heaven was physically “up,” in or beyond the skies. See the notes on John 1:32, 51, 3:13, 6:32–33.

Father: This word indicates that Jesus was speaking to God the Father as a child would speak to his father. The word indicates affection as well as respect. Use whatever expression a person would use to speak to his father and show love and respect. See also 11:41 and verses 5, 11, 21, 24, and 25 in this chapter. In some languages it may be natural to include a possessive pronoun. For example:

My Father

the hour has come: This clause means “it is now the right time.” This refers to the time that God set for Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and return to heaven. See how you translated this clause in 12:23 and 13:1b. For example:

the time has come (NET Bible)
-or-
now is the time
-or-
the time ⌊that you have set/established⌋ has arrived

17:1c

Glorify Your Son: The word Glorify here means “cause to be honored.” Here it refers to God causing Jesus to receive honor, the honor that he deserved. God would reveal Jesus’ true greatness. Translate this clause in a way that does not make Jesus seem proud. His real motive is to glorify his Father, not to seek praise for himself. See Key Biblical Terms Glory, Glorious, Glorify C.3. See how you translated similar clauses in 13:31–32. For example:

Give glory to your Son (Good News Translation)
-or-
bring glory to your Son (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Reveal the greatness of your Son

Glorify: This verb is a request to God. Use a form that you would use in prayer to ask God to do something.

Your Son: This phrase here refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

See how you translated the phrase “the Son of God” at 1:34. For further information, see the note on this phrase at 1:34.

Jesus was referring to himself in the third person. See the General Comment on 17:1–3.

General Comment on 17:1b–c

In some languages it may be natural to make it explicit what hour/time had come by linking 17:1b–c. For example:

the time has come for you to bring glory to your Son (Contemporary English Version)

17:1d

that Your Son may glorify You: This is a purpose clause. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that introduces the reason why God should glorify Jesus, his Son. In glorifying (honoring) his Son, God the Father will also receive honor. Translate the word glorify the same way that you did in 17:1c.

Your Son may glorify You: There is a textual issue here.

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have “the Son” here. For example:

that the Son may give glory to you (Good News Translation)

(English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have Your Son here. For example:

that your Son may glorify you (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New International Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). But both options refer to Jesus, the Son of God, who is speaking to his Father. See the General Comment on 17:1–3.

Your Son: Translate this phrase in a way that makes clear that it refers to the same person as “your Son” in 17:1c. See the note there. You may want to use a pronoun here. For example:

in order that he may bring glory to you (Contemporary English Version)

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