Japanese honorifics (John 17:21)

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, yō ni shite (ようにして) or “do so (so that) / make it like” and hitotsu ni shite (一つにして) or “make something one” are 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).”

Also, honorific constructions where the morpheme rare (られ) or are (され) are affixed on the verb are employed. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, o-rare-ru (おられる) or “is/be present” and tsukawas-are-ru (遣わされる) or “send” are used.

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

Translation commentary on John 17:21

In Greek, this verse is a continuation of the sentence begun in verse 20 and consists of four separate clauses introduced in the following way: (1) that (Greek hina), (2) just as (Greek kathōs), (3) that (Greek hina), (4) that (Greek hina). Since Good News Translation has a full stop at the end of verse 20 and begins a new sentence with verse 21, it reintroduces the words I pray from verse 20. The first Greek clause is then represented by I pray that they may all be one; and because it is more natural in English to introduce the positive statement before the comparison, Good News Translation reorders the second and third clauses. It places a full stop at the end of the second clause also, making it necessary to introduce this clause with such a formula as “I pray” or “may.” For stylistic reasons, the verb may is used, indicating that this is a continuation of Jesus’ prayer of request to the Father. The last clause in Greek is literally “that the world may believe that you sent me,” which Good News Translation explicitly connects with the earlier petition, May they be one.

The purpose expressed in the clause that they may all be one may require modification, especially in languages in which a numeral such as one must show agreement with a subject. For example, in such languages, a plural affix added to a numeral such as one would be meaningless. However, one may sometimes introduce an expression which will result in a simile, for example, “I pray that they all may be just like one.” It may be possible, or even necessary, to be more specific in terms of action or behavior, for example, “I pray that they may act together just as though they were one person.”

Just as you are in me and I am in you develops the theme of unity between Father and Son mentioned in verse 11 (Just as you and I are one). The concept of one person in another is difficult, and it may be better to translate “May they be united with us, just as you are united with me and I am united with you” or “may they be united with us, just as you and I are united to each other.”

Good News Translation understands the clause at the end of verse 21 as expressing the purpose of the unity of future believers among themselves (May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Just as you are in me and I am in you, Father, so must they also become one through us! Then shall the world believe that you have sent me.” This translation is similar to Good News Translation. However, it includes the word “one” contained in the variant reading discussed below (“so must they also become one through us”) and translates the Greek preposition en “through” rather than in. Other translations make the last clause express the purpose of unity that future believers will have with the Father and the Son. New English Bible has “so also may they be in us, that the world may believe that thou didst send me”; Goodspeed translates “let them be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.” The Greek text permits either exegesis, although in the Greek sentence order May they be in us is closer to the purpose clause than that they all may be one. The difference in meaning is not great, since the unity of future believers among themselves is the result of their unity with the Father and the Son.

Instead of may they be in us, some Greek manuscripts have “that they may be one in us.” The word “one” is most probably a repetition of the same word earlier in the verse. It is often impossible to begin a sentence with such a request as May they be in us. Such a petition must be introduced by a specific term for prayer, for example, “I pray that they may be in us,” “that they may be united to us,” or “… be joined to us.” It may also be necessary to introduce the final petition, May they be one, by a verb, for example, “I pray that they may be one.”

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 17:21

17:21a

that all of them may be one: This clause gives the content of Jesus’ prayer. It tells what Jesus was asking his Father for. Jesus prayed that all who believed in him would be one, meaning that they would live in unity and peace. In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence here, supplying the verb from 17:20a. For example:

⌊I ask for them⌋ that they might all live in unity
-or-
I pray that they can be one. (New Century Version)
-or-
I want all of them to be one with each other. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I pray that all of these people continue to have unity (God’s Word)
-or-
Father, I beg you for them all so that their thinking will be one (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)

them: This pronoun refers to the disciples and the ones they preached to–it includes all who believe in Christ.

be one: This phrase means “be united” and implies loving one another and living in peace and agreement. See the note on “one” at 17:11f and how you translated the word there. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

be united
-or-
be like-minded
-or-
live together with hearts/minds that agree

17:21b

as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You: These clauses express the unity of God the Father and God the Son. This is the first half of a comparison. See the General Comment on 17:21b–c for a way to rearrange this comparison. Here are other ways to translate these clauses:

just as I am one with you and you are one with me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Just as I live in you, Father, and you live in me
-or-
Father, in the same way that we(dual) are connected/united together

Father: This word is one that a child would use when speaking to his father. It indicates affection and respect. See the note and how you translated the word in 17:1.

17:21c

May they also be in Us: This clause means “may the believers be united to us.” Jesus prayed that all future believers would be united to him and his Father. For example:

I pray that all the believers may be in unity with us(dual)

Us: This pronoun is dual inclusive and refers to Jesus and God the Father.

General Comment on 17:21b–c

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 17:21b–c. For example:

21c May they be in us, 21b just as you are in me and I am in you. (Good News Translation)
-or-

21c I pray that that they may be in unity with each other, 21b the same way we(dual) are in unity with each other.

17:21d

so that the world may believe that You sent Me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that introduces the purpose that Jesus wanted the believers to be “in us” (united to God the Father and to him). His purpose was that others in the world would believe in him and that he came from God. The loving unity of his followers would show the world that Jesus was truly from God.

the world: This phrase again refers to people in the world who did not yet believe in Christ and the Father. See how you translated this sense of the world in 17:9. For example:

the people of this world (Contemporary English Version)

may believe: This verb means “may begin to believe.” In some languages it is more natural to say that more explicitly. For example:

that those who do not now believe will begin to believe

that You sent Me: This clause indicates what the people of the world would believe. It refers to God sending Jesus to earth as his messenger. and representative. See how you translated the same clause in 17:8.

General Comment on 17:20–21

In the Greek, 17:20–21 forms one long sentence. In some languages it is more natural to divide this sentence into several sentences. For example:

20 I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. (Good News Translation)

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