respectful form of "give" (kudasaru)

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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 to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.

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

See also respectful form of “give” (tamawaru) and give (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on John 18:11

Good News Translation uses the generic expression in its place to avoid the more difficult technical terms “scabbard” (Jerusalem Bible) or “sheath” (New American Bible). “Sheathe your sword” (Moffatt and New English Bible) is rather high level. One may simply say “Put your sword back where it was.”

Do you think that I will not drink the cup of suffering which my Father has given me? is literally “The cup which the Father has given me, will I not drink it?” In Greek this is a rhetorical question that expects an affirmative answer. Most commentators point out that the cup refers to Jesus’ cup of suffering, and so Good News Translation makes this information explicit. “The Father” of the Greek text has the force of my Father in the present context.

In some languages it is almost impossible to preserve the metaphor of the cup, for “drinking” and “suffering” cannot be spoken of in the same context, nor can one “drink the cup.” One can only drink the contents of a cup, and to speak of “drinking suffering” would be meaningless. Hence, the metaphor must be dropped, and such an expression may be used as “Do you think that I am not willing to suffer in the way in which my Father has ordained that I should suffer?” or “… that my Father has arranged that I should suffer?”

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 18:11

18:11a

The Greek text of 18:11a includes a conjunction that is often translated “So.” Some English translations translate it that way to begin the verse, referring back to 18:10b. However, here it probably just indicates the end of the parenthetical information in 18:10c. You may need to indicate the end of the parenthetical information and the return to the main story. If so, do that in a way that is natural in your language. If you put parentheses around 18:10c, that may be all you need.

Put your sword back in its sheath!: Jesus was commanding Peter not to resist the guards. He did not want Peter to fight them and try to prevent them from arresting him. Here are other ways to translate this command:

Put your sword away! (New International Version)
-or-
Put your sword back in its place. (Good News Translation)

in its sheath: A sheath is a case or container for a sword. It is usually attached to a belt that was tied around the waist. In some cultures a sheath may not be well known. Here are other ways to translate this clause that may be more natural in those cultures:

Put your sword back in its place. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Put your sword back where it was. (TH)

Jesus said to Peter: Here Simon Peter is referred to as just Peter. Jesus told Peter what to do next. He gave Peter a command. In some languages it may be natural to indicate that in the verb. For example:

Jesus commanded Peter

18:11b

Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?: This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “Yes, I must drink it.” Jesus was emphasizing that he should and would drink the cup that the Father gave him. This strong statement is a rebuke. Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to protect him. Jesus knew that God planned for him to suffer and die. And he was determined to do what God planned for him to do.

There are several ways to translate this strong statement:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Do you think that I will not drink the cup of suffering which my Father has given me? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me? (NET Bible)

• Use a question with the answer supplied. For example:

Will I drink the cup the Father has given me? ⌊Yes,⌋ ⌊I certainly will⌋ .

• Use a statement. For example:

I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Because the Father has given me this cup, I will drink it.

Translate this strong statement in a way that is natural in your language.

drink the cup: This expression is an idiom that means “endure suffering or God’s wrath.” It is a metaphor in which the cup is seen as containing suffering or God’s wrath. Drinking the cup, then, means “accepting that suffering or wrath.” See how this expression is used in Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15, Ezekiel 23:31–33, and how John used it in Revelation 14:10 and 16:19. See also Matthew 20:22–23 and 26:39.

In some languages it may be natural to make some of the meaning of this figure of speech explicit. For example:

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Do you think that I am not willing to endure the suffering which my Father has planned for me?
-or-
Because the Father has planned for me to endure his wrath, that is what I will do.

the Father has given Me: This clause means “God the Father has planned for me to endure.” In some languages it is more natural to indicate that Jesus was speaking of his own Father. For example:

my Father has planned for me to suffer
-or-
which my Father wants me to do

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