world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

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 8:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 8:23:

  • Uma: “Yesus said to them: ‘You are from below, / the-low-place I am from above / the-high-place. You are from this world, I am not from this world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa also said, ‘You are people of the world but I, my place is heaven. All your thoughts are just from the world, but my thoughts are not.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘You are citizens here on earth, but as for me, I am a citizen there in heaven. You originate here on the earth, but as for me, I originate there above.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus then said, ‘As for you, you came-from this world and your minds/thoughts are worldly. I by-contrast, I came-from heaven, so my mind/thoughts are different/distinct.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus said further, ‘As for you, you are of the earth. As for me, I am of the heavens. You belong to this world. I don’t. Therefore what is in our minds/inner-beings isn’t the same.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Again Jesus spoke, ‘You are natives here in this world. But I am not a native here in this world. (…)” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

    • Yatzachi Zapotec: “(…) You are heeding the devil, who rules this earth; and I am heeding God, who is in heaven. (…)” (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. )

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

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 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 8:23

Jesus answered is literally “and he said to them.” In both sentences of this verse the pronouns you and I are emphatic.

You belong to this world here below, but I come from above is literally “You are from below, I am from above” (Revised Standard Version). In the last part of this verse “from below” is explained as meaning from this world; it stands in contrast to the world above, where God is. Good News Translation makes “from below” explicit by rendering you belong to this world. The same contrast is found in 3.31, where the words from above are contrasted with from the earth.

In some languages it may not make sense to say “You are from here below,” for that would be saying that Jesus’ listeners had come from a place where they already were, or from a place even lower than that! Likewise, it is almost meaningless to say “you come from this world.” What is evidently intended by Jesus is to say that, in contradistinction to himself, the people to whom he was speaking were associated with this world, while he himself had his true connection with heaven. The contrast may be expressed in some languages as “You belong to this world below, while I belong to the world above” or “… to heaven above.” The contrast may also be expressed in some languages as “you belong to this world below, while I come from above” or “… I come from heaven.” The final statement in verse 23 may then be rendered “You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.”

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 8:23

8:23a

Then He told them: The Greek text introduces this phrase with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then. Many English translations do not translate this conjunction explicitly. You should introduce this phrase in the way that is natural in your language. For example:

Jesus answered (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Jesus said (New Century Version)
-or-
And He was saying to them (New American Standard Bible)

You are from below: This clause indicates that the religious leaders belonged to this world (see 8:23c) instead of belonging to God. They were naturally worldly in the way they thought and acted. In your translation, do not imply that Jesus referred to hell or a valley or other low-lying place. Here are examples of how to translate this clause:

You people are from here below. (New Century Version)
-or-
You belong to this world below. (Revised English Bible)

8:23b

I am from above: This clause indicates that Jesus came from God in heaven. It was true that he was born on earth, but that was not his true origin. In your translation, do not imply that he came from a high place or a mountain. It may be necessary to say:

I belong to the world above. (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 8:23a–b

The Greek text emphasizes the pronouns You and I to emphasize the contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees. Translate these clauses so that the contrast is clear. For example:

You belong to this world here below, but I come from above. (Good News Translation)

8:23c

You are of this world: Jesus was saying that the religious authorities were connected to this present evil world instead of being connected to God. They belonged to this world system, not to God and his kingdom. Here is another way to translate this clause:

You belong to this world. (New Living Translation (2004))

this world: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as world refers to this sinful world system, all that is opposed to God. This world is ruined and lost because of sin.

8:23d

I am not of this world: This clause means that Jesus belonged to God and not to this evil world. He was not another sinful human being. This was not his true home. His origins were in heaven, in God. Here is another way to translate this clause:

I am not from this world. (NET Bible Bible)

General Comment on 8:23c–d

Again the Greek text emphasizes the pronouns you and I to emphasize the contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees. Translate these clauses so that they are in clear and direct contrast. For example:

You belong to this world; I do not. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You belong to this world but I do not. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Your home is in this world, mine is not. (Revised English Bible)

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