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

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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, hanas-are-ru (話される) or “speak” is used.

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

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 14:6

Section 14:6-15 Joshua gave Caleb the town of Hebron

In this section Caleb reminded Joshua of a promise that Moses had made to him. After Caleb helped to spy out the land of Canaan, Moses promised that he would inherit the land he had walked on. So Joshua granted the town of Hebron to Caleb.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Caleb’s inheritance
-or-
Caleb claimed his inheritance

Paragraph 14:6-9

14:6a

Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal: While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal, the people of the tribe of Judah went to talk to Joshua.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal, the people of Judah came to Joshua

Gilgal: Gilgal is the name of a place east of Jericho and west of the Jordan River. It is the place where the Israelites set up their camp after they crossed the Jordan River. It is first mentioned in Joshua 4:19| and you should translate it the same way in both places.

14:6b

and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: The story of Caleb is told in 13. He was one of the twelve spies who explored the land of Canaan. Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the twelve spies who trusted God.

the Kenizzite: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Kenizzite.

(1) It indicates that Caleb is a grandson of Kenaz. For example:

Caleb…the grandson of Kenaz (God’s Word)

(God’s Word)

(2) It indicates that Caleb belongs to the family or clan of Kenaz. For example:

Caleb belonged to the Kenaz clan (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is based on Judges 3:9 and I Chronicles 4:13-15.

14:6c

You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God: The phrase Moses the man of God is a title for Moses. He is called this several times, for example in Deuteronomy 33:1. This is a term that is often used for a prophet who speaks for God, for example 1 Samuel 2:27.

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase Moses the man of God :

Moses the man who belongs to God
-or-
the prophet Moses (New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

14:6d

at Kadesh-barnea: The term Kadesh-barnea refers to a town on the south boundary of Canaan. The twelve spies returned here to make their report about Canaan (Numbers 13:26). This town was mentioned in Joshua 10:41 and you should translate it the same way in both places.

about you and me: Caleb said this to Joshua. Yahweh promised that Caleb and Joshua would receive land which their descendants would inherit (Numbers 14:24-30).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

concerning you and me (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
about the two of us

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