oneself (go-jishin) (Japanese honorifics)

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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 (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-jishin (ご自身), a combination of “onseself” (jishin) and the honorific prefix go-. This can also be used for other reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, yourself etc.)

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

Translation commentary on Joshua 23:9 - 23:10

In verses 9-10 Joshua reminds the Israelites of the reason why they have so easily defeated their enemies: it was because the Lord was fighting for them, so that one Israelite could defeat a thousand of the enemy (see similar language in Deut 32.30).

As you advanced of verse 9 may be placed first in the clause in order to make the sequence of events chronological: “You went against great and powerful nations, but the LORD drove them away.”

In Hebrew no one is literally “no man” (Revised Standard Version) and may be translated “not one of your enemies.” However, it may be understood collectively as “not one of these nations.”

Several translational adjustments may be necessary in verse 10. The LORD your God may need to be rendered “the LORD our God,” and the Lord’s promise may need to be placed in direct discourse near the beginning of the verse: “The LORD our God promised, ‘I will fight for you.’ That is why one of you can defeat a thousand men.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:10

23:10a

One of you can put a thousand to flight: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as One of you can put a thousand to flight is more literally “One man of you chases a thousand.” This indicates that one Israelite soldier can make a thousand enemy soldiers run away.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

One of you ⌊is able to⌋ chase away one thousand ⌊of the enemy⌋ .
-or-
One of you will make a thousand ⌊of them⌋ run away

23:10b

because: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because can also be translated “since.” It introduces the reason why one Israelite soldier was able to make one thousand enemy soldiers run away.

the LORD your God fights for you: This clause uses the same words as verse 23:3b. The Berean Standard Bible translated the Hebrew participle “the one who fights” in the past tense in that verse (23:3) because the context referred to what had already happened. It is translated in the present tense here because it refers to the pattern of how God operates. Use the tense or aspect that is natural in your language.

just as He promised: This clause uses similar words as verse 23:5c.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

because Yahweh your God is the one fighting on your behalf, as he told you he would do
-or-
because Yahweh your God helps you to defeat your enemies. He promised that he would do this for you

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