give (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.

In these verses, the verb that is translated as “give” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-atae (お与え), combining “to give” (atae) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also respectful form of “give” (kudasaru), respectful form of “give” (tamawaru).

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. )

Translation commentary on Joshua 23:13

You may be sure translates another intensive verb structure in Hebrew: “know assuredly” (Revised Standard Version). If the proposed restructuring of verse 12 is followed, then it may be necessary to begin verse 13 “If you do, you may be sure that….”

The warning against mixed marriages with the Canaanites is more specifically stated and the consequences vividly portrayed by the use of four metaphors: a trap and a pit (that is, for catching animals) are figures of temptations and dangers. The second one, a pit, may mean specifically the lure, the bait, that draws the animal or bird into the trap. A whip on your back and thorns in your eyes (see similar language in Num 33.55) are figures of troubles and difficulties.The Hebrew word translated whip occurs only here in the Old Testament; Gray and others prefer to change the Hebrew text to the plural of another word, similar in spelling, meaning “whip.” Bible de Jérusalem deems the Hebrew unintelligible and conjectures a word meaning “thorns”; Hebrew Old Testament Text Project takes the Masoretic text to mean “whip.” A whip on your back is a shortened form of “when someone beats you on the back with a whip,” and thorns in your eyes means “when you accidentally stick thorns in your eyes.”

The consequences of disloyalty described in the last sentence will be disastrous: the Israelites will not continue to possess the land but will eventually die out completely. And this will last may need to be rendered, “These terrible things will continue to happen to you….”

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 23:13

23:13a

know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you: Verse 12 started with the word “if” to indicate a condition. Verse 13 shows the result that will follow if the Israelites associate with the other nations around them. The Hebrew does not use the word “then” in verse 13. In some languages it may help to say “then” to make it clear that this is a result.

know for sure: The Hebrew verb structure that the Berean Standard Bible translates as know for sure indicates emphasis. Look for a way to mark this emphasis if it is possible in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

know assuredly (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
then you can be sure

the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drive out was used in verse 23:5b and 23:9a.

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

then know for certain that Yahweh your God will stop making these nations leave ahead of you
-or-
If you do those things, then Yahweh your God will definitely no longer take away the land from these peoples as you go forward.

23:13b

Instead: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead indicates a contrast. In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here.

they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes: This is a series of metaphors that describe how dangerous the enemy nations will become to the Israelites.

a snare and a trap: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as snare refers to a net for catching birds. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trap may refer to a wooden trap to catch birds, or it may refer to the bait inside the net which would lure the bird in. If you do not have two different words for bird traps you could say simply “a bird trap.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a net and a trap
-or-
a bird trap
-or-
a trap

a scourge: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scourge can also be translated “whip.”

thorns in your eyes: The phrase thorns in your eyes indicates that the enemy nations would damage the Israelites just as thorns damage the eyes.

In some languages it may be more natural to translate these metaphors as similes.

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

Rather, they will be a net or a trap for you, a whip on your side and thorns in your eyes.
-or-
Instead, they will be like traps ⌊that catch you like a bird⌋ , like a whip ⌊that stings⌋ your sides and like thorns ⌊that stick in⌋ your eyes.
-or-
they will be ⌊as dangerous for you as⌋ a trap. They ⌊will hurt you as much as⌋ a whip on your sides or thorns ⌊that stick into⌋ your eyes.

23:13c

until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you: This indicates that the enemy nations would inflict all those injuries on the Israelites until all of them had died.

perish: The English word perish is an older word that means “die.”

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

until you have all died and no longer live in the good land that Yahweh your God has given you
-or-
In the end, none of you will be left in this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.

General Comment on 23:12–13

Verses 12 and 13 are a condition and a result.

12
If the Israelites associate with the other nations around them, 13 then God will not drive those nations out.

This could also be expressed as a command with a warning.

12 Do not associate with the other nations around you, 13 otherwise God will not drive those nations out.

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