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 this verse, the Hebrew that is translated as “speak” or “say” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-hanashi (お話し), combining “speak” (hanashi) with the respectful prefix o-.
Another respectful way of saying “speak” in Japanese is by using o-katari (お語り), combining “speak” (katari) with the respectful prefix o-. In the Shinkaiyaku Bible this is used in Exodus 20:19 (Moses’ speech), 2 Samuel 7:25, 2 Samuel 7:29, and 1 Chronicles 17:23.
Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.
Sources and for more information: P. Ellingworth in The Bible Translator 2002, p. 143ff. and R. Ross in The Bible Translator 1993, p. 217ff.
And Manoah arose …: And renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, but in many languages a connector such as “So” ( NET Bible) or “Then” will be more appropriate to introduce Manoah’s immediate reaction to his wife’s words. Arose renders the Hebrew verb qum, which is used in many of the judges’ stories (see comments on verse 2.16) and is certainly prefiguring the arrival of the next and final judge, Samson. If possible, translators can keep this word as part of the leitmotifs of the book.
And went after his wife means Manoah followed his wife to where God’s angel had appeared. However, readers may begin to wonder about this man who does not at first believe his wife, and to whom the angel chooses not to appear.
And came to the man and said to him: Manoah goes to the field where God’s angel appeared, so he could see him for himself. The use of the expression the man is part of the narrator’s style to purposely leave in doubt (in the mind of the characters) whether this person is a messenger from God, a prophet, or a simple man.
Are you the man who spoke to this woman?: Manoah wants to be certain that this person is the one who appeared with a message for his wife, so he immediately asks this question. Some may wonder (with reason) whether this is an impolite way to address a stranger. It is easy to imagine these words might be said with an accusing tone. Again the use of the man maintains the mystery as to the identity of this messenger. Spoke is literally “has been speaking,” which implies the angel has been speaking at length with his wife. This woman is literally “the woman,” but many languages will find Revised Standard Version‘s rendering more natural. Besides the abruptness of this remark, readers may wonder why Manoah does not refer to “my wife” but to “the woman,” but this style should be retained in translation, for example, “Are you the man who has been speaking to this woman?”
And he said, “I am”: The angel replies to Manoah’s question positively. However, though I am (literally “I”) renders only one word in Hebrew (ʾani), his answer is not a simple one. This answer is clearly reminiscent of the scene where the LORD reveals himself to Moses with the name “I am” (Exo 3.14). By this time Manoah and his wife are surely beginning to understand that they are in the presence of someone more than a simple man. In some languages it will be necessary to say “[Yes,] I am he [or, the one].” NET Bible says only “Yes,” but clearly this misses a very important part of the message here.
A translation model for this verse is:
• So Manoah followed his wife to the place where the man was, and Manoah asked him, “Are you the one who has been speaking to this woman?”
He replied, “I am.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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 show 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.