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 important aspect of addressing someone else in one’s or someone else’s family is by selecting the correct word when referring to them. One way to do this is through the usage of an appropriate title within a conversation as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
When the speaker humbly refers to his or her mother in the presence of respected interlocutor(s), haha (母) is often used as in the case of Abraham referring to his mother before Abimelech (Genesis 20:12). This form is very appropriately chosen as Abraham is speaking to Abimelech the king of Gerar. While haha can carry this humbling effect in reference to the speaker’s mother, in some types of dialogues/utterances such as in poetry (Song 3:4) and proverbial teachings (e.g. “honor your father and mother” in Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16 et al.), haha is used without the humbling effect. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Todos los judíos y los fariseos tienen sus costumbres y tradiciones, por ejemplo no empiezan a comer antes de lavar las manos, y cuando estén limpios pueden comer.
Los fariseos y algunos maestros de la ley salieron de Jerusalén y fueron (hacia Jesús y sus disípulos) y se dieron cuenta de que los discípulos estaban comiendo pan.
Los Fariseos pensaban: No han lavado las manos, están inmundos. Y dijeron: “Jesús, ¿porqué no obedecen tus discípulos la ley? Ellos saben las costumbres y las tradiciones de la Ley.”
Vemos que los discípulos están comiendo con manos inmundas.
Jesús (dijo): “Alto, mira, les explico algo. Hace mucho el hombre Isaías escribió en un rollo que Dios dice: uds siempre están hablando sobre respeto a Dios, pero adentro sus corazones están vacios, y su adoración a Dios no sirve porque lo que personas inventaron uds lo copiaron y lo han enseñado como ley, y después (se convirtió en) costumbres y tradiciones.
Isaías tenía razón en lo que escribió: Uds mismos, fariseos y maestros de la ley, son hipócritas porque lo que Dios manda en los mandamientos de la ley uds no lo toman en serio, pero las leyes que fueron inventados por personas uds las obedecen como costumbres y tradiciones. ¡Son bien inteligentes! Uds se apartan de los mandamientos de la ley de Dios
Moisés dice que Dios manda en los mandamientos de la ley que se debe respetar a los padres, y si alguien es disrespetuoso y rebelde debe ser matado.
Pero yo veo algo diferente; uds fariseos sugieren a un hombre que diga a sus papás que no les puede ayudar con dinero porque es ocupado por el corban, que significa que da el dinero al templo, para Dios.
¿Porqué aconsejan uds, los fariseos, que no es necesario ayudar a los papás? Porque uds no valoran la palabra de Dios, no lo toman en serio, pero sí valoran sus costumbres y tradiciones como leyes. Veo que tienen muchos errores.”
Llamó a la gente a que vinieran y una multitud se acercó. (Dijo): “Por favor pongan atención. ¿Uds piensan que lo que se come y entra el estomago puede hacer el corazón sucio y separarlos de Dios? No.
Si el corazón está inmundo de adentro sí hay separación de Dios. Veanme y entiendan, uds necesitan intentar a descubrirlo.”
Jesús se despidió y se fue a casa.
All the Jews and the Pharisees have their customs and traditions, for example they don’t begin to eat until they have washed their hands, and when they are clean they can eat.
The Pharisees and some teachers of the Law went out of Jerusalem and went over (towards Jesus and his disciples) and they noted that the disciples were eating bread.
The Pharisees thought: They haven’t washed their hands, they are unclean. And they said: “Jesus, why are your disciples not obeying the Law? They know the customs and the traditions of the Law.
“We see that the disciples are eating with unclean hands.”
Jesus (said): “Stop, look, I will explain something. A long time ago the man Isaiah wrote in a scroll that God says: you are always talking about respect for God, but inside your hearts are empty and your worship is in vane, because things that people have invented, you have copied and taught them as law, and then (they have become) customs and traditions.
“Isaiah was right in what he wrote: You yourselves, Pharisees and teachers of the Law, are hypocrites because what God has ordered in the commandments of the Law you don’t take seriously, but the laws that were invented by people you obey as your customs and traditions. You are really clever! You separate yourselves from the commandments of the Law of God.
§Moses says that God in the commandments of the Law orders that people need to respect their parents, and if someone is disrespectful and rebellious he needs to be killed.
“But I say something different: you Pharisees suggest to a man that he say to his parents that he cannot help them with money because it is taken for the corban, which means that he will give the money to the temple, for God.
“Why do you, Pharisees, advise people that they don’t have to help their parents? Because you don’t value the word of God, you don’t take it seriously, but you do value your customs and traditions as laws. I see that you have many errors.”
He told the people to come and a multitude gathered. (He said): “Please pay attention. You think that what you eat and what goes down to your stomach can make your heart dirty and separate you from God? No.
“If your heart is impure on the inside that will separate you from God. Watch me and understand, you need to try and figure it out.”
The people of Judea strictly followed the demands of tradition. Before eating, they were to wash their hands thoroughly up to the elbows. After going to the store and the market, they had to wash their hands thoroughly. Also they had to be thorough with kitchen utensils: cauldrons, plates.
And so the Pharisees and teachers of the law came from Jerusalem. They were indignant when they saw that Jesus’ disciples were not fulfilling the demands of tradition.
In indignation they turned to Jesus:
— Behold, your disciples are not fulfilling the demands of tradition! They had not washed their hands and were eating bread. What is this?
Jesus answered them:
— You Pharisees are hypocrites. In ancient times there lived a prophet named Isaiah. He was talking about the people of his time, but they were just like the Pharisees. The prophet said that these people thought they were very pious, very proud of it, but in fact, inwardly they were empty, far from God. They thought they were pious and outwardly honored God — but it was all false. They began to invent their own rules and laws and pass them off as God’s law, as God’s commandments. That’s what you are doing now, Pharisees. You disregard God’s commandments and make up your own. You have rejected God’s law, but you demand that people obey your rules.
In ancient times Moses gave Ten Commandments. There is this commandment: “Honor your father and mother.” If a son offends his parents, according to the law he should be punished by death.
And it happens like this: old parents who have no money to feed themselves, but the son has money. But you say to such a person:
— You should not give money to old parents, you should bring it as a gift to the Temple.
That is, you encourage people not to take care of their parents. Thus, your rules and statutes abrogate the Law of God.
Jesus called the people together and said to them:
— Listen and ponder! Do you think that man is defiled by food? No! Food is outward. But evil thoughts in the heart are what defile a man and spoil him.
Jesus walked away from the crowd and went into the house. Jesus’ disciples followed him. There the disciples began to question Jesus:
— We did not understand the meaning of what you were telling.
Jesus said:
— Have you not understood? Food is external. What you eat, it will not contaminate you, because it will be digested in the stomach and come out again, it does not give you bad thoughts in your heart. But if you have bad thoughts in your heart, it contaminates you. You think bad thoughts, you start doing bad things: cunning, malice, stealing, murder, cheating, greed, malice, deceit, rudeness, slander, insult, pride, stupidity — where does it all come from? It all comes from within, from the thoughts. If thoughts are dirty, then a person is unclean.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Жители Иудеи строго выполняли требования традиции. Перед едой они должны были тщательно вымыть руки до локтей. После магазина и рынка должны обязательно чисто-чисто вымыть руки. Также должны были тщательно быть кухонную посуду: котлы, тарелки.
И вот фарисеи и учителя закона пришли из Иерусалима. Они возмутились, когда увидели, что ученики Иисуса не исполняли требований традиции.
В негодовании они обратились к Иисусу:
— Вот, твои ученики не исполняют требований традиции! Они не вымыли руки и стали есть хлеб. Что это такое?
Иисус им ответил:
— Вы фарисеи — лицемеры. В древности жил пророк по имени Исайя. Он говорил о людях своего времени, но они были таким же, как фарисеи. Пророк говорил, что эти люди считали себя очень набожными, очень гордились этим, но на самом деле, внутренне они пусты, далеки от Бога. Они считали себя набожными и внешне почитали Бога — но это все фальшь. Они стали придумывать свои собственные правила и законы и выдавать их за Божий закон, за Божьи заповеди. Так же и вы сейчас поступаете, фарисеи. Вы заповедями Божьими пренебрегаете, и придумываете свои собственные. Божий закон вы отвергли, а требуете, чтобы люди исполняли ваши правила.
В древности Моисей дал 10 заповедей. Есть такая заповедь: «Почитай отца и мать». Если сын оскорбляет своих родителей, по закону он должен быть наказан смертью.
А бывает так: старые родители, у которых нет денег пропитание, а у сына деньги есть. Но вы же говорите такому человеку:
— Не нужно давать денег старым родителям, нужно их принести в дар в Храм.
То есть вы побуждаете людей не заботиться о родителях. Таким образом, ваши правила и уставы отменяют Закон Божий.
Иисус созвал людей и сказал им:
— Слушайте и поразмыслите! Вы думаете, человек оскверняется пищей? Нет! Еда — это внешнее. Но злые мысли в сердце — вот, что оскверняет человека и портят его.
Иисус ушел от толпы и вошел в дом. Ученики Иисуса последовали за ним. Там ученики стали спрашивать Иисуса:
— Мы не поняли смысл того, что ты рассказывал.
Иисус сказал:
— Вы не поняли? Пища — это внешнее. То, что вы едите, это вас не испачкает, потому что это переварится в желудке и снова выйдет наружу, от этого в сердце не появляются плохие мысли. Но если в вашем сердце плохие мысли — это вас пачкает. Вы думаете плохие мысли, начинаете делать плохие дела: хитрость, злоба, воровство, убийство, измены, жадность, злоба, лукавство, грубость, клевета, оскорбление, гордость, глупость — это все откуда? Это все исходит изнутри, из мыслей. Если мысли грязные, то и человек нечист.
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 7:10:
Uma: “In the Law of Musa is written like this: ‘We must honor our father and mother.’ And ‘the one who curses his father or mother must be killed.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “For God spoke hep in the law which he gave to Musa for the people, he said, ‘Honor your mother-father.’ And, ‘Whoever speaks bad of/to his mother or father, he should be killed.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The word of God which Moses commanded you long ago says, ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ He also commanded, ‘he who speaks evil to his father or mother must be killed.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because what God had-Moses -write, it says, ‘Honor your (sing.) father and your (sing.) mother,’ and ‘If someone speaks-evil-of his father or his mother, it-is-necessary that he die.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For like it is said in this law of God which was written by Moises, ‘Honor your (sing.) father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever will speak evil to his father or mother, or speak-evil-behind-their-backs, what’s fitting for him is to be killed.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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 Translator2002, 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 religious leaders with the formal pronoun, showing respect. Compare that with the typical address with the informal pronoun of the religious leaders.
The only two exceptions to this are Luke 7:40/43 and 10:26 where Jesus uses the informal pronoun as a response to the sycophantic use of the formal pronoun by the religious leaders (see formal pronoun: religious leaders addressing Jesus).
In most Dutch translations, the same distinctions are made, with the exception of Luke 10:26 where Jesus is using the formal pronoun. In Afrikaans and Western Frisian the informal pronoun is used throughout.
American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here).
In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:
The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).
In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
The first O.T. passage quoted is from Ex. 20.12 (cf. Deut. 5.16); the second is from Ex. 21.17.
tima (cf. v. 6) ‘you must honor.’
ho kakologōn (9.39) ‘he who reviles,’ ‘he who insults.’
thanatō teleutatō ‘with death he is to die,’ ‘he must certainly die’: for similar constructions denoting emphasis cf. 4.41; 5.42.
thanatos (9.1; 10.33; 13.12; 14.34, 64) ‘death.’
teleutaō (9.48) ‘come to an end,’ ‘die.’
Translation:
Honor is in this context primarily ‘love’ and ‘respect’ (Sayula Popoluca). In some languages the equivalent is ‘do good for’ (Shipibo-Conibo).
Speak evil of is not ‘to curse’ or ‘to cast a spell on.’ It is simply ‘to speak bad words about’ or ‘to speak bad to.’
Let him surely die must not be translated in the sense of ‘permit him to die’ (as in some translations) or ‘he will certainly die.’ It should be rendered to mean ‘he must be killed,’ ‘he must certainly be put to death,’ or ‘you must kill the one who speaks evil of his father or his mother.’
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
7:10a contains a quote from Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. 7:10b contains a quote from Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9. If you use footnotes, you may want to refer to these verses in a footnote.
7:10a
For Moses said: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the next words of Jesus. He gave a clear example of the way the Pharisees and other leaders ignored God’s command. Moses taught people to obey God’s commands. For example, the God’s Word says:
For example, Moses said
Moses said:Moses said the following sentence when he gave God’s message to the people of Israel. Later, he wrote it down. It was a command from God.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Moses commanded (Good News Bible) -or-
Moses gave you this law from God (New Living Translation)
Honor your father and your mother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Honor means to show respect to someone through words and actions. For example, the Good News Bible says:
Respect your father and your mother
This same word Honor occurs in 7:6c.
your: Moses was speaking to all the people of Israel. What he said applied to each of them individually. Consider if it is more natural to use the singular or the plural pronoun “your” in this situation.
father and…mother: In some languages it is more natural to say “mother and father.” Translate the words of this phrase in the order that is natural in your language.
7:10b
Anyone who: The words Anyone who begin a general statement. In some languages, it may be more natural to say “He who” or “If you.” For example, the Good News Bible says:
If you curse your father or your mother
curses his father or mother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as curses means “speaks evil of,” “reviles,” or “insults.” For example:
He who speaks evil of father or mother (Revised Standard Version) -or-
Whoever insults his father or mother (NET Bible)
Here the word curses does not mean “to put a curse on someone.”
Jesus quoted from what Moses said to show that it was very important to honor one’s parents according to the Jewish law.
must be put to death: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as must be put to death means “must be killed.” This is a passive phrase.
If your language uses only active verbs, here are some other ways to translate this:
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.