formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 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. )

Japanese benefactives (kanaete)

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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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, kanaete (かなえて) or “grant” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

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

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("is/be present")

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) 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, o-rare-ru (おられる) or “is/be present” is used.

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

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

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 Translator 2002, 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 his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on Matthew 18:19

Again (Good News Translation “And … more”) translates a Greek adverb which may indicate either repetition (as in Revised Standard Version) or continuation (Moffatt “another thing”; Barclay “Still further”). The context suggests the second of these two possibilities. Translators may say, for example, “Another thing I will tell you,” “In addition to that…,” or “I will tell you something else.”

In some Greek manuscripts “truly” is present, thereby making I say to you the same form as that used in verses 3, 13, and 18. Most modern translations do not include it in the text, though Barclay has “I tell you truly,” and Luther 1984 has “Truly, I say to you”; Jerusalem Bible has “I tell you solemnly.”

Two of you … they ask … for them is unnatural for English readers, since you, they, and them refer to the same persons. Good News Translation avoids this awkwardness by rendering “two of you … you pray for … for you.” New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible also make similar shifts to second-person pronominal usage throughout. Grammatically it will be equally possible to use third person throughout: “two people … they pray for … for them.” However, Jesus is addressing his disciples and means two of them. Consequently “you” should be retained, as in Good News Translation.

The contrasting phrases on earth … in heaven link this verse with verse 18. In this respect a pleasing balance is achieved, but for many readers two of you … on earth will sound awkward. One may therefore prefer to translate “whenever any two of you.” A relative clause may allow translators to retain on earth; for example, “two of you who are here on earth.” But this should only be done if the resulting sentence in the receptor language is natural.

If is sometimes more naturally expressed as “When,” “Whenever,” or “Any time that.”

Agree … about anything they ask refers specifically to prayer, as the person asked (my Father in heaven) signifies. Good News Translation therefore translates “agree about anything you pray for.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “if two of you on earth pray together about something.” If the verb ask is maintained in translation, then it may be obligatory in some languages to indicate the person of whom the request is made: “… ask my Father in heaven for something, he will do it for you.” Even where the verb ask is translated specifically as “pray,” some languages may still require specific mention of the Father in heaven as the one to whom the prayers are directed.

In the present context anything refers to the settlement of disputes within the Christian community and should not be translated in such a way as to imply the provision of material goods as an answer to prayer. Moreover, as “in my name” of verse 20 indicates, the prayer must be in keeping with God’s will.

With these things in mind, translators may render the passage as “If two of you here on earth agree about something you ask God to do,” “Whenever two of you here on earth agree to ask God to do something,” or “If here on earth two of you agree on something and ask God to do it.”

It will be done for them by my Father in heaven may require restatement in an active form: “my Father in heaven will do it for you.”

For comments on my Father in heaven, see 5.16.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 18:19



18:19a

Again, I tell you truly: There is a textual issue here. In some Greek manuscripts, there is a word that means “truly.”

Some important Greek manuscripts do not have this Greek word. Most English versions follow these manuscripts. For example:

Again I say to you (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Other Greek manuscripts have this Greek word. A few English versions follow these manuscripts. For example:

Again, truly I tell you (New Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) and the majority of English versions. Do not include a translation of the word “truly.”

Again: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Again indicates that Jesus wanted to say some more things to his disciples. It does not mean that he wanted to repeat something he had already said.

Here are some other ways to translate this word and its context:

And I tell you more: (Good News Translation)
-or-
I also tell you this (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Also, I tell you that (New Century Version)

18:19b

if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for: This clause refers to two of Jesus’ disciples agreeing to ask God for something. It refers to agreeing about something and praying for it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

if two of you on earth agree about anything and ask ⌊God⌋ for it
-or-
if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it (New Century Version)
-or-
when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for (Contemporary English Version)

In this context, this clause may refer to asking for wisdom to handle the issue of the brother who has sinned (in 18:15a). But it may include other issues as well. You should translate it in a general way so that it can refer to any issue.

two of you…you: The second you translates a form that is more literally “they.” However, both pronouns refer to Jesus’ disciples, so the Berean Standard Bible and some English versions change the pronoun “they” to you to make this clearer. In some languages, it would be natural to follow the Greek and use both you and “they” here. For example:

if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask (English Standard Version)

In some languages, it may also be more natural to use the same pronoun here.

on the earth: This phrase on the earth contrasts with the phrase “in heaven” at the end of 18:19c. It refers to where people are, as opposed to where God is.

In some languages, it will be natural to put this phrase at a different place in the clause. For example:

if two of you agree on anything here on earth (God’s Word)

about anything you ask for: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anything you ask for refers to any matter or thing of concern.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

about whatever (NET Bible)
-or-
concerning any matter

18:19c

it will be done for you by My Father in heaven: This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use an active verb. For example:

my Father in heaven will do it for you (NET Bible)
-or-
you will receive it from my Father in heaven

it will be done for you: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be done means “will do” what they asked for or “will answer” their prayer. You should use a verb in your language that refers to answering a prayer. For example:

my Father in heaven will answer their/your prayer
-or-
my Father in heaven will give it to them/you
-or-
my Father in heaven will fulfill what they/you asked

you: The pronoun you here, as in 18:19b, is more literally “them.” However, this pronoun refers to “you” in the phrase “two of you.” Therefore, the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions change the “them” to you. In some languages, it would be natural to follow the Greek and use “they” here. For example:

it will be done for them (English Standard Version)

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