Japanese benefactives (matte)

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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, matte (待って) or “wait” 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. )

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 18:21-35)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 18:21-35:

“Forgiveness times seven is surely enough
       to offer anyone who offends me,” said Peter.

“Try seven times that amount!” answered Jesus,
“and listen to this story about the Ultimate Kingdom.”

       The CEO of a big corporation called in his employees
              to account for their use of the company funds.
       One of them came up fifty million dollars short,
              and he was broke.

       “His wife and children are just as guilty,” said the CEO.
       “Lock all of them up and throw away the key,
               until he pays back every cent he owes.”

       But the man begged for mercy
       and swore he’d repay every cent.
              So the soft-hearted CEO forgave his debt.

       On the way out of the office, the man happened to meet
              an office boy who owed him a measly fifty bucks.
       With his hands around the throat of he boy, he shouted,
              “Pay me every cent you owe!”

       The boy begged for mercy and swore to repay every cent.
       But there was no mercy, and the boy was thrown into jail
              until he could repay the full amount.

       Some other employees found out what had happened,
       and they reported the matter to the CEO,
              who called the man in and said, “You’re evil!
       When you begged for mercy, I forgave every penny.
              Isn’t that what you should have done for this boy?
       I’ll have your hide for this!
       You, your wife, and your family of four
              will perish impoverished in prison.”

“Listen up!” exclaimed Jesus.
“If you don’t forgive others with all your heart,
       my Father above will treat you like this.”

Translation commentary on Matthew 18:26

So may also be rendered “Then” or “At this.” Good News Translation finds it more natural in English to drop this transitional.

Fell on his knees (so also Good News Translation) translates a participle which is literally “falling” or “having fallen,” and the action is best understood as falling face down rather than upon the knees. Moreover, the meaning of the verb imploring (Good News Translation “begged”) is “approach in dog-like fashion,” descriptive of the manner in which a dog approaches its master on all fours in hopes of escaping punishment. Though root meanings may be deceptive, the root meaning seems best to suit the needs of the context. New American Bible, though at a high-language level, is accurate: “prostrated himself in homage and said.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet,” and An American Translation has “threw himself down before him and implored him.” The man is about to lose everything, and so he approaches his king in the most humble way possible. Translators should use whatever expression makes this clear; for example, “knelt down” or “lay down on the ground in front of.”

Have patience translates a verb made from the same stem as the adjective used in the Septuagint, with the meaning “patient” or “long-suffering.” Sometimes an expression such as “be patient” does not fit well, and translators say instead “give me some time.”

I will pay you everything may be expressed as “I will pay you back everything I have taken,” “I will give you everything I owe you,” or “I will pay back the entire debt.” I will pay you everything is, of course, an exaggeration. It is inconceivable that the man could have repaid the enormous amount. For example, the annual income of King Herod was only nine hundred talents, and for this man to have repaid ten thousand talents would have been an impossible feat.

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 18:26



Paragraph 18:26–27

18:26a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then indicates that 18:26 is the result of what the master said in 18:25.

Here are some other ways to begin this verse:

When this happened
-or-
As a result

Some English versions do not translate this word. They allow the context to suggest the connection. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

the servant fell on his knees before him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fell on his knees is more literally “fell and prostrated himself before him.” This indicates that the servant wanted to show the king great respect and honor. A person usually did that by bending over with his face toward the ground, or actually lying face down on the ground. This does not mean that he tripped and fell.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

got down on his knees (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
knelt/bowed down before him
-or-
threw himself to the ground before him (New International Version)

18:26b

Have patience with me: There is a textual issue here. Some Greek manuscripts include the word “Lord” at the beginning of the servant’s plea. Other Greek manuscripts do not include this word.

(1) Most English versions follow the Greek manuscripts that do not include this word. For example:

Have patience with me (New Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, God’s Word)

(2) Many Greek manuscripts do include the word “Lord,” but only a few English translations follow them. For example:

Lord, have patience with me (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Living Translation (1996))

The word “Lord” was probably not in the original Greek text. However, remember that the servant spoke very politely to his master as he pleaded for patience. In some languages, this way of speaking includes the use of a title. In other languages, there are other ways to show respect with words. For example:

Please, be patient with me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
My master, be patient with me

Have patience: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Have patience is a command. But because of whom the servant said this to, it is really a plea or a request for patience.

The servant pleaded with the master not to act quickly on his decision to sell him. Rather, he should wait a bit, even though the master had the right to do what he threatened.

Here are some other ways to translate this plea:

Sir, please, allow me to have some more time.
-or-
My king, have pity and wait a while.

he begged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as begged is the common Greek verb that means “saying.” In this context, the servant’s speech implies that he pleaded with the master. So, many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, translate it as begged.

You can translate this word as begged or “said” or another word that is natural for this context.

18:26c

and I will pay back everything: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pay is the same word that the master used in 18:25a. It means to “give back” or “return” something.

The word everything refers to everything that the servant owed.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I will pay you everything I owe. (New Century Version)
-or-
I will reimburse you for everything.

-or-

I will return all your money.

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