Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("say")

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) 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, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Matthew 18:3

As both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation indicate, this verse is a continuation of the sentence begun in verse 2. For many languages it will be advisable to begin a new sentence with verse 3.

Truly, I say to you translates the same expression used in 5.26, except that you is plural here. Its function is to place heavy emphasis upon the saying which follows.

Unless you turn and become like children does not refer to a return to the state of childhood in all its respects. As TOB’s footnote correctly indicates, the contrast is between the pretentious attitude of the disciples and the lack of pretension on the part of a child. Children are humble and unconcerned about status, whereas the disciples are each hoping for the highest position within the kingdom. Phillips translates “unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children”; Barclay is similar: “unless you change the whole direction of your lives….” In place of the negative form, a positive statement may be substituted: “You must completely change your attitude and….”

There are translators who have felt that they should make the basis of the simile like children explicit by using an expression such as “become humble like children are” or “become unpretentious the way children are.” However, if as we suggest above, turn is translated with an expression such as “change your lives,” then it is not necessary to fill out the comparison like this. “Unless you change and take the attitude a child has” can be sufficient.

Translators can use “a child” or children, whichever fits the context better.

You will never enter the kingdom of heaven may also require considerable restructuring. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “then you will never enter into God’s new world.” Other translations have said “then you will never become a part of God’s Kingdom” or “then you will never be one of the people under the rule of God.” By changing “unless” to “only if,” INCL is able to use a positive statement: “only if you change and become as children, can you become a part of God’s people.”

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 18:3



18:3a

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to introduce this:

I assure you (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Listen to this:
-or-
Let me tell you this:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

This clause first occurs in 5:18a. It also occurs in 17:20b. You should translate it here as you did there.

you: In Greek, the pronoun you is plural here. Jesus addressed his disciples, not the child.

18:3b

unless you change: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless you change can also be translated as “if you do not turn.” Here the verb translated as change is used figuratively. It refers to an inward change of attitude.

Here are some other ways to translate the clause:

if you do not turn
-or-
if you do not change your mind/thinking
-or-
You must change your thinking…. If you do not

and become like little children: This clause is a comparison. Jesus told the disciples that it was necessary for them to become like children in their attitudes and thinking. Jesus meant that they should be humble like children. This idea is made clear in the next verse, so you should not put it here.

18:3c

you will never enter: The Berean Standard Bible translates two Greek words as the single word never. In Greek, this is a double negative. This means that the two words make this negative statement emphatic.

Here are some other ways to translate this double negative:

you will certainly not enter
-or-
you absolutely cannot enter

enter the kingdom of heaven: In this context, the word enter refers to “becoming a citizen of.” When people change their attitudes and follow Jesus, they become citizens/members of the kingdom of heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
-or-
become one of those who are in the kingdom of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven

-or-

be added to those over whom God rules

This same expression occurs in 5:20b. You should translate it the same way in both places.

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