Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("knowing")

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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 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, shitteo-rare-ru (知っておられる) or “knowing” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Matthew 6:32

Gentiles (Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible “pagans”) is made from the same stem as the noun used in 5.47 (see comments there), and the two words mean the same. The more general use of the term simply means “Gentiles” as opposed to Jews. However, in the present context it is apparently used in a derogatory sense of people who have not learned to trust in the God of the Jews. Barclay translates “the people who don’t know God” (so also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch); New American Bible has “The unbelievers”; New English Bible renders “the heathen.”

Seek (Good News Translation “are … concerned about”) is given a dynamic translation by many: “running after” (New American Bible), “set their hearts on” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “keep thinking about” (Barclay). Elsewhere in the Gospel of Matthew this same Greek verb is found only in 12.39 and 16.4, where it is translated “ask for (a miracle)” by Good News Translation.

Seek can also be “worry about,” “keep thinking about,” or “preoccupied with.” Many languages will use an idiomatic expression such as “Those things fill their hearts (or, minds).”

All these things is translated “These are the things” by Good News Translation. But Good News Translation includes the force of all by the rendering “always” in conjunction with the verb (so also New American Bible).

Some translators have rendered all these things as “These are the very things that Gentiles are always worrying about” or “It is all these kinds of things that concern the Gentiles.”

Heavenly Father, as elsewhere in this passage, refers to God. He knows that you need them all, that is, “He knows that you should have these things” or “He is aware that it is necessary for you to have these things.”

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 6:32

6:32a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For in this context indicates that 6:32 is the basis for the commands in 6:31.

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

⌊I say that⌋ because

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

the Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to people who were non-Jews.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

people who don’t know God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
people who do not trust/believe in God
-or-
heathen (Revised English Bible)
-or-
pagans (New International Version)

This word also occurs in 6:7a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “pagans.” You should translate it here as you did there.

strive after: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strive after means “desire,” “want,” or “wish for,” or “look/search for.” The Greek grammar indicates a continuous seeking or wishing for something.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

always concerned about (Good News Translation)
-or-
always worrying about such things (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
keep trying to get (New Century Version)

all these things: The phrase all these things refers to the food, drink, and clothes mentioned in 6:25–31. You will want to use the proper word that refers back to these things. For example:

all these/those things
-or-
all the things ⌊I just mentioned⌋

6:32b

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as and is the same conjunction that is translated as “For” in 6:32a. It introduces the second basis for the commands not to worry.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

⌊I also say that⌋ because
-or-

⌊you should not worry⌋ because

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

your heavenly Father: The phrase your heavenly Father refers to God. This phrase also occurs in 6:14b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

⌊God⌋ your heavenly Father
-or-

⌊God⌋ your Father ⌊who is/lives⌋ in heaven

knows that you need them: This clause implies that God will also provide the things that you need. If people in your area will think that this clause indicates only that God knows but does not provide, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

knows that you need them ⌊and will give you all these things⌋

them: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as them are the same as those translated as “all these things” in the previous clause. It refers to food, drink, and clothes.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all these things (Good News Translation)

-or-

all your needs (New Living Translation (2004))

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