Japanese benefactives (ataete)

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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, ataete (与えて) or “give” 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. )

Translation commentary on Matthew 7:11

Who are evil (Good News Translation “As bad as you are”) is not intended to be a philosophical statement regarding human nature; the comparison is between God and the human race, all of whom are sinful. The phrase who are evil may be expressed “Even though you are sinful (or, bad), you know how to….”

In some languages it is redundant to speak of “giving gifts,” but one can give “good things.” Good News Translation has used this phrase.

How much more introduces an argument “from the lesser to the greater” (see 6.30 for this same form of argument): human fathers are evil, but they still give good things to their children; our Father in heaven is good, and so he is much more ready to give good things to those who ask him.

For your Father who is in heaven, see comments on 5.16.

In place of good things Luke has “the Holy Spirit” (Luke 11.13). One commentator suggests that good things are probably intended to include everything mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer, though Matthew may be thinking of God’s will in general.

The phrase who ask him is a shortened form of “who ask him for something (or, for what they need).” In some languages it may be necessary to use this longer form, or possibly “who ask him to give them good things.”

Quite often, to render this verse easier for their readers to understand, translators will find it necessary to restructure. For example, they may break it up into two sentences, as in these examples: “You are sinful and yet you know how to give good things to your children. Think then how much better God your Father in heaven is able to give good things to those who ask him” or “Even though you are evil, you know how to give good things to your children. Surely God your heavenly Father will give things that are much better than that to those who ask him.”

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 7:11

7:11

In Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, 7:11 is one long, complicated sentence. It includes several steps in a logical argument with one main conclusion:

(a) People are evil.

(b) However, people know how to give good gifts to their children.

(c) (Implied) God is good.

(d) Therefore, God most certainly knows how to give good gifts to his children.

Jesus compared the character of people and the kinds of gifts that they give (7:11a–b) to the character of God and the kinds of gifts that he gives (7:11c–d). He expected his followers to agree that God will give much better gifts than people do. Consider how people make this type of statement in your culture.

7:11a–b

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is often translated as “therefore.” It introduces a conclusion of 7:7–10.

Here are some other ways to introduce this conclusion:

So (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Therefore
-or-
In conclusion

In some languages, it is more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. The context can imply the relationship without a conjunction. For example:

As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. (Good News Translation)

if you who are evil know how to give good gifts: This clause is literally “if you being evil know to give good gifts to your children.” The Berean Standard Bible has added the word how to make it natural English.

This if clause implies that the disciples knew how to give good gifts to their children. It also implies that they gave them good gifts regularly. There is no doubt about this.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the if clause. For example:

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children (New Living Translation (2004))

• Make 7:11a–b a separate sentence. For example:

Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. (God’s Word)
-or-
As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. (Good News Translation)
-or-
You are evil, but you know how to give good gifts to your children. ⌊If you do that…⌋

you who are evil: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as evil also means “bad,” “sinful,” or “wicked.” Jesus was not condemning his disciples here. He was not saying that they were evil and other people were good. He was simply stating that all people are sinful.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

you are bad (New Century Version)
-or-
you sinful people (New Living Translation (2004))

good gifts: The phrase good gifts refers to things that fathers give their children. These are things that are good for them. Bread and fish (7:9–10) are examples of good gifts. But good gifts includes more than just food.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

good things

7:11c–d

how much more will your Father in heaven give: Here a contrast is made between the nature of man and the nature of God: man is sinful and (it is implied that) God is good. The first part of the contrast (that man is sinful) was stated explicitly in 7:11a. If it is necessary to make the second half of the contrast explicit in your language, you may say:

how much more will your father in heaven ⌊who is good⌋…
-or-

⌊But⌋ your heavenly father ⌊is good⌋. It is even more certain that…

7:11c

how much more: The phrase how much more compares two things. It compares God’s willingness/readiness and man’s willingness to give good gifts. (The comparison is not between the sizes of the gifts.) Man gives good gifts. But God is much more willing than people to give good gifts.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

God is even more ready/willing
-or-
God knows better than you how to give…
-or-
it is absolutely certain that
-or-
even more so with God

your Father in heaven: The phrase your Father in heaven refers to God. Here heaven refers to the place where God lives.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

your Father in heaven
-or-

⌊God⌋ your heavenly Father

Be careful not to imply that Jesus has other fathers and only this one is in heaven.

7:11d

good things: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as good things is simply the word “good.” God gives us what is good. He gives us what we need. It refers to “good gifts” as in 7:11b. It includes the Holy Spirit mentioned in Luke 11:13.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

good things (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
good gifts (New International Version)

-or-

what is good

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