Ps 118:25 – Page 2

Japanese benefactives (sukutte)

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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, sukutte (救って) or “save/deliver” 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 Psalm 118:24 - 118:25

This is the day which the LORD has made is the literal form of the Hebrew; the meaning is well represented by New English Bible, “This is the day on which the LORD has acted” (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Good News Translation has “the day of the LORD’s victory,” since the whole psalm celebrates Yahweh’s victory over the enemies of Israel. Bible en français courant translates “This feast day is the Lord’s doing” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In the celebration in the Temple the day once more becomes real and actual as the worshipers praise Yahweh for his victory. If the translator follows Good News Translation, it may be necessary to recast this expression and to say “This is the day we remember when the LORD defeated our enemies.”

In the prayer in verse 25 the congregation or the choir asks God to continue giving the people victory over the enemy (Save us) and to bless the people with success and prosperity (see New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible) in all they do. Success is rendered in some languages as “help us accomplish what we hoped to do.”

It should be noticed that part of verse 25a and verse 26 seem to be alluded to in Matthew 21.9; Mark 11.9-10; Luke 19.38; John 12.13, on the occasion when Jesus entered Jerusalem; allusion to verse 26 alone is found in Matthew 23.39; Luke 13.35. The Hebrew phrase in verse 25a, “Save, we pray,” is transliterated in the Greek text of the New Testament by osanna, which appears in many translations as “Hosanna” (Revised Standard Version and others), an expression of acclamation and praise.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Psalm 118: Layer by Layer

The following are presentations by the Psalms: Layer by Layer project, run by Scriptura . The first is an overview and the second an introduction into the exegesis of Psalm 118.