mutual / among yourselves (Japanese honorifics)

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

The Greek that is translated as “mutual” or “among yourselves” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-tagai (お互い), combining “one another” (tagai) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

peace (inner peace)

Click here to view graphically

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is usually translated into English as “peace,” when referring to one’s inner peace, is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:

In American Sign Language it is signed with a compound sign consisting of “become” and “silent.” (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)


“Peace” in American Sign Language (source )

See also peace (absence of strife) and this devotion on YouVersion and this one on Bible Gateway .

build up

The Greek that is translated as “building up” in many English versions is translated in Chol with a term that specifically indicates to make others better (here and elsewhere, in their faith in Christ). (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Huehuetla Tepehua it is translated as “have more confidence in Christ,” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “cause that their hearts grow strong with reference to the way of God,” in Yatzachi Zapotec as “to become stronger in their faith,” and in Central Tarahumara as “so that they can believe better yet.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Rom. 14:19)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the writer of the letter and the readers).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Romans 14:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 14:19:

  • Uma: “That’s why we must exert effort to live in harmony with others and mutually strengthen each others’ hearts.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore we (incl.) ought-to/must really persevere in doing the deeds which cause harmony with/please our (incl.) companions and we (incl.) should help each other so that our (incl.) trusting in God becomes stronger.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason we carefully correct our behavior is so that our peaceful relationship with our companions may not be removed, and also so that the faith of each one of us might be drawn tight.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore let us do all in our power to do what leads to our harmony and what strengthens the faith of each one.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now let us search for the word that we will not argue about. Each one of us, let us search for how to strengthen the faith of our fellow believers.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 14:19

This verse is introduced with the same particles that introduce verse 12. Must always aim at translates a subjunctive in Greek, which most translations take with the force of an imperative. Some Greek manuscripts have this verb in the indicative, “we aim at.” The UBS text committee gives the reading retained in the text a “D” rating, indicating that there is a high degree of doubt concerning it. The choice between the two readings is difficult, but practically all translators apparently prefer to follow the subjunctive. The tense of this subjunctive is present, and the Good News Translation interprets it to have the force of must always aim at.

We must always aim at those things that bring peace is literally “we must pursue those things of peace.” “To pursue peace” is a Semitic idiom which means “to try to live in peace with one’s fellow-man.” The genitive expression “those things of peace” means those things that bring peace (New English Bible “the things that make for peace”).

We must always aim at those things may be translated in some languages as “we must always try to do those things.” Such an expression may be readily combined with the restrictive clause that bring peace, and the first part of verse 19 may then be translated as “we must always try to do what causes peace” or “… causes people to live peacefully together.” In some languages the idea of eliminating “strife” may be an effective way of speaking of “peace” in this type of context—for example, “we must always try to do whatever removes strife.”

That help strengthen one another is a genitive clause in Greek, which the Good News Translation has translated as a verb expression. The strength referred to is, of course, spiritual strength. The final restrictive clause, that help strengthen one another, may be combined with the preceding as “we must always try to do … what helps one another become strong,” “… what causes other believers to become strong,” or “… what causes other people to become strong in their faith.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 14:19

Paragraph 14:19–23

14:19a

So then: The Greek here means “as a result” or “therefore.”

let us pursue what leads to peace: The word pursue indicates that we are to work hard at making peace. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

we must pursue the things that cause peace ⌊with others⌋
-or-
we must make every effort to do the things that bring peace

what leads to peace: The Greek is literally “the (things) of peace.” It refers to doing things that cause peace with others. See the above examples.

14:19b

to mutual edification: The words “Let us pursue what leads” are implied here. In some languages it is more natural or more clear to repeat them. For example:

⌊let us pursue what leads⌋ to mutual edification

mutual: This word refers to doing things for each other.

edification: Here this word refers to strengthening or encouraging others so that they live in faith better. Here are other ways to translate this word:

upbuilding (English Standard Version)
-or-
help strengthen (Good News Translation)
-or-
help each other have a strong faith (Contemporary English Version)

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 14.19

14.19-23

Contrairement à la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, plusieurs versions commencent un nouveau paragraphe en Rom 14.19, ce qui aère la présentation du passage. Voir Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Parole de Vie. Effectivement, deux conjonctions fortes débutent cette section : ἄρα οὖν ara oun, « ainsi donc », Segond Révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Osty-Trinquet. Voir Rom 14.12.

Recherchons donc est litt. « Ainsi donc recherchons ». En grec, le verbe est au subjonctif, mais la plupart des versions le traduisent par un impératif. Toutefois, dans quelques manuscrits grecs il est à l’indicatif, ainsi « Nous recherchons donc ». Le choix entre ces deux variantes (subjonctif ou indicatif) est délicat. S’ils veulent, les traducteurs pourront inclure la traduction alternative dans une note.

ce qui convient à la paix et à l’édification mutuelle : Paul cite des choses que les chrétiens devraient poursuivre ou rechercher. Il met en relief le besoin d’harmonie et des actes qui contribuent au bien être de tout le monde.

ce qui convient à la paix est litt. « les [choses] de la paix ». Les traducteurs devront chercher des expressions naturelles dans leur langue, par exemple, « ce qui contribue à la paix » (Bible en français courant, Nouvelle Bible Segond) ou « ce qui favorise la paix » (Bible de Jérusalem), « ce qui sert la paix ». Ces mots évoquent une tournure sémitique qui veut dire « s’efforcer de vivre en paix ». On pourrait dire « Nous devons donc toujours nous efforcer de faire ce qui favorise/crée la paix » ou « …ce qui permet aux gens de vivre en paix ».

l’édification mutuelle : litt. « et les [choses] de l’édification des uns pour les autres », une deuxième construction au génitif. l’édification rend un mot grec qui renvoie à la construction d’un bâtiment. Pour d’autres images de la communauté chrétienne comme édifice dans les lettres de Paul, voir 1 Cor 3.9 ; Éph 4.12. Si ce genre de vocabulaire peut être utilisé, le traducteur doit le maintenir. Sinon, il pourrait dire « et à nous faire grandir les uns et les autres dans la foi » (La Bible du Semeur), « et nous encourager mutuellement dans notre foi » (Die Gute Nachricht). La Bible en français courant parle de « progresser ensemble (dans la foi) ». Cette édification est bien sûr, spirituelle. On pourrait dire « pour que les gens s’encouragent les uns les autres à devenir forts dans leur foi ».

Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.