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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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (æ°æčèšł) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (ăăȘăăă) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
Nothing further is known of this Mary. There is no justification for identifying her with any other Mary of the New Testament.
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 .
Mary: This woman is not otherwise known. This name probably does not refer to any other Mary in the Bible. The Greek spelling of this name, using English letters, is Maria.
who has worked very hard for you: This further describes this Mary. It does not separate this Mary from other Marys. For the correct meaning, some languages must avoid the word who, or start a new sentence. For example:
She has worked very hard for you.
has worked very hard: The Greek is more literally âlabored much.â It is implied that Mary had worked hard for the gospel of Jesus. But it is not known what kind of gospel work she did.
for you: This indicates that Maryâs work benefited the believers in Rome.
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