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 Romans 8:27

As a Jew, Paul can speak of God in the third person without actually mentioning his name, and that is what he does in this verse: and God, who sees into the hearts of men is literally “and the one searching the heart.” That God “searches” (that is, sees into) the hearts of men is a familiar Old Testament concept (see 1 Samuel 16.7; 1 Kings 8.39; Psalm 7.9; Proverbs 15.11; Jeremiah 17.9-10). In some languages it may be necessary to specify more clearly the relation between God, who sees into the hearts of men and the fact that God knows what the thought of the Spirit is. Since God knows what men are thinking, he therefore knows precisely the intent of the Spirit who prays on behalf of men with groanings which cannot be expressed in words. This relation of cause and effect may be expressed as “because God sees what men want in their hearts, he knows what the Spirit intends.” One may also translate this as “God sees into the hearts of men and therefore knows what the thought of the Spirit is.”

In the last clause of this verse the word translated because (so New English Bible) may have the meaning of “that.” As interpreted in the Good News Translation and most other translations this clause tells why it is that God … knows what the thought of the Spirit is. If the other alternative is followed, then the clause tells the content of what the Spirit thinks (see Jerusalem Bible “that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God”).

In this last clause the pronoun “he” is made explicit by most translations as a reference to the Spirit.

His people (An American Translation* and New English Bible “God’s people”) is literally “the saints.” (On this term see 1.7.)

The pronoun his (in accordance with his will) refers back to God (Revised Standard Version “according to the will of God”).

The last clause of verse 27 may be rendered as “for the Spirit speaks with God (or speaks strongly) for God’s people and in the way that God desires” or “… for the same purpose that God desires for his people.”

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 8:27

8:27a

He who searches our hearts: This refers to God. In some languages this will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain in the text. For example:

God, who searches our hearts

This change makes who searches our hearts describe God rather than define to whom the word he refers. Some languages must avoid who in this case for the correct meaning. For example:

God searches our hearts and

searches: Here this word indicates that God carefully examines hearts. It does not refer to looking for something that is lost. Here are other ways to translate this word:

sees into (Good News Translation)
-or-
knows (New Living Translation (2004))

hearts: This refers to generally to the hearts of all people. For example:

all hearts (New Living Translation (2004))

The word hearts refers here to the inner being of people, which includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. Use your usual word for that meaning. For example:

insides/liver
-or-
mind and will

See how you translated this word in 1:21 or 6:17.

8:27b

mind: The Greek word here is translated as “the mind” in 8:6 and 8:7. Here it probably refers to the mind generally, as many English versions and scholars translate. God knows what the Holy Spirit is thinking when he groans on our behalf.

8:27c

saints: The Greek word can mean “holy people,” “people dedicated/consecrated to God,” or “people whom God has made holy.” Here it probably implies all of these meanings. In the New Testament, this word refers to all Christians, not to any special group of Christians. See how you translated this word in 1:7.

8:27d

the will of God: Here the word will refers to what God wants to happen. See how you translated this word in 2:18.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 8.27

et celui qui scrute les cœurs : l’expression renvoie à Dieu le Père. En effet, les Juifs (dont Paul fait partie) avaient l’habitude d’appeler Yahweh par plusieurs noms. Bien que le sens soit clair en grec, plusieurs versions remplacent celui par « Dieu » (Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Parole de Vie, Good News Bible, Parola del Signore, Die Gute Nachricht, Dios Habla Hoy).

scrute les cœurs : ce verbe veut dire « examiner avec soin » ou « profondément ». En Jean 5.39, Jésus utilise ce mot lorsqu’il dit que les Juifs sondent les Écritures, sans se rendre compte qu’elles témoignent de lui. Le fait que Dieu « voit le fond des cœurs » (Parole de Vie) est aussi une notion courante dans l’AT (1 Sam 16.7 ; 1 Rois 8.39 ; Jér 17.9-10 ; Ps 7.10 ; Prov 15.11).

sait quelle est l’intention de l’Esprit : Paul dit que Dieu sait déjà ce que son Esprit pense et demande. Le mot grec pour intention (φρόνημα phronêma) est le même qu’en Rom 8.6. Dans certaines langues on pourrait dire que « le Dieu qui voit dans les cœurs » connaît « les désirs de l’Esprit » (Voir Osty-Trinquet). Certains y voient deux étapes : puisque Dieu connaît ce que pensent les humains, il connaît par conséquent exactement aussi ce que l’Esprit demande en priant pour eux. Mais ceci n’est pas forcément le sens ici. L’idée pourrait être plutôt « Dieu voit dans le cœur des humains et par conséquent il connaît aussi les pensées de l’Esprit ».

c’est selon Dieu en effet que l’Esprit intercède pour les saints est litt. « que/car selon Dieu il intercède pour les saints ». Pour plus de clarté, plusieurs versions remplacent le pronom « il » par l’Esprit. La conjonction grecque ὅτι hoti traduite par en effet ou « car » (Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur) peut avoir le sens de « (et) que » (Bible de Jérusalem) ou « (et c’est) que » (Osty-Trinquet). Introduite par « car », la proposition indique pourquoi Dieu connaît l’intention de l’Esprit. Néanmoins, certaines versions rendent la pensée autrement : « …à quoi tend l’Esprit : c’est selon Dieu qu’il intercède en faveur des saints » (Segond Révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond). Les traducteurs sont libres d’interpréter comme ils veulent.

Les mots selon Dieu peuvent signifier « comme Dieu le désire » (Bible en français courant), « comme Dieu le veut » (Parole de Vie), « en accord avec Dieu » (La Bible du Semeur).

Pour les saints, voir Rom 1.7. Le terme désigne « les croyants » (Bible en français courant) ou « ceux qui appartiennent à Dieu » (La Bible du Semeur).

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