formal 2nd person pronoun (Spanish)

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.

Sources and for more information: P. Ellingworth in The Bible Translator 2002, p. 143ff. and R. Ross in The Bible Translator 1993, p. 217ff.

See also the use of the formal vs. the informal pronoun in the Gospels in Tuvan.

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 4:28

As in verse 16, the woman continues to show great respect for the prophet by addressing him as my lord in spite of her disappointment. But this indirect reference while speaking directly to the prophet will be quite unnatural in many languages. New Living Translation says “you, my lord.”

Did I ask … Did I not say…?: Both questions in this verse are rhetorical in nature with answers that are well understood by both parties. They may be more naturally rendered in some languages as strong affirmative statements as follows: “I did not ask you to give me a son. I begged you not to deceive me.” The woman is referring to her conversation with the prophet in verse 16. Like Revised Standard Version, Parole de Vie translates the last part of this verse using a quotation within a quotation: “I even said to you: ‘Don’t give me a false hope.’ ” In other languages it will be better to have one level of quotation here as in Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .