5:13a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces some background information that explains the conversation. Some English translations, like the Berean Standard Bible, use a word that indicates contrast because you might expect that the man knew Jesus’ name. And yet he did not know his name. Translate the word in a way that is natural in your language for introducing this background information. For example:

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was (New Revised Standard Version)

the man who was healed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as healed is a different word from that in 5:10 or 5:11. However, in this context it means the same thing. For example:

that man
-or-
the one who was cured
-or-
the man who had been made strong

did not know who it was: The man who was healed did not know the name of the man who had healed him. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

had no idea who it was (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
did not know who Jesus was (Good News Translation)
-or-
did not know who had healed him

5:13b

for Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there: There were a lot of people in that place, and so Jesus was able to leave without people seeing him. There are three ways that English translations have translated this clause:

(1) Most English translations just say that Jesus slipped away (went away quietly). They do not say whether he went away from the crowd or into the crowd. For example:

because there were many people in that place, and Jesus had left (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, King James Version, New English Bible, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word)

(2) Other translations say or imply that Jesus went into the crowd and seemed to disappear in the crowd. For example:

for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004), New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(3) A few translations say or imply that Jesus chose to withdraw (go away) because the place was crowded. For example:

and Jesus had left because of the crowd (Contemporary English Version)

(NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is closer to the Greek and most English translations follow it. The Greek does not really say whether Jesus went into the crowd or away from the crowd. However, if a major language translation follows interpretation (2), you may follow that. The Greek also does not say that he went away because of the crowd. He was able to leave because a crowd was there and people would not see him leave. However, he did not leave because of the crowd.

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for means “because.” It introduces the reason why the man could not ask Jesus his name or identify him for the Jews. He could no longer see Jesus. Here is another way to translate this word:

because (New Century Version)

had slipped away: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had slipped away indicates that Jesus left the area quietly, without people noticing. For example:

Jesus had quietly gone away.

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