21:18

This verse includes a play on words involving two different idioms that both use the word “tie.” The meaning of the verse is that when Peter was young he tied up his robe to go wherever he wanted. But when he became old, people would tie his arms to a beam that would become part of a cross. Then they would take him to a place where they would crucify him. See the General Comment following the notes on 21:18.

21:18a

Truly, truly, I tell you: This clause indicates that an important statement will follow. See how you translated it in 3:3 and 3:5.

you: This pronoun is singular and refers to Peter.

21:18b

when you were young: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as when you were young refers to an earlier time, when Peter was younger. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

when you were younger (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
when you were a young man (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
in your youth

you dressed yourself: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you dressed yourself refers to tying something. It usually referred to the way that a man tied his robe at the waist to prepare to work or travel. People in Jesus’ time did not have leather belts like ones that people wear today. They did not have metal buckles to connect the ends of the belt. They used something like a rope to tie their clothes. Refer to the action of tying one’s clothes in a way that is natural in your language. Or you can use a more general statement. For example:

you tied your clothes around you (NET Bible)
-or-
you used to fasten your own belt (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
you got ready yourself

and walked where you wanted: Peter had always been free to go where he wanted to go. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

and walk wherever you wished (New American Standard Bible)

21:18c

but when you are old: This refers to a time that was still future when Jesus spoke. Peter was not yet old. Use an expression that is natural in your language for referring to a future time that is many years later. For example:

but when you are an old man (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
but after you become old
-or-
but in your old age

you will stretch out your hands: This clause probably refers to a person being prepared for crucifixion. Soldiers stretched out the arms of the condemned man on the shorter beam of the cross and tied them there. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you will hold out your hands (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you will put out your hands (New Century Version)

your hands: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hands refers to both hands and arms.

21:18d

and someone else will dress you: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dress is more literally “tie.” It is the same word that John used in 21:18b. There are two ways to interpret this expression here:

(1) It refers to a soldier tying Peter’s arms to one beam of the cross. Then Peter would carry the beam to the place where they would crucify him. For example:

someone else will bind you (Good News Translation)

(Revised English Bible, NET Bible, Good News Translation, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to someone tying Peter’s clothes. For example:

Then others will wrap your belt around you (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

A few other translations are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The previous clause referred to Peter being crucified. So this clause probably also refers to crucifixion even though the Greek word usually refers to getting dressed. But do not refer explicitly to crucifixion in your translation. Instead, just refer to Peter being tied up. Because the Berean Standard Bible follows interpretation (2), the Display uses the NET Bible as the Source Line.

someone else: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as someone else is more literally “another.” Use the expression that is natural in your language to refer to other people. Here the other person or people tying Peter up would be Roman soldiers.

21:18e

and lead you where you do not want to go: This expression refers to how soldiers would force Peter to carry the shorter beam of the cross. They forced him to carry it to the place where they would crucify him. Here are other ways to translate this expression:

and bring you where you do not want to go (NET Bible)

where you do not want to go: In some languages it may be natural to translate this with a positive expression. For example:

a place that you want to avoid

General Comment on 21:18

This is a difficult prophecy to translate because it has a play on words involving two different idioms. Both idioms use the word “tie,” but in different ways. There is lots of implicit information in these two idioms. Jesus indicated that when Peter was young he tied up his robe to go wherever he wanted to go. But when he became old, people would tie his arms to one beam of a cross. Then they would lead him out to crucify him.

It is good if you can keep the play on words. However, it is more important that your readers understand the meaning. So if there is no word like “tie” that can be used in both sentences, you may want to include a footnote. In the footnote you can explain the play on words by showing how one word connects the two sentences. For example:

Listen carefully to what I am telling you. When you were a young man you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will have to stretch your arms out so that someone can tie ⌊your arms to a cross⌋ . Then he will force you to go where you do not want to go.

Footnote: The Greek says, “Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to tie yourself and to go wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your arms, and someone else will tie you. And they will take you where you do not want to go.”

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