Sir is the meaning that most modern translators see in this verse, though Revised Standard Version and Phillips render the Greek word as “Lord.” It is doubtful that these persons were calling Jesus “Lord” in the Christian sense of the word; all that is indicated in this context is a polite form of address.

The failure of the crowd to understand what Jesus is saying is typical of the way in which John provides a basis for a spiritual explanation.

The adverb always is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure; this adverb occurs again in 7.6; 8.29; 11.42; 12.8; 18.20.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .