Some consider this verse not to be an original part of John’s Gospel, but rather a later addition connected with a baptismal liturgy. It is true that the verse is omitted in more than one important Greek manuscript, but most commentators and translators consider it an integral part of John’s Gospel. New American Bible includes it in brackets, with a note suggesting that it may not have been an original part of the text. The manuscript evidence is strongly in favor of the inclusion of this verse. Its omission from some ancient manuscripts is perhaps explained by a desire of some scribes to unite the teaching of verses 37 and 39.

The words the man said come first in Greek but Good News Translation changes the word order for stylistic reasons.

Knelt down before (New English Bible “bowed before”) is the same verb often translated “worshiped” (Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible). In some languages it may be necessary to translate “bowed before Jesus and worshiped him.”

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 .