Translation commentary on John 19:4

Once more is literally “again” (so many translations).

To the crowd is literally “to them.” New American Bible renders this sentence “Pilate went out a second time and said to the crowd.” Instead of to the crowd or “to them” New English Bible has “to the Jews” (so also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In 18.38 the text says that Pilate went out, but there is no indication that he went back in again; obviously, however, we are to assume that he did so while the soldiers were whipping Jesus.

Look (Greek ide) is a particle that first appeared in 1.29 (see there); it is also used in 18.21. Since its function is to attract attention, it maybe better here to render it “Listen” rather than Look.

I will bring him out here to you must be rendered in some languages as a causative, since Pilate himself did not bring Jesus out, for example, “I will cause him to be brought out here to you.”

To let you see is an expression of purpose and may be rendered, for example, “in order that you can see that….”

I cannot find any reason to condemn him is essentially the same expression used in 18.38.

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 .

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