The verb rendered to live by Good News Translation literally means “to remain,” but the meaning in the context is “to remain alive.” This is clearly marked in the following verse where the writer distinguishes between would not die and “remain” (Good News Translation live). One may translate to live as “to keep on living” or “to continue living” or “to stay alive.” Moffatt translates “If I choose that he should survive till I come back….” New American Bible renders “Suppose I want him to stay until I come”; New English Bible translates “If it should be my will that he wait until I come”; Jerusalem Bible has “If I want him to stay behind till I come.” Since Jesus will go away and then return, it is necessary in some languages to translate “until I come back” or “until I return.”

What is that to you? may be rendered “why are you worried about that?” or “why are you concerned about that?” or “why is that your concern?” In some languages one may translate “why are you thinking about that?” or “why does this matter enter your heart?”

For the expression Follow me! see discussion under verse 19.

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 .