11:51a

The Greek text connects this sentence to the previous verse with a common conjunction that here indicates a parenthetical comment. Some translations do not translate this word. The NET Bible Bible puts verses 51–52 in parentheses. Introduce this parenthetical comment in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Actually (Good News Translation)

Caiaphas did not say this on his own: The word Caiaphas refers to the high priest. What he just said was not just his own thoughts, coming from his own mind or intelligence. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

What Caiaphas said did not come from his own mind/thoughts
-or-
Caiaphas did not think of this himself. (New Century Version)

11:51b

Instead: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead here connects a negative statement (11:51a) to a positive statement (11:51b). Caiaphas did not speak on his own, but rather spoke as the high priest. This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction “but” as in the New Revised Standard Version.

Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year… (NET Bible Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

Actually, he did not say this of his own accord; rather, as he was High Priest that year… (Good News Translation)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Caiaphas did not say this on his own. As high priest that year… (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Caiaphas said this because he was high priest at that time, not from his own mind. As high priest…

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

as high priest that year: This phrase implies that Caiaphas spoke as he did because he was high priest. To be high priest was a high privilege, and God chose to speak through him. Refer to your translation of 11:49a, where there is same Greek phrase. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

As chief priest that year (God’s Word)
-or-
because he was high priest that year (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
because at that time he was the high/chief priest

11:51c

he was prophesying: To prophesy is to speak for God, or to speak God’s message. Caiaphas as high priest was speaking for God. He did not know it, but he was giving God’s message to the people. Sometimes, as here, a prophecy will predict something that will happen in the future.

that Jesus would die for the nation: This clause explains the message and meaning of Caiaphas’ prophecy. His words indicated that Jesus would really die for the Jewish nation.

would die: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as would here:

(1) It means “would happen.”

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

(2) It means “would happen soon.” For example:

he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation (New Revised Standard Version)

(New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most English translations including the Berean Standard Bible.

the nation: The word nation here refers to the Jewish nation. It may be necessary to be more explicit. For example:

their nation (New Century Version)
-or-
the Jewish nation (NET Bible Bible)

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