13:26a–b
It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it: The Jewish people at this time did not normally eat with knives, forks, and spoons. Their custom was to break off pieces of bread and then dip them into a stew or sauce (liquid food). Jesus told John that he would answer his question by following this custom and then handing the bread to the betrayer.
this morsel: The word morsel refers to a piece of a loaf of bread. In some languages it may be most natural to say simply:
some bread
I have dipped it: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dipped it is more literally “dipped.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the reference to it, which refers to the “morsel” that is put into a plate or bowl that contains a stew or sauce (liquid food) of some kind. In some languages it may be natural to say this. For example:
dipped it in the sauce (God’s Word)
General Comment on 13:26a–b
In some languages it may be natural to rearrange this sentence, saying what would happen in chronological order. For example:
I will dip this piece of bread in the stew/sauce and then give it to the ⌊right⌋ person/man.
13:26c–d
Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as Then introduces what Jesus then did as a result of what he just said. Some English versions use a connector like “So” to indicate this.
He dipped the morsel and gave it: There is a textual problem here:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts include a word meaning “took.” For example:
So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it… (New American Standard Bible)
(New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Good News Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible)
(2) Some Greek manuscripts say that Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas. For example:
he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it… (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, New International Version)
The UBS Handbook Greek New Testament committee thinks that option (1) is the original text, although they are not very sure. Most English translations follow option (2), partly because it is more natural in English. Others include the word “took,” but put it before the action of dipping. For example:
So he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it… (Good News Translation)
The meaning is nearly the same in all these English translations. So translate these clauses in the way that is most natural in your language.
He dipped the morsel: This clause is more literally “having dipped.” Jesus dipped the piece of bread into the stew or sauce. In some languages it may be natural to make the object (the morsel) explicit, as the Berean Standard Bible has done. In other languages it may be natural to say what he dipped the bread in. For example:
when he had dipped it ⌊in the sauce/stew⌋
Judas son of Simon Iscariot: There is a textual problem here:
(1) Many Greek manuscripts say “Judas son of Simon Iscariot.” These manuscripts are followed by most English translations. For example:
Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NIV2011)
(2) Some Greek manuscripts say “Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.” These manuscripts are followed by a few English translations. For example:
Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son (NET Bible)
(New International Version (1984), King James Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most translations and the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament.
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