1:33a
I myself did not know Him: The only reason that John recognized that Jesus was the Messiah was because God told him. Until he baptized Jesus, John did not realize that Jesus was the one who came to save the people. For example:
Before this I didn’t know who he was. (Contemporary English Version)
John probably knew Jesus’ name, as they were related. But he had previously not recognized that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah, God’s Chosen Savior. In some languages it is more natural to make that explicit. For example:
⌊Until then⌋ I did not know ⌊that Jesus⌋ was ⌊the Christ/Messiah⌋ .
1:33b
but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces a strong contrast. It implies that after this next event, John did know who Jesus was.
the One who sent me to baptize with water: This phrase refers to God, who told John to baptize. In some languages you may need to make this explicit. For example:
God, who sent me to baptize with water (Good News Translation)
told me: This clause indicates that God had previously spoken to John. He had given John instructions about how to recognize the Coming One, the Christ.
1:33c
The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest: The subject of this sentence, The man, refers to Jesus. However, God did not tell John that it was Jesus. So in your translation you should not identify him by name. For example:
The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest (Revised English Bible)
descend and rest: The Holy Spirit came down on Jesus and then stayed on or with him. It is important that both of these actions are present in your translation.
1:33d
is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit: In some languages it is more natural to include an object and say whom this man will baptize. For example:
this man is the One who will baptize ⌊people⌋ with the Holy Spirit
will baptize: The verb baptize indicates a ceremony or ritual of washing. In water baptism, this ritual involves using water. Water is a symbol of cleansing. In baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit cleanses and makes the person pure.
Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. He is Spirit in that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he comes from God and is God, unique, distinct from every other being. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.
Here are some ways to translate Holy Spirit :
Spirit/Breath of/from God
-or-
Holy/Sacred Spirit
Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.
See Holy in Key Biblical Terms, A 2.
General Comment on 1:33
This verse contains a quotation that includes a quotation. John quoted God’s words when he talked to the people. In some languages it may be natural to translate the included quotation as an indirect quote. For example:
33a I myself did not know who Jesus was. 33b But God, who sent me to baptize with water, told me about him. 33c He said that I would see the Spirit descend and remain on him. 33d That would tell me that he was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
-or-
33a I myself did not know/recognize Jesus to be the Messiah. 33b But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me about him. He said that 33c the one on whom I witness the Spirit come down and rest 33d is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
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