2:24a
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them: John indicated that Jesus did not trust people or rely on them. He knew how quickly they could change and that they were not reliable. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Jesus, however, did not believe that they would be faithful to him
-or-
But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them (New Revised Standard Version)
But: The conjunction But here introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the people’s trust in him (2:23b) and his refusing to trust them (2:24a). Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.
Jesus: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus is more literally “Jesus himself.” This expression emphasizes the contrast. You should emphasize the contrast in a way that is natural in your language.
entrust: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as entrust can mean “believe,” but here the sense is “to trust someone to protect or care for something.” Jesus did not trust them to faithfully defend him. He could not trust them enough to be their friend (see John 15:14–15). It is the same root word as in 2:23b.
2:24b
for He knew them all: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces an explanation for the statement in 2:24a. The reason Jesus did not entrust himself to the people was that he knew everyone. Jesus understood what all people were like. Translate this introduction to an explanation in a way that is natural in your language.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
because he knew them all (Good News Translation)
-or-
because he knew human nature (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
because he knew exactly how people thought
In some languages it may be necessary to say explicitly what Jesus knew. For example:
for he knew how people are ⌊not reliable⌋
General Comment on 2:24a–b
In some languages it is more natural to reorder this verse. Those languages would first say the reason why Jesus did not entrust himself to people. For example:
24b But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, 24a and he would not let them have power over him. (Contemporary English Version)
General Comment on 2:23–24
There is a contrast in these verses between Jesus and the people. It may be more natural in some languages to emphasize this contrast by reordering the information and repeating the word “trust.” For example:
23a–b Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24a But Jesus didn’t trust them, 24b because he knew human nature. (New Living Translation (2004))
If it is natural in your language to emphasize the contrast in this way, you may want to follow the New Living Translation (2004).
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