3:20a
Everyone who does evil hates the Light: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Everyone who does evil here refers to everyone who does bad things. For example:
Every person who does bad things hates the light
-or-
Those who do evil things hate the light (Good News Translation)
hates the Light: This expression here refers to hating the Son of God, who is the light. Jesus was referring to himself, but he did not explain this. So it is better that you do not make it explicit.
Jesus revealed/uncovered people’s evil deeds, and so people who did evil hated him. See the note on 3:19b. This is a figure of speech, a metaphor. In some languages a figure of speech like this is not clearly understood. Here are some other ways to translate this figure of speech:
• Retain the figure of speech but make explicit that Light refers to a person. For example:
hate ⌊the one who is⌋ the light
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
hate the one who is like the light
• Explain the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
hate the one who brings light, ⌊who shows/tells them the truth⌋
3:20b
does not come into the Light: These people do not want to be near the light. That means that they do not want to come to Jesus and listen to his words. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
avoid it (Revised English Bible)
-or-
refuse to go near it (Good News Translation)
-or-
refuse to enter/approach the light
3:20c
for fear that his deeds will be exposed: This clause states a negative purpose. It indicates the reason why those who do evil do not come to the light: they want to avoid something. They do not want anyone to see the things that they have done. (The word exposed means that their deeds are uncovered or revealed.) It is implied that these deeds are evil. You may want to make this explicit. For example:
they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up (Good News Translation)
Consider how your language naturally indicates the reason that people try to avoid a situation that they do not want. For example:
so that their deeds will not be exposed (NET Bible)
-or-
for fear their sins will be exposed (New Living Translation (2004))
his deeds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deeds can be translated as a verb phrase instead. For example:
what they have done (Contemporary English Version)
will be exposed: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be exposed means “made visible” or “be uncovered.” In this context, the light is what will expose the evil actions. The verb phrase be exposed is passive here. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
to prevent his actions from being shown up (New Jerusalem Bible)
• Use an active verb. For example:
because it clearly shows what they have done (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
because they fear that the light will reveal the ⌊bad/wrong⌋ acts that they are doing
Use the verb form that is the most natural in your language.
General Comment on 3:20a–c
In some languages it may be natural to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:
20c Those who do evil do not want it to be known. 20a Therefore they hate the one who is the light, 20b and do not want to go near him.
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