3:23a

Now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces a new event in the story. It is not a time word. Some English translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, do not translate it explicitly. Introduce this next event in a way that is natural in your language.

John was also baptizing: John was baptizing at the same time as Jesus, but at a different place. Try to indicate this in your translation. For example:

As for John, where he was baptizing was there at Aenon.

John: This name refers to John the Baptist. Refer to John 1:6, and see the note there. John was the one who told his disciples who Jesus was (see 1:19–36).

Aenon near Salim: Both Aenon and Salim were apparently towns but they were not well known and were probably small.

Aenon: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Aenon means “fountains.” This was probably a place of many springs.

Salim: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Salim means “peace.”

3:23b

because the water was plentiful there: The clause water was plentiful means that there was plenty of water. There is some implied information here: John chose this spot because water was necessary for baptism. Check that your readers understand this.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

where there was plenty of water (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
because water was plentiful in that region (Revised English Bible)

3:23c

and people kept coming to be baptized: This clause indicates that different people from the region continued to come to John so that he would baptize them. Each person was baptized one time; check that your translation does not suggest that people were baptized several times.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

People were going there and being baptized. (New Century Version)
-or-
people were coming there for John to baptize them (Contemporary English Version)

to be baptized: This is a passive verb. There are several ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb, like the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use an active verb. For example:

he was baptizing them (Good News Translation)

• Use a noun. For example:

people kept coming to him for baptism (New Living Translation (2004))

See how you translated baptized in 3:22b.

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