3:25

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

a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing: This clause indicates that John’s disciples and another Jew discussed or argued about purification. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Some of John’s disciples began arguing with a Jew about the matter of ritual washing. (Good News Translation)
-or-
There was a disagreement between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.
-or-
John’s followers got into an argument with a Jewish man about ceremonial washing. (Contemporary English Version)

dispute: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dispute here refers to a conversation in which people held different opinions. See the translations of dispute in the examples in the note above.

John’s disciples: A disciple is a follower or learner. See the note on 3:22a. You should probably translate disciples using the same word in both verses.

a certain Jew: John’s disciples were also Jews. So it may be clearer to translate the phrase in this way:

another Jew

There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the singular noun Jew. This is followed by nearly every major English translation. For example:

with a Jewish man (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version).

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the plural noun “Jews.” For example:

with some Jews (Revised English Bible)

(Revised English Bible, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) because it has better manuscript support. Also, most English translations follow this option. However, if the major language translation in your area follows option (2), you may choose to follow it.

ceremonial washing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ceremonial washing refers to the purification ritual that the Jewish people did. They did it to make something pure to use in worship. Here it could refer to washing one’s body or clothes, or it could refer to baptism. Because they asked John the Baptist about Jesus baptizing in verse 26, many think that ceremonial washing here refers to baptism. However, it is an unusual way to refer to baptism. It is the same word that is used in 2:6b, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “rites of purification.” See the note there.

Here is another way to translate this word:

cleansing rituals

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