3:29a–c

These two sentences contain a metaphor. There is a bridegroom, a bride, and a friend of the bridegroom. These represent Jesus, God’s people, and John the Baptist. See the General Comment at the end of 3:29c for ways to help make the meaning clear. As you translate this metaphor, consider the customs of your own culture. The main point of this metaphor is that the bridegroom (Jesus) is more important than his friend (John the Baptist).

3:29a

The bride belongs to the bridegroom: This illustration or metaphor is about a wedding. It does not refer to a specific wedding, but to weddings in general. The point is that the bridegroom is the important man at any wedding. He is the one who marries the bride. Refer to Mark 2:19–20 to see how you translated bridegroom there.

Here are other ways to translate this metaphor:

The bridegroom is the one to whom the bride belongs. (Good News Translation)
-or-
He who has the bride is the bridegroom. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
At a wedding the groom is the one who gets married. (Contemporary English Version)

3:29b

The friend of the bridegroom: The friend of the bridegroom is like the best man in Western culture. He helped the bridegroom prepare for his wedding. This is a picture of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

The bridegroom’s friend (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The friend who helps the bridegroom (New Century Version)
-or-
The friend who serves the bridegroom

stands and listens for him: The exact meaning of this expression is not clear. The friend waits and listens for the bridegroom, but it does not say where or why he waits. He may be at the bride’s house or at the bridegroom’s house.

Nor is it clear what the bridegroom says. The important point is that the best man is less important than the bridegroom. He acts in a humble way, just standing and listening. Probably he is listening for the bridegroom to arrive. Here are other ways to translate this expression:

stands by and listens to/for him
-or-
waits and listens ⌊for his coming⌋

3:29c

is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice: The bridegroom’s friend is very happy just to hear the bridegroom speak. This shows that the bridegroom is much more important than his friend. His friend is content to be less important. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

He is very glad/happy that he gets to hear the bridegroom’s voice.
-or-
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice (New Revised Standard Version)

General Comment on 3:29b–c

In some languages it may be natural to combine the information in this sentence. For example:

29b–c The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom’s voice. (Contemporary English Version)

3:29d

The Greek begins this sentence with a word that refers back to the previous statement. The New Revised Standard Version translates it as “For this reason.” John indicated that he was like the bridegroom’s friend, and that he was happy just as the friend was. He was happy that the one whom he had waited for had come. He was also happy that he had heard his voice. He was even happy that now people were going to Jesus to be baptized, rather than to him. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

This is how my own happiness is made complete. (Good News Translation)
-or-
That’s why I am so glad. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
In the same way I am really happy. (New Century Version)

General Comment on 3:29a–d

In 3:29d, John explains part of the metaphor—he is happy like the bridegroom’s friend is happy. However, it may still be necessary to explain more of the metaphor in your translation. Your readers need to understand that the bridegroom is a metaphor/illustration of the Messiah. Also, they should understand that he has come to his people just as the bridegroom comes to his bride. You may need to make some of this explicit. For example:

29a It is the bridegroom who marries the bride ⌊and that is who the Messiah is like⌋ . 29b ⌊⌊I am just like a friend⌋ who helps the bridegroom. This friend listens to know that the bridegroom ⌊has come⌋ 29c and then he is glad. 29d I too am now full of joy ⌊that the Messiah has come⌋ .

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