14:21
This verse indicates that Jesus would die, just as the Scriptures said he would. It expresses a contrast: Judas fulfilled God’s plan when he betrayed Jesus, but it was an evil action that he freely chose to do. In your translation you should avoid the wrong impression that God forced Judas to betray Jesus. See the note on 14:21c.
14:21a
In Greek this verse begins with a conjunction that often indicates reason or cause. The Revised Standard Version translates it as “for” here. In this context it probably indicates that this part of the verse explains something about what Jesus said in 14:18 and 14:20. In some languages this connection may be implied without using a connector.
Here is another way to express this connection:
This will happen because the Son of Man must/will go
The Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The Son of Man is literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus used this title to imply that:
(a) he was a true human being, and he represented all people.
(b) he came from God and had authority from God.
Try to use an expression that implies both meanings. Here are some other expressions that translators have used:
the Man whom God Sent
-or-
the True Man from God/Heaven
-or-
the Representative of Mankind
-or-
The Older Brother of All People
In some cases, an unusual title may correctly suggest a deeper meaning. For example:
the Child of a Person
-or-
the One who was Born as a Human
Translators have also used expressions that are more literal. These more literal expressions may be appropriate where readers are familiar with a literal title in another version.
In some languages it may be necessary to use a form like “I” or “me” to indicate that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:
me, the Son of Man
-or-
who became man/human
This same term occurs in 2:10a and 13:26a.
will go: Jesus used the phrase will go to speak about his dying in an indirect way. He wanted to spare his disciples the pain that they would feel if he spoke directly about his death. If you have a way to talk about dying using a euphemism like this, you may be able to use it here. Otherwise, you can speak directly about Jesus’ death. For example:
I, the Son of Man, will die
14:21b
just as it is written about Him: Jesus was not referring here to how he would die. Rather, he was referring to the fact that the prophets had already written that he would die. He may have been thinking of such Old Testament passages as Isaiah chapter 53. In some languages it may be necessary to put the phrase just as it is written about Him at the beginning of the sentence. For example:
Just as it is written of the Son of Man, so he will die.
-or-
Just as it is written of me, the Son of Man, so will I die.
it is written: The phrase it is written is a special phrase that the Jews used to refer to the Old Testament. The phrase is passive. It does not focus on the person who wrote the words. The phrase implies that God is the one who caused the words to be written. In some languages it may be necessary to make the meaning of this phrase more explicit. For example:
as the Scriptures say (Good News Bible)
-or-
as it says in the written words of God
-or-
That is exactly what God caused to be written
-or-
as someone wrote in God’s Word
See also 1:2a and 7:6b.
14:21c
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces a contrast between 14:21a–b and 14:21c. In 14:21a–b the text indicates that it was written in the Scripture that Jesus must die, and that what is written there must happen. 14:21c implies that although those things must happen, the person who betrays Jesus will endure a terrible future. Most English versions use but to introduce the contrast.
Here is another way to express this connection:
Even though God’s word says that the Son of Man will die
woe to that man: The word woe is an exclamation. It emphasizes suffering, trouble, or disaster. In this context Jesus expressed his sorrow and pity about the terrible suffering or judgment that would come to the person who betrayed him. This exclamation is not a curse or a threat. Jesus did not wish that Judas would have to endure the trouble and suffering.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
But suffering will come on that man…!
-or-
But how bad it will be for that man…!
-or-
But it is going to be terrible for the one who betrays me. (Contemporary English Version)
that man by whom He is betrayed: The phrase that man by whom He is betrayed refers to the person who would betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the person was Judas, but this phrase does not indicate that he was pointing him out to the other disciples.
is betrayed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is betrayed is the same word as in 14:18b. Translate here as you did there.
14:21d
It would be better for him if he had not been born: This clause expresses a comparison between two situations for Judas:
(a) betraying Jesus, and
(b) not being born.
If Judas had not been born, he would not have betrayed Jesus. That would have been much better than what actually happened. Consider how in your language you talk about situations that never happened. Here are some other ways to express this in English:
It would have been better for this man to have never been born at all.
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