3:14a
But: There is a contrast between 3:13b and 3:14a. The contrast is between what Jesus wanted and what John wanted. Many English versions indicate this contrast by translating the Greek conjunction here with the English conjunction “But.”
John tried to prevent Him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tried to prevent refers to attempting to stop something from happening. John did not want to baptize Jesus because he felt unworthy.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
John tried to make him change his mind (Good News Translation)
-or-
John did not want/agree to do it
-or-
John refused
saying: The verb saying introduces a direct quote. For examples of how this can be translated with an indirect quotation, see the General Comment following the note on 3:14c.
3:14b
I need to be baptized by You: John thought that Jesus should baptize him. He understood that Jesus was the Messiah/Christ and was much greater than he.
The pronouns I and You are emphasized in the Greek. If you have a way to emphasize these pronouns in a natural way, you should do so. Some examples are below.
The verb baptized is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
• As a passive verb. For example:
I ought to be baptized by you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am the one who needs to be baptized by you (New Living Translation (2004))
• As an active verb. For example:
I need you to baptize me.
-or-
⌊On the contrary⌋ you are the one who ought to baptize me.
-or-
It is I who need baptism from you
You: The pronoun You is singular and refers to Jesus.
3:14c
do You come to me?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses both surprise and protest. John was surprised that Jesus would ask him to baptize him, and he tried to prevent it.
Here are some other ways to translate this surprise and protest:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
⌊What?⌋ You are coming to me ⌊to be baptized⌋?
-or-
Why do you come to me ⌊for baptism⌋?
• As a statement. For example:
You should not be coming to me to get baptized!
-or-
⌊No, no, no!⌋ It is not proper that you come to me to baptize you!
Translate this surprise and protest in a way that is natural in your language.
You…me: As in the previous clause (3:14b), the Greek words for the pronouns You and me in this clause are emphatic. In your language, you will want to translate them here in a way that is consistent with 3:14b.
General Comment on 3:14b–c
In some languages, it will be more natural to put the rhetorical question in 3:14c before 3:14b. For example:
14c
⌊What?⌋ You are coming to me to be baptized? 14bIt is I who should be baptized by you!
General Comment on 3:14a–c
Verse 3:14 is a direct quotation. In some languages, it is more natural to translate this as an indirect quotation, For example:
14aBut John tried to deter him by saying that 14bhe needed to be baptized by Jesus. 14c⌊He told him that⌋ he was surprised that Jesus had come to him for baptism.
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