In Greek verse 36 is the continuation of the rhetorical question begun with verse 35 (note Revised Standard Version). As for me … me … me translates a relative pronoun (“whom”) which is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure. It is obvious from what follows that Jesus is using the third person relative pronoun (“whom”) as a reference to himself. Good News Translation changes it to me in English, which is more natural for the English reader. Moreover, this part of the rhetorical question is changed into a statement, as also is all of verse 35.

The verb translated chose (Greek hagiazō) is rendered “consecrate” by most modern translators. It literally means “to make holy,” in the sense of setting aside someone or something to God’s service, and it may well be that this verb was used specifically because of the setting of the Festival of Dedication. That is, Jesus has shown that he is the fulfillment of the Sabbath Day, Passover, and the Feast of Shelters. Now the context suggests that he is claiming to be the fulfillment of the Festival of Dedication. As the Jews are celebrating the time when the Temple was “made holy” again, after its desecration by the Syrians, Jesus alludes to himself as the one whom God has “made holy” and sent into the world. In John 17.17,19 this same verb is translated dedicate in TEV; in the Septuagint of Numbers 7.1 it is used to describe Moses’ consecration of the Tabernacle, while in Numbers 7.10-11 a noun (egkainismos) related to the noun used of the Festival itself in John 10.22 (egkainia) is used of Moses’ dedication of the altar. This suggests that the two Greek verbs and their related nouns are essentially synonyms. In 6.69 Jesus is called the Holy One from God (ho hagios tou theou).

The equivalent of “consecrate” in some languages is “select and give a special function to” or “select for a particular task.” However, certain dangers are inherent in translating merely “set aside” or “set apart.” More often than not, setting something aside means taking something inferior out of a group of superior objects. Consecration is the exact opposite; it is setting aside a particularly significant object for a special function of a religious nature.

See verse 33 for a discussion of the remainder of this verse.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .