Although there are no difficult exegetical problems in this verse, there are some translational problems, particularly in the command Then tell us who you are. As we have noted, this is not a demand for John the Baptist’s name, but rather an insistence that he explain his role or function. It is almost equivalent to the colloquial expression in English “Then tell us who you think you are.” The focus in such a statement is not upon the name of the individual but upon his role and the justification for his activities.

We have to take an answer back may be rendered in some languages “We must give an answer to” or “We must reply to.”

The final question, What do you say about yourself?, indicates clearly that the questions posed by these representatives of the Jewish authorities were designed to find out how John viewed his ministry, equivalent to “Who do you really claim to be?”

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 .