Translation commentary on John 14:30

I cannot talk with you much longer is more literally “I will no longer talk much with you” (Revised Standard Version). Most translations likewise render this statement literally in the future tense. The temporal modifier much longer must be understood in the sense of a few hours at most, since it was later that same night that Jesus was betrayed and arrested.

The ruler of this world was first mentioned in 12.31 (see there).

He has no power over me is literally “and in me he has nothing.” This Good News Translation rendering is also that of Goodspeed, Revised Standard Version, and Jerusalem Bible. Most other translations have “He has no hold on me” or something similar. (See Moffatt, Phillips, New American Bible.) New English Bible renders “He has no rights over me,” which is not entirely clear. It is probably based on the equivalent Hebrew, which means “to have no claim upon someone.” The context supports the meaning given by Good News Translation and most other translations. He has no power over me may be rendered as “he is not able to control me” or “… to command me.”

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 .

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