This verse begins in Greek with a particle (idou) used to signify emphasis. It is related to the particle used in verse 29.

The time is coming, and is already here refers to the events of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, which are almost upon Jesus and his disciples. As noted in several other instances, it is impossible in some languages to speak of “time coming.” An equivalent of this introductory temporal expression may be found in “It will soon happen—very, very soon” or “in just a little while—in fact, in a very short while.” Such temporal expressions may be combined with the following clause: “soon, in fact very soon, all of you will be scattered.”

When (so most translations) translates a particle in Greek which often indicates either purpose or result, but most translators see it as having a temporal significance here. If taken as a particle of purpose, it indicates that these things happened in order to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 13.7, referred to in this verse. As a parallel to this verse see Matthew 26.31,56 and Mark 14.26,49.

It is difficult in some languages to render satisfactorily will be scattered, because if this passive expression is changed into an active one, an agent must be specified. But to do so would involve introducing an explanation of just how the soldiers and others who went out to arrest Jesus caused the disciples to be scattered. It may, therefore, be better in this instance to translate “all of you will run away.”

To his own home is also used in 19.27, where it is translated in Good News Translation as to live in his home. Most other translations have the same meaning, though Jerusalem Bible (“each going his own way”) and New American Bible (“each will go his way”) render in a more generic fashion. The use of this same phrase in 19.27 indicates that the meaning to his own home is preferable. But the question remains whether John has in mind the homes of the disciples in Galilee or the places where they were staying in Jerusalem during the festival. The former seems more likely.

I will be left all alone may be changed from a passive to an active expression by rendering the clause “no one will remain with me” thus providing an excellent basis for the contrast in the following clause. However, for some languages it may be difficult to contrast a future state of not being alone with a presumed present state of never being alone. Therefore it may be necessary to render But I am not really alone “but I am never really alone,” which focuses upon the continuous presence of Jesus’ Father with him. To translate the first part of the last sentence of verse 31 in this way makes it necessary to render because the Father is with me “because my Father is always with me.”

But I am not really alone is more literally “and I am not alone” (Revised Standard Version “yet I am not alone”). Good News Translation includes the adverb really to indicate that even though Jesus is apparently alone, he is not really alone, because the Father is with him. Anchor expresses the contrast by translating “yet I am never alone.”

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 .