The word translated plunged (New English Bible “stabbed”; Jerusalem Bible “pierced”) translates a verb which can express a superficial injury (Moffatt “pricked”) or even the action used to arouse a sleeping person. But the word may also be used of deeper wounds intended to kill someone, and the context certainly suggests a deeper wound in the present case.

In translating water there is a question whether what John describes is a natural or supernatural occurrence. If taken to be the former, water must be understood to refer to the lymph fluid, for which, in most languages, a technical term will have to be used. However, the fact that John calls attention to the presence of an eyewitness (verse 35) suggests that what he narrates in verse 34 is not a natural occurrence. It is probably, better, therefore, to translate water literally, with a note indicating that blood and water may also be intended to convey a theological significance.

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 .