For Nicodemus, see 3.1-2 and 7.50.

To see Jesus is a pronominal phrase in Greek (literally “to him”), which Good News Translation changes to an infinitive of purpose, making the pronominal reference “him” explicit as Jesus.

Taking with him must refer to Nicodemus. In some languages the manner in which Nicodemus took this quantity of spices must be specifically indicated, not only whether he personally carried the spices, but also the manner in which they were carried. It is altogether likely, in view of Nicodemus’ position in society, that a servant or servants carried the spices for him.

About one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes is more literally “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.” The “pound” referred to (Greek litra) is the Roman pound, equal to about eleven and a half ounces or 310 grams.

Instead of the word for mixture (migma) some Greek manuscripts have a word meaning “roll” or “package” (heligma). Although this alternative reading is more difficult (and a more difficult reading is usually considered to be the original one), the reading followed in Good News Translation has stronger textual support, and so the UBS committee on the Greek text decided in it favor. Among modern translations, only Goodspeed (“a roll”) follows the alternative reading.

One must be careful in rendering spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Spices are often used for seasoning food, but neither myrrh nor aloes have this function. To make clear that spices in this context have a preservative function, it may be best to translate “substances used for embalming.” The terms “myrrh” and “aloes” would then be transliterated and placed in apposition to the expression “substances used in embalming.” In certain languages substances used in embalming would be classed as “medicines”—frequently a particular kind of medicines, namely, those derived from herbs.

Myrrh (elsewhere in the New Testament only in Matt 2.11) was a fragrant resin used for embalming the dead. Aloes (only here in the New Testament) are not known to have been used at burial. They are a powdered aromatic sandalwood, spoken of as providing perfume for the bed or clothes (Prov 7.17; Psa 45.8).

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 .