Will live in this verse, is going to live in verse 51, and will live in verse 53 are all in the present tense in Greek (literally “is living”). Although the present tense is used, it is obvious that in each instance the focus is on the fact that the child will continue to live. The use of “to live” in the sense of “to recover” or “to regain one’s health” reflects a Hebraism; in the Old Testament the Hebrew verb “to live” is frequently used in this sense. In some languages it may be essential to reflect this Hebraism by translating “will get well again.” To say “will live” may suggest merely continuing in the same state of ill health.

The expression Jesus’ words (Good News Translation) reaches the English reader with greater impact than the literal Greek, “the word which Jesus said to him.” Jerusalem Bible has “The man believed what Jesus had said.” New American Bible “The man put his trust in the word Jesus spoke to him” may not sound natural to most readers.

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 .