SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2020 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 6:51

6:51a

I am the living bread that came down from heaven: This sentence indicates that Jesus explicitly said that he was the bread that God gave. The Greek text emphasizes the word I.

Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

I am that bread from heaven! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am that food which gives life, which came from heaven.

living bread: The word living indicates that Jesus did not talk about ordinary bread. Instead, he talked about spiritual bread, bread that has life in it and can give life to others. It means about the same as “bread of life” in 6:35a and 6:48. See the note at 6:35a and how you translated the word bread there. Compare the phrase living bread to the phrase “living water” in 4:10d, and see the note there.

6:51b

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek expression literally as If anyone eats of this bread.

Here are another way to translate this clause:

Everyone who eats it will live forever (Contemporary English Version)

In this clause, Jesus continued to speak using metaphors. He was this bread that he spoke about. And many say that to eat of this bread means to believe or receive Jesus. Others say that this expression refers to communion. However, it is necessary to translate this clause using the metaphors. That way, the Jews’ confusion in verse 52 will make sense. They would not be confused if Jesus did not speak using metaphors.

6:51c

And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh: This clause continues the metaphor of bread. Jesus said that he would give his flesh so that people might live. He would do that on the cross, but he did not explain that.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

The bread that I shall give is my own flesh, given for the life of the world. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
My flesh is the life-giving bread that I give for the people of the world. (Contemporary English Version)

for the life of the world: This phrase means “in order that the people of the world might live (spiritually).” Here is another way to translate this phrase:

so that the people of the world may have life (New Century Version)

My flesh: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as My flesh refers to Jesus’ physical body. Here Jesus explained further the metaphor of “the bread.”

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on John 13:24

13:24a

So Simon Peter motioned to him: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts just say that Simon Peter motioned to the other disciple (John). For example:

Simon motioned for that disciple to find out which one Jesus meant (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, King James Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter both motioned and said something to John. For example:

Simon Peter motioned to that disciple and said, “Ask Jesus whom he’s talking about!” (God’s Word)

(New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It seems to have the best support and most English translations follow it.

Simon Peter: Refer to this disciple as you did in 1:40 and 13:6.

motioned: The verb motioned means “signaled by moving part of one’s body.” Simon Peter moved a part of his body to signal John so he would ask Jesus whom he was talking about. You may want to translate this movement with a general word as the Berean Standard Bible did. Or you may want to use a movement that the local culture would use. For example:

Simon Petrus eye-signaled him (Uma Back Translation)
-or-
Simon Peter signalled to him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Simon Peter nodded to him

to him: The pronoun him refers to the disciple whom Jesus loved. Refer to him in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

to that disciple (God’s Word)
-or-
to this disciple (New International Version)

13:24b

to ask Jesus which one He was talking about: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter asked this other disciple (John) to ask Jesus whom he was talking about. For example:

to ask Jesus whom he was talking about (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, Good News Translation)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter asked John to tell him whom Jesus was talking about. This would mean that Peter thought that John already knew who it was. For example:

and said, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” (Revised Standard Version)

(New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is the option selected by the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament committee with only a little doubt. Also, most English translations follow this option.

General Comment on 13:24b

In some languages it may not be natural to use indirect speech. Here is one way to use direct speech even though Peter did not say anything:

Simon Peter motioned to him so that he would ask Jesus, “Who are you talking about?”

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 14:18

Paragraph 14:18–21

Jesus said that he was not going to abandon his followers. He would send the Holy Spirit to them. He and the Father would come and be with them.

14:18a

I will not leave you as orphans: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as I will not leave you as orphans is a metaphor that indicates that Jesus would not leave the disciples alone with no one to protect them. They would not be like a child without parents. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Use a metaphor. For example:

I shall not leave you orphans. (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Use a simile. For example:

I won’t leave you like orphans. (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a simile indicating the meaning. For example:

I will not leave you all alone like orphans. (New Century Version)

• Translate just the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

When I go, you will not be left all alone. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am not going to leave you alone in the world. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

It is good to keep the figure of speech if that is possible and natural in your language. However, it may not be possible or natural to include the idea of orphans in your translation. Or people may not understand why Jesus used the idea of orphans here. If one of those problems is true in your language, you should translate just the meaning of the metaphor.

leave you as orphans: This phrase refers to going away from someone who has no one to care for them. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

abandon you as orphans (New Living Translation (2004))

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to the disciples.

14:18b

I will come to you: There are three ways to interpret what time Jesus is referring to here:

(1) It refers to Jesus’ resurrection.

(2) It refers to the Holy Spirit coming.

(3) It refers to Jesus’ return at the end of the world.

All the available English translations have translated this literally, without saying what event Jesus referred to. It is recommended that you also translate this literally.

However in some languages it may be necessary to say whether the event would happen soon or much later. If you need to make this clear, it is recommended that you indicate that the event would happen soon. That would include interpretations (1) and (2). The present tense of the Greek verb refers more naturally to something happening soon and this suits the context better. For example:

I will come back to you. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I will come again to you. (Yakan Back Translation)
-or-
I will return here to you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 15:19

15:19a

If you were of the world: This clause is a condition that is assumed to be false or unfulfilled. It means “If you were part of this fallen and evil world…but you are not.” Because they believed and obeyed Christ, there were many things in them that were different from unbelievers in the world. Their spiritual origin was no longer the world, but God. For example:

If you had anything in common with the world (God’s Word)
-or-
Suppose you were part of the world ⌊which you are not⌋
-or-
if suppose you were still included with those who do not believe

15:19b

it would love you as its own: This statement is not true because the condition (“if you belonged to the world”) was not true. The world does not love believers because they are not part of it. They do not belong to it. The people of the world only love those people who belong to it. Those who belong to the world are those who think like the world does and agree with its value system. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it would love you as it loves it own (New Century Version)
-or-
the world’s people would love you because you would be one of them

it: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is literally “the world” in Greek. This phrase continues to refer to the unbelievers in the world. In some languages it may be natural to refer to the people. For example:

its people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the people of the world

General Comment on 15:19a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the clauses in 15:19a–b. For example:

19b The world would love you as one of its own 19a if you belonged to it. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The world only loves those who belong to it.
-or-
The world loves those who belong to it. Others it does not love.

15:19c–e

Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world: This sentence explains why the people of this world hated Jesus’ disciples. See the General Comment on 15:19c–e (following the note on 15:19e) for a different way to arrange the information in this sentence. In some languages it may be natural to use more than one sentence here. For example:

But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you. (God’s Word)

15:19c

Instead, the world hates you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead can also be translated as “Therefore,” in which case it introduces the logical result of Jesus choosing his followers and making them different from the world. For example:

that is why the world hates you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and for that reason the world hates you (NET Bible)

the world hates you: The phrase the world refers to the people in the world, or unbelievers in general. See how you translated this phrase in 15:19b. For example:

its people hate you (Contemporary English Version)

15:19d

because: This word introduces the reason that the world hates Jesus’ disciples in 15:19e. The world hates them because they do not belong to it. The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because is more literally “but because.” Some translations include the word “but” to indicate the contrast between 15:19a and 15:19d. For example:

but because (English Standard Version)

However, it is not natural in English to have the same conjunction, “but,” in both 15:19d and 15:19e. So several translations leave out one “but.” For example:

As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (New International Version)
-or-
But you don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it. (Good News Translation)

In those examples, the word because is not included. However, the meaning can be included in 15:19e, as the New Revised Standard Version does by including the word “therefore.” You should indicate the contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

you are not of the world: This clause means “you are not part of the world” or “you are not from the world.” Their spiritual origin was no longer from the world, but from God. For example:

you don’t have anything in common with the world (God’s Word)
-or-
you are no longer part of the world (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you are now separated from the world

15:19e

but I have chosen you out of the world: Christ’s followers were once part of the unbelievers of the world but Christ has made them different. He has separated them from this evil world and its values and its control. For example:

I have chosen you to leave the world behind. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I chose you (plur.) to be different from unbelievers.

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (15:19d) to a positive statement (15:19e). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world (NET Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than but. For example:

You do not belong to the world, rather I chose you out of the world.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world (God’s Word)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

19d But I chose you from this world, 19c and you do not belong to it (Good News Translation)

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

General Comment on 15:19c–e

In some languages it is more natural to rearrange 5:19c–e. You may want to first say that the world hates believers and then say why. For example:

19e But the world hates you 19d because I chose you from this world, 19c and you do not belong to it.
-or-

19e However, unbelievers hate you (plur.) 19c and that is because you do not belong to them, 19d because I chose you out from among them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 16:24

16:24a

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name: This sentence indicates that until that time the disciples had not asked God for things in Jesus’ name. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

So far you have asked nothing in my name. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
You haven’t done this before. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You have not asked for anything in this way before. (Contemporary English Version)

Until now: This phrase means “in the past.” For example:

before (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So far (Revised English Bible)

you have not asked for anything in My name: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the disciples. The phrase asked for is short for “asked God for” and means “prayed to God for.”

in My name: See how you translated this phrase in 16:23.

16:24b

Ask and you will receive: This clause encourages the disciples to pray to God, asking him for what they need. It assures them that God would answer their prayers.

Ask: This verb is short for “Ask God for” and refers to praying to God regularly and repeatedly.

and you will receive: This clause is short for “you will receive from God what you asked for.” In some languages it is more natural to say what the disciples will receive:

and you will receive it (NET Bible)
-or-
Then it will be given to you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊God⌋ will give you ⌊what you asked for⌋

16:24c

so that your joy may be complete: This clause indicates the purpose of the disciples’ asking and receiving. It means “so that you may be completely happy.” The disciples would be joyful when they saw God’s love and concern for them in fulfilling their needs and requests. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

so that you will be completely happy (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy (New Century Version)
-or-
so that you will be as joyful as possible

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 17:23

17:23a

I in them: This phrase explains the meaning of “be one” in 17:22b and means “I will be/live in them.” Here it indicates that the disciples were connected or united to Christ. It is good to use the same expression for this idea that you used in 17:21b–c. For example:

I am one with them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am united with them

and You in Me: This phrase indicates that Christ was connected or united to God the Father. Use a similar expression to the one that you used in 17:21b so that the connection between the two verses is clear. For example:

and you are one with me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you and I are united with each other

17:23b

that they may be perfectly united: This clause means “so that the believers may be completely united with each other.” The idea is the same as in the first clause in 17:22b. So this is again the purpose for Jesus giving his glory to his disciples (see 17:22a). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

so that they may be completely one (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that they will become completely one ⌊in heart/mind⌋
-or-
so that their unity will lack nothing

17:23c

so that the world may know that You sent Me: This clause indicates the purpose of the disciples’ unity. Jesus wanted the world to know that God had sent him. When unbelievers would see the disciples’ loving unity, they would understand that Jesus came from God. See how you translated a very similar expression in 17:21d. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

in order that the world may know that you sent me (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that ⌊the people in⌋ this world will know that you sent me

17:23d

and have loved them just as You have loved Me: This clause indicates that God loved the disciples the same way that he loved Christ. This is the second thing the unbelievers will come to know if the disciples are truly united. For example:

and they will also know that you love them the same as you love me
-or-
and that you love them as much as you love me (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 17:22–23

In the Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, 17:22–23 forms one long sentence. In many languages it may be natural to break these verses up into several shorter sentences. For example:

I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are. I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me. (God’s Word)
-or-
I have given these people the glory that you gave me so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. I will be in them and you will be in me so that they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you love them just as much as you loved me. (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 18:29

18:29a

So Pilate went out to them: The Roman governor, Pilate, went out of his house to talk to Jesus’ accusers. Although Jews believed that entering a Gentile house would defile them, they could enter a courtyard and remain ritually clean. So it seems likely that they entered the courtyard and Pilate did not have to go outside the compound.

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates a return to the main story after the parenthetical information in 18:28c–f. It also indicates that Pilate went outside as a result of the Jews not entering his house.

Pilate: The name of the Roman governor of the province of Judea at this time was Pilate. Here is another way to translate this name:

Governor Pilate
-or-
Pilate, who was the governor,

them: This pronoun refers to the Jews who had come to accuse Jesus.

18:29b

and asked: The verb asked here introduces a question, but could also be translated as “said.” In some languages it is more natural to tell whom Pilate asked. For example:

asked the council members
-or-
asked the high priest and those with him

What accusation are you bringing against this man?: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as accusation means “what someone is accused of doing” or “what crime someone says another did.” To bring an accusation or charge is to accuse someone. Pilate asked Jesus’ accusers what wrong Jesus did. He wondered what they accused him of doing. Here are some ways that this question can be translated:

What crime did Jesus commit?
-or-
What ⌊Roman⌋ law did Jesus break?
-or-
What charges are you bringing against this man? (New International Version)
-or-
What do you accuse this man of? (Good News Translation)

accusation: An accusation is a charge or complaint that someone is guilty of some wrongdoing. Here the word is used in a legal setting, with Pilate being the judge. Use the legal expression that is common in your culture.

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to Jesus’ accusers.

this man: This phrase refers to Jesus.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 19:21

19:21a

So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: The conjunction So indicates the result of many Jews reading the notice. The Jewish chief priests were unhappy that Pilate told the soldiers to write that Jesus was their king. So they objected (complained) to Pilate. Some translations do not include of the Jews because it is understood that the chief priests were Jews. For example:

Therefore the leading priests complained to Pilate, saying
-or-
Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate (New Living Translation (2004))

the chief priests of the Jews: This phrase refers to the leading or most important priests of the Jews. See how you translated this phrase in 19:15.

Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’: Pilate had in fact already written the sign. The chief priests criticized the sign that he had already made. They wanted him to remove this notice and replace it. Indicate this meaning in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

You should not have written, ‘The King of the Jews’
-or-
Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Why did you write, “the King of the Jews”?

In some languages it may be natural to translate this clause with the notice as the subject of the clause. For example:

The/Your (sing.) notice should not say, “the King of the Jews.”

See the General Comment on 19:21a–b for suggestions on how to translate the words of the notice using indirect speech.

19:21b

but only: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (19:21a) to a positive statement (19:21b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews.’ But write, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ (New Century Version)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews!’ Instead, write, ‘He said that he is the king of the Jews.’ (God’s Word)
-or-
What you (sing.) should have written, it is not ‘King of the Jews’ but rather ‘This-one said he was King of the Jews.’ ” (Kankanaey Back Translation)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’ (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Why did you write that he is King of the Jews? You should have written, ‘He claimed to be King of the Jews.’ (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Say, ‘This man said that he was King of the Jews,’ not just ‘The King of the Jews.’

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’: This clause is the statement that the chief priests wanted Pilate to put on the notice. By adding the words He said, it would imply that the words were not true. (The word “claimed” does the same thing: “He claimed/said that he was the King of the Jews, but he is not.”) This clause includes a quotation inside a quotation, inside the quotation of the priests’ words. See the General Comment on 19:21a–b for other ways to translate the whole statement of the chief priests. There are two ways to translate the words that they wanted on the notice:

• Use a direct quotation. For example:

‘This man said, I am king of the Jews.’ (NET Bible)

• Use an indirect quotation. For example:

that this man claimed to be king of the Jews (New International Version)

that He said: The chief priests referred to Jesus in a way that did not show respect. It also showed that they did not believe him. In some languages it may be natural to imply this. For example:

This man claimed
-or-
This person pretended to be

I am the King of the Jews: This was not something Jesus ever actually said. However, you should translate it literally, and translate King of the Jews as you did in 19:19b.

General Comment on 19:21a–b

The chief priests quoted what they wanted the sign to say, which quoted what they accused Jesus of saying. In some languages it is more natural to translate one or both of the inside quotations as indirect speech. For example:

So the chief priests went to Pilate and said, “Why did you write that he is King of the Jews? You should have written, ‘He claimed to be King of the Jews.’ ” (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So the chief priests went to Pilate and said, “You should not write that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Instead, you should write that he said that he was the King of the Jews.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2020