complete verse (3 John 1:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:13:

  • Uma: “There is still much I want to say to you, but I don’t want to write it in this letter.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I would like to say much more to you but I won’t write (it) now.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are many things I would like to say to you but I don’t want to write them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There is still much that I want to tell you (sing.), but I have not included it in this letter” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There’s much more which I would like to say to you which I would like to write, but I decided not to write it after all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There are more words I want to tell you, but I do not want to write them all here on the paper.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “I thought I would write you many things, but I do not want to write more on paper.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “There is a lot that I want to tell you, but this is all (only this) I will put on this paper.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “I still have much more to write to you, but I don’t want to write it.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

reed

There are two general types of reed in Israel, the Common Reed Phragmites australis and the Giant Reed Arundo donax, and it is impossible to say which one is intended in a given biblical context.

The English word “cane” comes from the Hebrew word qaneh. Qaneh is the most general Hebrew word of the many referring to reeds and rushes. Like the English word “reed,” it may refer to a specific type of reed or be a general name for several kinds of water plant. This word is also used to refer to the stalk of grain in Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41:5, Genesis 41:22), to the shaft and branches of the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31 et al.), to the beam of a scale (Isaiah 46:6), to the upper arm of a person (Job 31:22), to a measuring stick (Ezekiel 40:3 et al.), and to aromatic cane (Song of Songs 4:14 et al.).

The Greek word kalamos is also used to refer to a measuring stick (Revelation 11:1 et al.) and to a pen (3 John 1:13 and 3 Maccabees 4:20).

The common reed is a tall grass with stiff, sharply-pointed leaves and a plume-like flower head that reaches to more than 2 meters (7 feet). It grows in lakes and streams, the roots creeping across the bottom of the lake to produce new leaves and stalks.

The giant reed is similar to the common reed but tends to grow not in the water but on the river banks. Its majestic plumes can reach up to 5 meters (17 feet) in height on hollow stalks that look like bamboo.

Reeds of both kinds were used for baskets, mats, flutes, pens, arrows, and roof-coverings. Isaiah 42:3 says that the Messiah will be gentle with weak people (“a bruised reed he will not break”), in contrast to the typical iron-fisted tyrants of the day. The Pharaoh is likened to an undependable reed staff in 2 Kings 18:21 et al. In 1 Kings 14:15 Israel is compared to a reed shaking in the water.

The common reed of the Mediterranean area has relatives in Europe, India, Japan, and North America. It is thought to be the only species of the genus Phragmites (although some botanists divide it into three species). It is very important for conservationists, because it provides habitat for many kinds of animals and birds. In North America the weaker native type is being overtaken by more robust types from Europe, which are now threatening other kinds of marsh plants. In Japan people eat the young shoots of reeds. Native Americans used to eat the seeds.

Translators living near lakes and rivers will be able to find an equivalent, if not a relative, of the reed. Others can be generic and use “grass” or a phrase such as “tall grass growing in the water.”

Common reed, photo by Rob Koops

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

In Newari it is translated as “bamboo.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 3 John 1:13 – 1:14

Verses 13-14 closely resemble 2 John 12, which see. The few differences are the following; The verb to write is not the present participle but is in the imperfect tense, expressing obligation; the Greek term rendered I would rather not is slightly more definite than the corresponding one in the other verse, 2 John 12; the term rendered to see is in this context probably a more common synonym of the one rendered “to come and see” in 2 John 12; and, soon (or ‘shortly,’ ‘in a little while,’ ‘before long’) is lacking in 2 John 12.

To write with pen and ink uses the word order common in English instead of the word order “ink and pen” used in the Greek. The phrase parallels “to use paper and ink” in 2 John 12 as a synonym for “to write a letter.” Renderings of the two phrases may have to be identical.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:13

Section 13–14

Final comments

Read 13–14 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: These verses contain John’s final comments and greetings to close the letter.

13b

I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink: (Meaning) As in 2 John 12, this does not mean that there is anything wrong with using pen and ink. John is just saying that he would prefer to talk with Gaius face to face.

pen and ink: (Translation) This is another idiom meaning “in a letter.” In your translation you should consider what is the natural way of saying this in your language.

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