1:12a–c

See the General Comment after 1:12c for a way to reorder this verse.

1:12a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But shows that there is a contrast. The contrast is between the many who did not receive the Word, and the others who did receive him. Here are other ways to translate this word:

However (God’s Word)
-or-
Yet (New International Version)

to all who did receive Him: This refers to those who accepted Jesus and what he taught. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

to all who did accept him (Revised English Bible)

all: This word refers to all kinds of people. It includes Jews and non-Jews, and men and women.

1:12b

who believed in His name: This is another way of referring to those “who did receive him” (1:12a). The way they received the Word was by believing on him. These are not two separate actions. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

to those who put their trust in him (Revised English Bible)

believed in: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated this idea in 1:7b. Here are other ways to translate this idea here:

put their faith in him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
put their trust in him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
trusted/believed him

His name: This phrase is a way of referring to the person himself. The name represented the person. In this case, His name refers to the Word, Jesus Christ. In some languages it may be more natural to use a pronoun here. For example:

put their faith in him. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
believed him (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 1:12a–b

The actions in 1:12a and 1:12b are one and the same, expressed in two different ways. Make this clear in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children (NET Bible)

1:12c

He gave the right: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as right means “the ability” or “the authority.” The Word gave those who accepted him the ability to become God’s children. This implies that they actually did become God’s children, not just that it was possible. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

he gave the right (New International Version)
-or-
he permitted/enabled
-or-
he gave them the privilege

to become: The word become refers to becoming something different. Before this these people were not God’s children in the same sense. There was a change.

children of God: This phrase is an important metaphor. It refers to people who belong to God and are related to him in a special way. He cares for them and has authority to rule them.

General Comment on 1:12a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the information in this verse. For example:

However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him. (God’s Word)

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech. For example:

Some people received him and believed on his name. God said to them, “You are now my children.”
-or-
God said to the people who believed in this person, “You are now in my family.”

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