The Greek in John 10:10 that is translated as “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly” or similar in English has been translated in a a variety of ways:
Huehuetla Tepehua: “I came so that people might have life, and that they might be happy in their lives.”
Aguaruna: “But I, on the other hand, came saying ‘That they might live; that they might live contentedly, lacking nothing.'”
Yatzachi Zapotec: “I came in order to give eternal life and so that they would be extremely happy.”
Shipibo-Conibo: “I have come so that the sheep will live, and so that they will live very well.”
Asháninka: “I came to give them life, to really give them all life.”
Yanesha’: “For this I came, so that you will live, completely exceedingly.”
Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “I have come in order to give them their new life, which is better life.” (Source for this and above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
Mairasi: “As for Me Myself My coming is so that people will receive very good life-fruit life.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “thief” in English is translated in Low German as Spitzboov or “naughty boy” / “scoundrel” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).
Following are a number of back-translations of John 10:10:
Uma: “The intention of a thief, [he] comes wanting to steal, kill and destroy. But I come so that men receive life that is no kidding its goodness.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The burglar has no other business in coming than to steal and to kill and to destroy. But I, my business/purpose in coming is to give mankind life, its goodness is exceeding.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason that the thief goes to the corral is so that he might steal and kill and destroy. As for me, by contrast, I came here to the world to give mankind life that has no lack forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘The purpose of the thief is to go steal or for-no-reason to kill or butcher-to-eat the sheep and that’s all. I however, I came so that people should be able-to-gain/enjoy the very-good life that has no lacks/imperfections.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “The one I said was like a thief, he has no other purpose than that he wants to steal, to kill and to destroy. But as for me, I came here so that those who are my like sheep will be given life by me, and the life I will give is really far-from-ordinary.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The thief just steals. He kills off the sheep. But I came so there would be your new life, you will live joyfully.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
The Greek text literally reads “the thief,” and Good News Translation and most other translations maintain this expression exactly as the Greek has it. The definite article the does not point to any specific thief, but is simply a part of the parabolic style. The reference is generic, and such an expression as “a thief” or “thieves” may also be used.
Good News Translation and several other translations change the Greek negative expression (literally “does not come except in order to”) into a positive one: comes only in order to.
The verb translated kill is used only here in John’s Gospel; it refers specifically to the killing of animals and literally means “slaughter” (New American Bible). The word destroy is a frequently used Johannine term. In John 3.16 this verb is used intransitively, where it is translated die in Good News Translation. In 6.39 Jesus, speaking of those whom the Father has given him, says I should not lose any of all those he has given me. There the verb “to destroy” is used with the meaning of lose. It may be that here the verb carries more overtones of meaning than its companion verb “to kill”; that is, it may well connote eternal destruction. However, this idea is merely intimated, and should not be expressed in translation. It is better to translate by a general term, such as “to destroy,” rather than to specify “to destroy eternally,” even though this idea may be involved here. In some languages it may be difficult to find a term meaning “destroy” which will contrast with or at least amplify the concept of “kill.” In speaking of the destruction of an animal, “kill” seems to be the strongest term which could be employed, but in some languages a general term, such as “to get rid of” or “to ruin” or “to cause to be no more” may be used.
Good News Translation shifts to the second person you, in place of the Greek third person “they.” This is an important shift, since the persons referred to are Jesus’ followers rather than the Pharisees to whom the parable is addressed (verse 6). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “they” by “my sheep.” It may be possible also to render “people” or “they who hear my voice.” The life referred to is eternal life, a central and basic theme of this Gospel.
The expression life in all its fullness (New English Bible “and may have it in all its fullness”) is translated in various ways. Revised Standard Version (“and have it abundantly”) and New American Bible (“and have it to the full”) are fairly close to the form of the Greek. Since in many languages life must be translated by a verb meaning “to live,” it may be necessary here to translate “that they might really live.” The final phrase life in all its fullness may then possibly be translated “that they may live completely” or even “… completely and wonderfully.” Or this idea may be expressed by the use of a negation, for example, “that there may be nothing lacking in their living.”
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 .
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: This sentence indicates why the thieves and robbers come to the sheep pen. Their only purpose is to steal the sheep and kill them. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The only reason that the thief goes to the sheep pen is to steal, kill, and destroy.
The thief: This phrase is also a metaphor and refers to someone who wants to destroy God’s people. He is like a thief who wants to kill sheep to eat. It refers to any thief. For example:
A thief (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Thieves
comes only to steal and kill and destroy: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as comes only to indicates that the thief has no other purpose than to do harmful things. He does not want to help anyone but to harm or destroy them. A literal translation of the word only may be unnatural here, as there are three purposes mentioned (steal, kill, and destroy). If that is the case in your language, here are other ways to translate this sentence:
A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy (New Century Version)
-or-
The purposes of the thief is to steal and kill and destroy and that is all.
kill: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kill refers mainly to the killing of animals.
destroy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as destroy is a general word meaning “ruin” or “destroy.” The thief ruins/destroys by stealing and killing, so it may be natural to mention this first. For example:
bring ruin, stealing and killing
10:10b
I have come that they may have life: Jesus came to earth with the purpose of giving life to his sheep, that is, his followers. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
I came in order to give them life
-or-
I came to bring them life (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
In some languages it is not natural to think of life as a possession, something that people have. Instead it may be possible to use a verb:
I have come so that they may live.
they: The pronoun they refers to the sheep, the people of God. It does not refer to the thieves, that is, the religious leaders opposed to Jesus. If using the pronoun they does not make this clear, it may be necessary to say:
I have come in order that you might have life. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I came that my sheep may have life. (God’s Word)
life: The word life in the gospel of John usually refers to eternal, spiritual life. That life is described as knowing God the Father and his Son Jesus (see 17:3). Here, because Jesus was also talking about sheep, it is best to not explain what the word life means.
10:10c
and have it in all its fullness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in all its fullness means “in a way that is more than enough.” This phrase indicates that Jesus came to give his people full, spiritual life that is more than enough. This refers to things like good relationships with Jesus and the Father, and enjoying God’s spiritual blessings. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
and have it abundantly (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and have it to the full (New International Version)
-or-
and may enjoy the very good life that has no lack
-or-
and may really live with plenty of everything that they need
General Comment on 10:10b–c
These clauses are connected by the conjunction “and” but they refer to the same thing. 10:10c is more specific and describes the life mentioned in 10b, making it even better. In some languages it may be natural to combine these clauses, using just one verb. For example:
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I came to give life—life in all its fullness (New Century Version)
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