There are serious textual problems in the first part of this verse. A detailed discussion of the problems is beyond the scope of this commentary. The real possibilities finally resolve themselves basically into two choices. The text may read either (1) what my Father has given me is greater than everything (literally “all”) or (2) “my Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everything.” Good News Translation accepts the first alternative. It is certainly the more difficult reading, but from it the origin of the other readings can be explained. The antecedent of the relative pronoun what must be taken to be the sheep of verse 27. Elsewhere in John the singular neuter relative pronoun (what) is used in a collective sense of the disciples God gave to Jesus (see 17.2). To assume that these people (sheep in the present passage) are greater than everything is a difficult thought, and for that reason the reading was changed in some manuscripts to “my Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all.”

A literal translation of “What my Father has given me is greater than all” may be misleading, since it may imply that a particular present which the Father had given to his Son was greater than all other presents. To make clear that the content of what is given refers to people, it may be necessary to translate “those whom my Father has given me are greater than all.” However, such an expression does not make much sense, for it is extremely difficult to determine just what greater could mean in this context. The Greek term simply means “more than,” but it is difficult to understand what could be compared with those who are given to Jesus by the Father. Yet the second clause of verse 29 does suggest a comparison between the Father’s power and that of someone else who might presumably want to snatch these persons out of the care of the Father. For that reason many translators follow the second interpretation, namely, “My Father who gave them to me is greater than everything.”

In Greek the verb snatch has no expressed object, but Good News Translation includes the object them (so also a number of other translations). Jerusalem Bible translates without an object (“and no one can steal from the Father”). Thus also New American Bible (“and there is no snatching out of his hand”); Goodspeed and Phillips have “anything.” If one follows Good News Translation‘s choice of Greek text for the first part of this verse, them is the best object to supply, since it can refer back to what my Father has given me. However, if the alternative text is followed, it may be necessary to supply an indefinite object, such as “anything” or “anyone,” or else leave the object unexpressed.

From the Father’s care is literally “from the hand of the Father.” Some Greek manuscripts read “… my Father.” There is no serious difference in meaning, and the use of the definite article “the” before Father in such a context may well be the equivalent of “my.” It may not be possible in some languages to speak of “snatching them away from the Father’s care,” but it is almost always possible to speak of “snatching them away from my Father who cares for them” or “… who watches over them” or “… provides for them.”

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 .