Translation commentary on John 11:54

The word translated openly appears first in John 7.4, but it is used also in 7.13,26; 10.24; 11.14,54; 16.25,29; and 18.20. Openly is also the translation of Revised Standard Version and Jerusalem Bible; New American Bible has “freely,” and New English Bible “publicly” (Moffatt and Goodspeed “in public”).

It may be important to indicate clearly the relation of the first part of verse 54 to what immediately precedes it. Hence, the particle So may require expansion in some languages, for example, “As a result of this” or “because of what the Jewish authorities were planning.”

Jesus did not travel openly may be translated “Jesus did not travel in such a way that everyone knew where he was” or “… so that everyone would see him.”

In Judea (so also New English Bible) is literally “among the Jews” (so most translations); New American Bible has “in Jewish circles.”

The exact location of the town called Ephraim is not known, though many scholars believe it to be the present Et-Taiyibeh, which is four miles (seven kilometers) northeast of the town of Bethel.

Where (so also New English Bible, New American Bible) is literally “and there,” as in most translations.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 11:54

11:54a

As a result: This word introduces what Jesus did as a result of the Jewish leaders’ plot to kill him. The result was that Jesus stayed away from people. For example:

So (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Because of this plot against him (Contemporary English Version)

no longer went about publicly: This phrase indicates that Jesus had been walking about (around) openly (not secretly) and stopped doing so. For example:

stopped going around in public (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
no longer walked about openly (New Revised Standard Version)

among the Jews: This phrase here means in Judea, among the people of Jerusalem and the region that surrounded it. This was the region where Jesus was in the most danger.

11:54b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (11:54a) to a positive statement (11:54b). 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.

So Jesus did not travel openly in Judea, but left and went to a place near the desert, to a town named Ephraim…. (Good News Translation)

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

So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he left Bethany and went to the countryside near the desert, to a city called Ephraim…. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Because of this plot against him, Jesus stopped going around in public. He went to the town of Ephraim, which was near the desert…. (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

So Jesus left and went to the town of Ephraim near the desert. He no longer walked around publicly in Judea.

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

He withdrew: This phrase means that Jesus left the area around Bethany and Jerusalem.

to a town called Ephraim: The phrase a town called Ephraim probably refers to a village about 12 miles (20 kilometers) northeast of Jerusalem. It was off the main trade routes.

in an area near the wilderness: The phrase the wilderness refers to an area where nobody lived. Ephraim was in the area near the wilderness or desert. For example:

on the edge of the desert
-or-
near the land where nobody can live (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)

11:54c

And He stayed there with the disciples: This clause means that Jesus and his disciples stayed for a while in the town called Ephraim. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

where he stayed with the disciples (Good News Translation)

disciples: See how you translated this word in 11:7 and 11:12.

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