12:6a–b

Some English translations put 12:6a–b in parentheses to show that this is not part of the main story but is additional information. The author John was the one who provided this information. The verse explains why Judas said what he did in 12:5. Consider how it is natural to indicate that this verse is additional information in your language.

12:6a

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief: These clauses explain why Judas suggested that they should help the poor. He wanted to encourage others to give generously to the poor. However, his reason for what he said was not because he wanted to help the poor. Instead, he said it because he hoped to steal some of the money.

Judas did not say this: The word this refers to what Judas said in 12:5. There he said that the money from selling the perfume should have been given to the poor.

not…because: This phrase introduces what was not the reason that Judas said what he did.

he cared about the poor: This clause indicates that Judas did not say what he did because he cared about (was concerned about) poor people. He did not really care for their welfare. In your translation it should be clear that Judas did not want to help poor people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

He said this, not out of any concern for the poor (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor (God’s Word)

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (not because he cared about the poor) to a positive statement (because he was a thief). 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.

He said this, not out of any concern for the poor, but because he was a thief (Revised English Bible)
-or-
He did not say this because he cared about poor people, but because he was a thief

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

He said this not because he cared about poor people, rather/instead he was a thief

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief (New Living Translation (2004))

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

He said that because he was a thief, not because he cared about poor people.

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

because: This word here introduces the true reason why Judas wanted people to give money to the poor.

he was a thief: The word thief here refers to a person who secretly takes money that does not belong to him. Judas was not a professional thief or burglar. He stole money that he was supposed to protect. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language.

General Comment on 12:6a

In some languages a literal translation may suggest that Judas did care about the poor; it was just not the reason that he spoke. If that is true in your language, it may be necessary to reorder the information to avoid this wrong meaning. For example:

But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. (New Century Version)

12:6b

As keeper of the money bag: This clause indicates that Judas was in charge of the disciples’ finances. He was supposed to take care of the money that they used to buy food for them all. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he was in charge of the disciples’ money (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He was the one who kept the money box (New Century Version)
-or-
he carried the moneybag (Contemporary English Version)

the money bag: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as the money bag refers to a small bag that held the money for Jesus and his followers. The group shared the money that was in it; it did not belong to any one person. Here is another way to make this clear:

the disciples’ money (New Living Translation (2004))

used to take: The phrase used to take indicates that Judas often stole some of the money from the disciples’ money bag. He took money from it to use for himself alone. For example:

he often stole some for himself (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he often stole from it (New Century Version)
-or-
and sometimes would steal from it (Contemporary English Version)

what was put into it: This phrase refers to the money that people gave Jesus and his disciples. The disciples used this money to buy what they needed, like food. It appears from this story that they also gave some of the money to poor people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the coins that people gave for it
-or-
the money kept in it (Revised English Bible)

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