Translation commentary on John 12:14

This verse is introduced with the same Greek particle (de) used in the last sentence of verse 3 and in verse 4. (See comments there.)

In Greek, found is a participle, but many translators render it a finite verb. In rendering this verb, it is important to avoid the suggestion that Jesus accidentally came across a donkey, or that he went out looking for a donkey and finally was able to discover one. In some languages a more satisfactory rendering would be “he procured a donkey” or “he got a donkey.”

Just as the scripture says is literally “just as it has been written,” but the reference is to the scripture, and Good News Translation makes it explicit (see 2.17). This clause should not be so translated as to refer merely to the manner in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The quotation from Zechariah qualifies, not merely the way in which Jesus rode the donkey, but also the entire event of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. It may therefore be best to introduce a new sentence in verse 14, for example, “This happened just as the scripture says” or “This happening was as the scripture says” or “… as one may read in the holy writings.”

The Greek word rendered donkey in this verse appears only here in the New Testament. Etymologically this word (onarion) is a diminutive form, meaning “a small donkey,” but outside the New Testament the word often means simply donkey. Moffatt, Goodspeed, Phillips, and Revised Standard Version evidently prefer to maintain the meaning of “a young donkey” and so render “a young ass.” The Greek expression in the last part of verse 15 does mean “a young donkey,” and Good News Translation so renders it there. However, it seems doubtful that “young donkey” is the exact meaning of the word as intended by John in the present verse.

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 12:14

12:14

Finding a young donkey, Jesus: This clause here indicates that Jesus found a young donkey that he could ride. The verb Finding does not indicate here that the donkey was lost. Jesus’ followers brought it to him as he had told them (see Matthew 21:2–3, 6–7). This probably happened earlier, before the people went out to welcome him. So it may be natural to say:

Jesus had found a young donkey

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus obtained/got a young donkey
-or-
Someone brought a young donkey to Jesus

a young donkey: A donkey is a domestic animal that is like a small horse, but with longer ears. Riding on a donkey, rather than a horse, was associated with humility and peace in Jesus’ time. See also Genesis 49:9–11. If a ruler rode on a donkey it showed that he came in peace. You may want to write a footnote that explains what the donkey indicates. For example:

The Jews of Jesus’ time associated a donkey with peace and with humility. The horse was different because it was associated with war.

sat on it: This phrase means that Jesus rode the donkey. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

got up on it
-or-
rode on it (Contemporary English Version)

as it is written: This phrase introduces a quotation from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament. See how you translated this phrase in 8:17 and Mark 1:2. Here the quotation that follows is taken partly from Zephaniah 3:16 and partly from Zechariah 9:9. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

fulfilling the prophecy that said (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
just as the scripture says (Good News Translation)
-or-
This happened just like ⌊what God prophesied⌋ in the scriptures

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