loves his life - hates his life

The Greek in John 12:25 that is translated as “loves his life” and “hates his life” in English is translated into Maru (Lhao Vo) as “protecting one’s life for oneself” (for “loves his life”) and “not stingy with one’s life” (for “hates his own life”).

eternal life

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The Greek that is translated in English as “eternal life” is translated in various ways:

Lloyd Peckham explains the Mairasi translation: “In secret stories, not knowable to women nor children, there was a magical fruit of life. If referred to vaguely, without specifying the specific ‘fruit,’ it can be an expression for eternity.”

See also eternity / forever and salvation.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Eternal Life in John .

complete verse (John 12:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:25:

  • Uma: “The person who clings to his own desires will lose his life in the future. But the person who lets go of his desires in this world, he will receive good life forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise are also people/is a person. If he really values/loves his life here in this world he will not have eternal life. But if he does not value/love his life in this world, he will have life forever.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The person who sets his heart on his life here on earth, he will die just the same, but the person who because of me doesn’t set his heart on his life here on earth, he will get life forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If a person values his life, he will die anyway. But if he considers that his life in this world is not valuable, in-the-future he will live forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If what a person really values greatly are his own desires and lifestyle, it’s certain that this will be lost to him. But that one not overly valuing his life, for it’s not his own situation which is important to him, life which is without ending really will be his.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who tries to escape death is the one who will lose his life. But he who gives up his life here on earth will be given the new life forever.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

Translation commentary on John 12:25

His own life is literally “his soul,” but it is rendered “his life” by most modern translations. New English Bible renders “The man who loves himself is lost.” The reason for translating “life” rather than “soul” is that the rendering “soul” does not give a true reflection of the Jewish concept of the nature of man. For the Jews there was no body-soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us, and so this word refers to one’s natural life. The same word is used in 10.15, and there Good News Translation renders the Greek “I lay down my soul” I am willing to die.

The contrast between loves and hates also reflects Semitic thought. The meaning of “to hate” in such a context means that a person considers the object he “hates” as less desirable and important than the one he “loves” (See Deut 21.15; Gen 29.31,33; Matt 6.24; Luke 14.26).

Lose is the verb translated die in 3.16 and 10.28. It is used in 17.12 with the same meaning that it has here (see note at 3.16).

For the concept of eternal life see comments at 1.4 and 3.15. Will keep it for life eternal is rendered in Anchor Bible “preserves it to live eternally.”

The translation of verse 25 involves several serious problems. In the first place, a literal rendering may be quite misleading. For example, in one language the expression “loves his own life” means that the person is kind, while “hates his own life” means that he is mean and unjust. Furthermore, in many languages one cannot speak about “loving life” or “hating life,” for the term life must itself be rendered as a verb. In some instances loves his own life may be rendered “lives just for himself.” By way of contrast, hates his own life may then be rendered “but rather lives for others.” In some languages loves his own life may be expressed idiomatically as “keeps hanging onto his own life.” The contrast then may be set up as “lets go of his own life.”

Only rarely can the radical contrast between “loves” and “hates” be employed. It is always necessary to indicate that hates refers to “loving less” or “having no regard for.”

It may also be difficult in some languages to speak about “losing life.” Such an expression can be understood only in the sense of “die,” but evidently in this verse the focus is more upon the quality of life which is lost, and not upon death. Furthermore, it is important to avoid a verb meaning “lose” which would suggest an accidental loss. The loss of real life is the direct result of one’s wishing to hang onto his own way of life. It may be possible to translate the first part of verse 25 “Whoever loves only himself will lose out completely” or “Whoever loves to do only what he wants to do will end up with nothing” or “… will come to an end” or “… will finally have nothing.” To show the contrast between loves and hates, it may be better to employ a negation, for example, “Whoever doesn’t love his own life” or “Whoever doesn’t just love himself.” The difficulty with a term meaning “hate” is that it carries too many additional connotations and in some languages may even suggest suicide.

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 12:25

12:25a

Whoever loves his life: The word Whoever is indefinite. It refers to people in general, anyone and everyone who loves their life. In some languages a singular subject is more natural. For example:

The one who loves his life (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
If you love your life (Contemporary English Version)

loves his life: This phrase here refers to loving oneself above all. It means to live a selfish life, thinking mainly about one’s own desires and goals. If your readers may not understand a literal translation in this way, it may be necessary to use different words. For example:

loves himself (Revised English Bible)
-or-
love their own life ⌊above all⌋
-or-
always seek first what will benefit themselves

will lose it: This phrase indicates that these people will destroy their lives, here and into eternity. Their lives will be ruined, completely losing whatever good they had. They will not receive true life, eternal life.

The Greek verb is in the present tense, indicating something that is always true. However, the event is also something that can be considered as future. Use the tense that is natural in your language in this context. For example:

destroys it (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
will destroy them (God’s Word)

12:25b

but: This word here introduces an idea that contrasts with 12:25a, telling what happens if someone hates his life. In some languages it may therefore be natural to use a word that makes the contrast explicit like the Berean Standard Bible does.

Some English translations do not translate this word. Translate this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

whoever hates his life in this world: The phrase hates his life is an expression used in contrast to “loves his life” in 11:25a. It means that compared to their love for God, it seems like hate. It does not mean that they really hate their life. It means that these people do not consider their own life on earth as the most important thing. They are willing to sacrifice their own desires and ambitions in order to serve God and others. They believe that God and his service are more important than themselves. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Those who care nothing for their life in this world (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
those who consider that their lives in this world are not valuable
-or-
those who refuse to consider themselves the most important

his life in this world: This phrase refers to life on earth. This person does not concentrate his attention on his earthly life and his worldly ambitions. He does not consider valuable anything that the world offers, including money, power, and reputation.

will keep it for eternal life: This phrase indicates that this person will never lose true life, which is spiritual life. He will never be separated from God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

will keep it for eternity (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will keep true life forever (New Century Version)
-or-
will live forever

keep: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keep means “guard.” However in some languages it may not be natural or possible to say that one keeps or guards one’s life. Here are other possible ways to translate this verb:

will be kept safe for eternal life (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you will be given eternal life (Contemporary English Version)

for eternal life: The word eternal refers to something that does not end. The phrase eternal life refers to life with God that never ends. See how you translated eternal life in 3:15–16. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

unending life
-or-
life that never ends
-or-
living forever ⌊with God⌋

General Comment on 12:25

In some languages it may be natural to use the second-person pronoun as the subject. For example:

25a If you love your life, you will lose it. 25b If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. (God’s Word)

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