world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (John 12:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:31:

  • Uma: “The time has come God must judge all the wrongs of men in the world. And the time has also come, the King of Evil-ones who has authority/power over this world, must be expelled.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He said, ‘The time has come for mankind in this world to be judged. The time has come when the power is removed from the leader of demons, he is the one who is the leader in this world.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for God, from now on he will judge worthy of punishment all mankind who are his enemies, and he will now overcome Satan, the one who rules here on the earth.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because here-now the time of people in this world being-judged has arrived. Now also will be the time-of-defeat of Satanas who is the leader of people who don’t believe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For the time has been reached, it’s right now, when all my opponents will be sentenced to judgment. Satanas who rules here under the heavens will be defeated.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now the time is coming that this world be judged. The devil who rules here on the world will be conquered.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 12:31

Now is the time for this world to be judged is literally “Now is the judging of this world.” This verse is introduced by the adverb now (so also verse 27), which gives strong emphasis. New English Bible translates “Now is the hour of judgment for this world” and Jerusalem Bible “Now sentence is being passed on this world.” Good News Translation transforms the noun “judging” into a verb phrase, to be judged. The theme of judgment, frequent in John’s Gospel, is discussed at some length at 5.22-30.

In languages which do not permit such a passive expression as to be judged, it may be necessary to introduce an agent. In terms of this context, it is probably best to introduce “God” as the agent, for example, “Now is the occasion when God will judge the world” or “… the people of the world.” One should not, however, employ an expression which would suggest the so-called “final judgment.” Such a variant as “pass judgment on the world” or “pronounce a sentence of condemnation on the world” may be employed.

The ruler of this world appears also in 14.30 and 16.11, but nowhere else in the New Testament. A related phrase, “the god of this age,” is used in 2 Corinthians 4.4; note also such passages as 1 Corinthians 2.6-8; Ephesians 2.2; 6.12. The ruler of this world, obviously Johannine, is used to refer to the Devil.

Will be overthrown (Jerusalem Bible “is to be overthrown”) is literally “will be thrown out” and appears in many translations as “will be expelled” or “will be driven out.” The reference is to the defeat of the Devil. This same verb is used in different settings in 6.37; 9.34; and 15.6. For languages in which the passive expression will be overthrown cannot be employed, it is possible to introduce God as the agent, for example, “God will overthrow the one who rules this world.”

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 12:31

12:31a

Now judgment is upon this world: This clause refers to the time that Jesus would die on the cross, now very near. This was the time for the judgment of this world, when this world would be judged. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Now is the time for judgment on this world
-or-
Now the time has come for judging the ⌊people of this⌋ world

By judging Jesus and condemning him to die on the cross, people were actually judging and condemning themselves. When they put Jesus on the cross to die, they showed how evil they were. But the cross was also God’s judgment on the world, a judgment that Jesus accepted to suffer himself. Jesus endured being judged and condemned instead of the world, even though the world deserved it and Jesus did not.

The noun judgment refers to an action, the act of judging and condemning. So in some languages it may be natural to translate it using a verb. Here are examples of passive verbs:

Now is the time for this world to be judged. (Good News Translation)
-or-
This world’s people are now being judged. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Now punishment is being decided on this world.

In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and supply a subject. However, it is difficult to know what the subject should be. John 5:22 says that the Father judges no one. Here it seems that the cross judges the world, or the world judges itself, or Jesus’ word would judge them (see 12:48). This is not the last judgment, but one that happened at that time. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Now is the time to judge this world.
-or-
Now we will see the guilt and punishment of this world.

Now: This word here is a time word. It can also mean “very soon.” The Greek text emphasizes this word, using it twice in this verse. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Now is the time (New Century Version)
-or-
The time has come
-or-
At this very time

judgment: This word refers to the decision about whether someone is guilty or not and what his punishment should be.

world: This word here refers mainly to the evil world system and those people who were part of it. It refers to everything and everyone that were opposed to God.

12:31b

now: This word is again a time word which can also mean “very soon.” Jesus knew that he would soon die and by his death he would defeat Satan. See how you translated this word in 12:31a.

the prince of this world: This phrase means “the one who rules the people of the world” and here refers to Satan. Try to translate this phrase in a way that implies that this ruler is not human and that he is evil. For example:

the ⌊evil⌋ one who rules this world
-or-
the ⌊great oppressor⌋ who rules this world

will be cast out: This phrase here means “will be defeated and thrown out.” The text does not say whether Satan would be driven out from earth or from heaven. It is best not to make this explicit. Your translation should indicate that Satan would lose his authority. He would no longer have the power to rule the world.

This verb phrase is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it.

• Use a passive verb. For example:

the ruler of this world is already being thrown out! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the leader of demons will be removed

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊the Father⌋ will throw out the ⌊evil⌋ ruler of the ⌊whole⌋ world
-or-
now will be the time of the defeat of ⌊Satan⌋ who rules the world

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