respectful form of "come" (oide ni naru)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, oide ni naru (おいでになる), a respectful form of kuru (来る) or “come” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on John 13:36

“Where are you going, Lord,” Simon Peter asked him is inverted from the Greek order. Again Revised Standard Version represents the Greek sentence order: “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord where are you going?’ ” For English readers it is more effective to introduce the words of Peter before indicating that he was the one who spoke them. This is the basis for the restructuring of Good News Translation. Note also New American Bible “Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where do you mean to go?”

In the Greek text answered Jesus comes before the words You cannot follow me now where I am going. Where I am going is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure. The verb follow is often used in the New Testament in the sense of “to follow as a disciple” (see comments at 1.37).

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 13:36

Section 13:36–38

Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him

In this section Peter said that he would even die for Jesus. However, Jesus said that before morning Peter would deny knowing him three times.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus predicted that one of his disciples would deny him
-or-
Peter says that he could die for Jesus, but Jesus says that he will deny him
-or-
Jesus knew that Peter would say that he did not know him

Paragraph 13:36–38

13:36a

“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked: The disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about when he said he was going away. The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asked is literally “said.” Use the expression that is natural in your language.

Simon Peter: Simon Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples who is often just called Peter. See the note about Simon Peter in 1:40a–b and how you translated the name there and in 13:24.

13:36b

Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now: Jesus was talking about going to God in heaven. Peter could not go with Jesus at that time. He did not say explicitly that he was going to God, and you should not indicate this in your translation. The Greek text emphasizes the words Where I am going by putting them first, but that may not be natural in some languages. In those languages, you may want to put those words at the end of the sentence. For example:

You cannot follow me now where I am going (Good News Translation)

you: This pronoun is singular and refers to Peter.

13:36c

but: The connector but introduces a contrast between now and later. Now Peter could not follow Jesus, but later he would follow him.

you will follow later: This clause indicates that one day Peter would go where Jesus was going. Jesus meant that Peter would go to heaven, but he did not say this explicitly.

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