complete verse (John 14:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 14:14:

  • Uma: “Whatever you ask with my name, I give to you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whatever you ask from me because of your trust in me, I will do to you.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because anything that you request of me because of your faith in me, I will do it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I repeat that whatever you request from me on-account-of your being-united-with me, I will do it.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “No matter what you will ask for from me on the strength of your being tied-together/united with me, it’s certain I will do it.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If you are bold to ask whatever you want because you believe in me, I will do whatever you ask.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

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

See also pronoun for “God”.

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on John 14:14

This verse is entirely omitted by some Greek manuscripts, though the evidence favors its inclusion. The reason for its omission may have been accidental, or it may have been deliberately omitted by some scribe to avoid contradiction with 16.23. More probably it was omitted because it seemed redundant after verse 13.

Some manuscripts do not have me in the phrase If you ask me. However, this information should be included for translational reasons. The Father could be assumed as the one to whom the prayer is directed; but since it is Jesus who will answer the prayer, it is better understood as directed to him.

The translation of in my name can be handled here in the way suggested for verse 13, for example, “if you ask me for anything because you are my followers” or “… because you belong to me.”

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 14:14

14:14

If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it: This verse repeats what 14:13a said. It is repeated for emphasis. In some languages it is natural to make some small difference to show that it is repeated for emphasis. For example:

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (New Living Translation (2004))

If you ask Me for anything in My name: This is an “if” clause that may or may not be true. People may pray in Jesus’ name, or they may not.

There is a textual issue here.

(1) Many Greek manuscripts include the pronoun Me. For example:

If you ask me for anything (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts do not include this pronoun. For example:

If you ask anything (Revised Standard Version)

(King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) because the better manuscripts read that way and most English translations follow it. The UBS Handbook Committee gave this reading a B rating, which means that there is only a little doubt.

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the disciples.

anything: This word refers to what you might ask for in prayer. It is indefinite. Languages have many ways of expressing an indefinite idea. For example:

something
-or-
whatever
-or-
what

in My name: To ask in Jesus’ name is to pray according to Jesus’ will. See the note and how you translated this phrase in 14:13a.

I will do it: This clause means “I will do what you ask me to do.”

I: The Greek text emphasizes the word used for I. It refers to Jesus. For example:

I myself will do it.

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