Translation commentary on John 16:24

Asked for translates the Greek verb aiteō (see verse 23). In this context in my name may be rendered either “by calling on me” or “because you are my disciples” or “… my followers.”

The verb ask is in the present imperative, suggesting that the request should be persistent and continuous.

In some languages it may be necessary to indicate the agent with such an expression as you will receive. It may be rendered in an active form by “God will give it to you” or “you will receive from God.”

May be complete is more literally “may be full.” So that your happiness may be complete may be rendered in some languages “so that you may be completely happy” or “so that there may be nothing lacking in your being happy.”

So that translates a Greek conjunction (hina), which normally denotes purpose, but in the present context it appears to indicate result. However, in Jewish thought the ideas of purpose and result are not easily distinguished in declarations of God’s will.

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 16:24

16:24a

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name: This sentence indicates that until that time the disciples had not asked God for things in Jesus’ name. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

So far you have asked nothing in my name. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
You haven’t done this before. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You have not asked for anything in this way before. (Contemporary English Version)

Until now: This phrase means “in the past.” For example:

before (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So far (Revised English Bible)

you have not asked for anything in My name: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the disciples. The phrase asked for is short for “asked God for” and means “prayed to God for.”

in My name: See how you translated this phrase in 16:23.

16:24b

Ask and you will receive: This clause encourages the disciples to pray to God, asking him for what they need. It assures them that God would answer their prayers.

Ask: This verb is short for “Ask God for” and refers to praying to God regularly and repeatedly.

and you will receive: This clause is short for “you will receive from God what you asked for.” In some languages it is more natural to say what the disciples will receive:

and you will receive it (NET Bible)
-or-
Then it will be given to you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊God⌋ will give you ⌊what you asked for⌋

16:24c

so that your joy may be complete: This clause indicates the purpose of the disciples’ asking and receiving. It means “so that you may be completely happy.” The disciples would be joyful when they saw God’s love and concern for them in fulfilling their needs and requests. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

so that you will be completely happy (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy (New Century Version)
-or-
so that you will be as joyful as possible

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.