SIL Translator’s Notes on John 17:2

17:2a

For: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For here means “because” and introduces a reason. In this verse it introduces the reason why Jesus asked to be glorified in 17:1a. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Since (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Because

You granted Him authority over all people: This clause indicates that God the Father had given Jesus the right to rule all people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you gave him power over all people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you have put him in charge over all humanity
-or-
you allowed me to rule over all people

You granted Him: The verb granted here indicates that in the past God gave Jesus this authority and Jesus continued to have it.

Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus, the Son. Because Jesus was speaking, in some languages it is more natural to use the pronoun “me.”

authority: This word refers to the right to exercise power, the right to rule others. It is the same Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “right” in 1:12c. See the note there and your translation of that verse.

all people: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all people is more literally “all flesh.” That was a Hebrew way to say all people, especially because they are weak compared to God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

everyone (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
all humanity (NET Bible)

17:2b

so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him: This clause indicates the purpose for God giving Jesus authority over all people. He gave him authority so that Jesus would give true, spiritual life to all those God had given Jesus. That spiritual life will last forever. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

so that he would give eternal life to everyone you give him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so that the Son could give eternal life to all those you gave him (New Century Version)
-or-
so that I would give ⌊good/spiritual⌋ life forever to all the people that you gave me

He may give eternal life: This phrase means “to cause to live forever.” Eternal life refers to life that will never end, life with God that is forever. See how you translated eternal life in 3:15 and 3:16b, and see the notes there. For example:

to cause to live ⌊real⌋ life without end

to all those You have given Him: The clause all those You have given Him refers to all the people God chose, who would then believe in his Son. In some languages it may not be possible to say that God had given these people to Jesus. It might also wrongly imply that they were slaves. What God did was entrust (trust someone to take care of them) his people to Jesus to lead and protect them. For example:

to all those you have entrusted to him (New Jerusalem Bible)

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