the Jews (the authorities in Jerusalem)

In the English Good News Bible (2nd edition of 1992), this occurrence of the Greek hoi Ioudaioi, traditionally “the Jews” in English, is translated with “the authorities (in Jerusalem)” in contexts that imply that the referred groups are hostile to Jesus For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.

complete verse (John 18:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:14:

  • Uma: “It was that Kayafas who said to the Yahudi rulers yesterday: ‘It is better that one man die in place of the people/crowd.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Kayapas hep was the one who had given thought/council to the Yahudi leaders when he said that it was for their good if one person died substituting for all the people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Caiphas is the one who advised the Jews that it was necessary that one person should die in the stead of all Jewry.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and it was also he who had said to the Jews that it would be better if one person died in order that his countrymen might live.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Caifas was that one who had said to the Judio that it would be good if only one person needed to die, like a replacement for the mass of people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Caiaphas had told the leaders of the Jews that it was better that one person be killed for all the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 18:14

This verse refers back to 11.50. It may be necessary to introduce a temporal adverb to indicate that Caiaphas’ advice to the other Jewish authorities had been given at an earlier time, for example, “It was Caiaphas who some time before had said to the Jewish authorities, ‘It is better that one man die….’ ” Obviously, the form of Caiaphas’ statement should be as close as possible to the rendering of 11.50.

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 18:14

18:14a

Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews: This clause is a reference to John 11:50 and is given to remind the readers what was said there. It is background information, not part of the main story. See the General Comment on 18:14a–b.

Earlier, Caiaphas told the Jewish Council (the Sanhedrin) that Jesus should be killed so that the rest of the nation could live. This was what he advised or recommended. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders (NET Bible)
-or-
Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders (New Living Translation (2004))

the Jews: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Jews here refers to the Jewish ruling council known as the Sanhedrin. See the note on 11:47a. You may want to make this reference clearer. For example:

the Jewish authorities (Good News Translation)

Caiaphas was himself one of the Jewish leaders. So it may be natural to make that clearer. For example:

the other Jewish leaders (New Living Translation (2004))

18:14b

it would be better if one man died for the people: Caiaphas thought that they should kill Jesus for the benefit of all the Jews. He was afraid that if Jesus continued preaching and teaching, his followers might rebel against the Romans. Then the Romans would come and destroy the Jewish nation. See the notes in 11:50b, and how you translated the same idea there. For example:

it would be good if one man died for the people (New International Version)
-or-
it would be for their benefit if one man died for the people
-or-
it would be better for one person to die so that all the people would not

If you are using footnotes, you may want to include a footnote referring to 11:50.

it would be better: In 11:50b, Caiaphas says, “It would be better for you,” where “you” refers to the other council members. Here the words “for you” are left out and only implied.

one man: This phrase refers to Jesus. Caiaphas meant that it was better for Jesus to die than for many people to die.

General Comment on 18:14b

Caiaphas’ advice is given as an indirect quotation. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a direct quotation of his words. For example:

…who had told the Jewish leaders, “It is better if one person dies for the people.” (God’s Word)

General Comment on 18:14a–b

This verse contains background information. In some languages it may be natural to place this information in parentheses. For example:

(Caiaphas was the one who, ⌊a little earlier,⌋ told the Jewish ⌊leaders⌋ that it was better that one person should die for the nation.)

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