Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding Pilate).
Pakaluk (2021, p. 249) explains the meaning of this name: “This name means ‘Son of Abba,’ that is, ‘Son of the Father.’ John tells us only that Bar-Abbas was a robber, which is enough to establish that he was a criminal who deserved to be in prison. In the Marian spirit that pervades his Gospel, John does not add that Bar-Abbas was also a brigand and a murderer. What matters is that the innocent Son of the Father took the place of this guilty ‘Son of the Father’ and allowed him to go free.”
The Greek that is transliterated as “Barabbas” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting for “thief or “delinquent.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:40:
Uma: “They jeered, they said: ‘No, not he! Rather/Better Barabas!’ (That Barabas was a robber.)” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The people shouted, they said, ‘Not that person. We (excl.) want Barabbas.’ This Barabbas was an outlaw.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they shouted out, ‘Not him, but rather you release Barabbas!’ (And as for Barabbas, he was a robber).” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘Not that one (near-addressee)! Barabbas is the one we (excl.) want!’ they said shouting. This Barabbas, he was a bandit who had opposed the government.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Those Judio now shouted out, saying, ‘No! Not that person is the one who will be released. Barrabas only is the one who will be released.’ As for that Barrabas, he was a robber.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “All shouted and said, ‘Not him. Release Barabbas.’ And this Barabbas was a thief!” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
They answered him with a shout is literally “therefore (Greek oun) they shouted again saying,” which reflects Semitic Greek style.
No, not him! We want Barabbas! is literally “Not this one, but Barabbas.” Nothing is known of Barabbas other than what is said of him in this episode. The Greek noun translated bandit was translated “robber” in 10.1,8. This noun may have been used of guerrilla fighters engaged in subversive activity against the Romans. Such fighters would have been popular among the common people.
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 .
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!”: The Jewish leaders answered that they wanted Pilate to release Barabbas instead of Jesus. They rejected Pilate’s suggestion. In some languages it may be natural to make explicit the implied answer “no.” For example:
No, not this man, but Barabbas! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
In some languages it may be natural to supply one or more of the implied verbs. For example:
No, not him! Give us Barabbas! (New International Version) -or-
Don’t free this man! Free Barabbas! (God’s Word) -or-
No! Not this man. We want Barabbas! (New Living Translation (2004))
Not this man: This phrase is short for “We do not want you to release the king of the Jews.” The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this man is more literally “this one.” Refer to Jesus in a way that is natural in this context. For example:
not him (New International Version)
they shouted: The pronoun they refers to the crowd of Jewish leaders. They shouted loudly to Pilate. The Greek text more literally says, “Therefore they cried out again, saying.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
So they cried out again, saying (New American Standard Bible) -or-
Then they shouted back (NET Bible) -or-
They answered him with a shout (Good News Translation) -or-
The Jews shouted again (God’s Word)
but Barabbas!: This phrase indicates that the Jews wanted Pilate to release Barabbas instead of Jesus.
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (“Not this man”) to a positive statement (“Barabbas”). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:
• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.
Not this Man, but Barabbas. (New American Standard Bible)
• Use a conjunction other than but. For example:
Not him, but rather you release Barabbas! (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
• Do not use a conjunction. For example:
No, not him! We want Barabbas! (Good News Translation) -or-
Don’t free this man! Free Barabbas! (God’s Word)
• Change the order of the clauses. For example:
We want Barabbas, not this man!
You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.
18:40b
(Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.): The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces some parenthetical background information. It is not a time word. The author John added this background information to explain who Barabbas was. This is not part of what the crowd said. Some translations, like the Berean Standard Bible, put this sentence in parentheses to show that this is background information.
Barabbas was an insurrectionist: This clause indicates that Barabbas had committed a crime. Luke 23:19 tells us that Barabbas had been part of a riot and had killed someone. That is why the Romans had put him in prison.
insurrectionist: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as insurrectionist means “robber” or “someone who rebels against the government.” It probably indicates that Barabbas was a rebel who got what he needed by robbing. Here are other ways to translate this word (an “uprising” is a violent act against the government):
robber (English Standard Version) -or-
violent man -or-
Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. (New International Version) -or-
terrorist (Contemporary English Version)
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