Translation commentary on John 19:28

In Greek this verse begins with “after this” (see the discussion at 2.12). Both the Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch omit the phrase in translation.

In Greek Jesus knew is the same participial construction used in 13.1. There John affirmed Jesus’ knowledge of what was about to happen to him. Now he affirms Jesus’ awareness of a prophecy which was to be fulfilled.

In some languages by now must be rendered “by that time” or “by then” or “at that time,” since the reference is to past, not present, time.

Had been completed is also the translation of Jerusalem Bible (Phillips “was now completed”; New English Bible “had … come to its appointed end”). In the context the meaning is that Jesus had completed everything that God had sent him into the world to do. The translator must be sure that his rendering carries this positive force and does not suggest that the “end” of Jesus’ work in death was a failure. Had been completed is from the verb teleō; make … come true is from the related verb teleioō. This second verb is also used in 17.4 (I have finished the work you gave me to do). This is not the verb John normally uses of the fulfillment of scripture (pleroō), and its use in 19.28 after teleō may be significant: it is through Jesus’ completion (teleō) of the work God gave him to do that the scripture is fulfilled (teleioō).

In some languages the passive expression Everything had been completed must be changed to an active form, for example, “Jesus had done everything that he should have done” or “everything had happened that should have happened.”

It is possible to take the clause in order to make the scripture come true as depending either on what precedes (“everything had been completed in order to make the scripture come true”) or on what follows (in order to make the scripture come true, he said). Most translations agree with Good News Translation in seeing Jesus’ words (I am thirsty) as the fulfillment of scripture. If John is thinking of a specific Old Testament text, the most likely reference is to Psalm 69,22: when I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar. Therefore Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “in order to make the prophecy in the Psalms come true.” To make clear that the purpose clause depends on he said, it may be necessary to change the order in the second part of the verse: “Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ He said this in order to make the scripture come true.”

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 19:28

Section 19:28–30

Jesus died on the cross

This section describes how Jesus died. Before he died, he said two more things. First, he said that he was thirsty. So the soldiers absorbed wine vinegar in a sponge and lifted it to Jesus’ lips on a branch. Then Jesus said, “It is finished,” and died.

Here are other possible titles for this section:

The death of Jesus
-or-
Jesus died

19:28a

After this: This phrase introduces the next main event in the story. It refers to later that afternoon. For example:

Later (New International Version)

knowing that everything had now been accomplished: When Jesus was on the cross, he knew that he had done everything that God had sent him to do. He understood that he had completed his work. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as an independent clause. For example:

Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus knew that everything had been done. (New Century Version)

knowing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as knowing is more literally “having known.” It introduces something that Jesus knew or understood. He knew that he had come to earth to die for people’s sins. Now he knew that he had completed that mission. All that he was sent to do, he did. See also how you translated 13:1, where the same verb is used.

everything had now been accomplished: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had now been accomplished is passive. It indicates that Jesus’ work was complete. He had done all that his Father had sent him to do. There are at least two ways to translate this:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

everything was completed (NET Bible)
-or-
everything had now been finished (God’s Word)

• Use an active verb. For example:

he had now finished his work (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he had completed everything

everything: This pronoun refers to all that the Father sent Jesus to do. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. (Contemporary English Version)

now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now is more literally “already.” It indicates that Jesus knew that at that time his life and mission were nearly finished. In some languages it may be confusing to use a word like now to refer to a past time. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Jesus knew that everything had been done (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus knew that everything was already completed

accomplished: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as accomplished refers to being completed and fulfilled. Everything was finished in a good and successful way, because Jesus had done everything necessary.

19:28b

to fulfill the Scripture: This phrase indicates that Jesus’ action caused the scriptures to be fulfilled. Jesus said that he was thirsty, and this fulfilled Psalms 69:21. There it says, “for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” What the Psalm had predicted took place. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

in order to make the Scripture come true (Good News Translation)

fulfill the Scripture: This phrase indicates that what was happening then was what the prophets had written about long ago. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fulfill is a different word from what John used in other verses. Here the word is the same word it translates as “finished” in 19:28a and 19:30b. However, most English translations use a form of fulfill here because it is more natural in English. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to make the Scriptures come true (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So that what the holy book has said would happen, did happen.

I am thirsty: Because Jesus was in the hot sun and bleeding, he became very thirsty. Express this in the way that is natural in your language. For example:

I thirst
-or-
I need water

General Comment on John 19:28

In the Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, John 19:28 is one complex sentence. In some languages it is more natural to make it into two sentences. For example:

Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. And in order to make the Scriptures come true, he said, “I am thirsty!” (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. So that the Scripture would come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” (New Century Version)

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