The Greek that is translated “scripture” or “scriptures” in English is translated as “God’s word which people wrote” in Guerrero Amuzgo (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125) and “paper writings” in Copainalá Zoque (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.).
While the term “Bible,” often used as a synonym, does not appear in the Bible itself, there’s an interesting translation of that word in Dehu. Missionaries had translated “Bible” as “Container of the Word” until they realized that this was also used for “penis sheath.” (Source: Clifford 1992, p. 87)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 19:37:
Uma: “There is also the word of the Holy Book that says: ‘They will look-up at the one who was speared long ago.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “And there is also one verse written in the holy-book it says, ‘They look/looked at the person whom they had pierced.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There is also a written prophecy which says, ‘They will gaze at the person whom they speared.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “and another also that he caused-to-be-written that says, ‘In-the-future they will see him whom they stabbed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And it says too there in another section of the writing, ‘They will look at him whom they pierced.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Another part written in the Holy Book says, ‘He will be seen that his body was pierced.'” (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®).
For languages in which one cannot speak of the scripture as “saying” anything, it may be possible to translate “there is another scripture in which one can read.”
The scripture passage referred to in this verse is Zechariah 12.10. John does not follow exactly either the Hebrew text or the most commonly accepted Septuagint reading. People will look at is literally “they will look at,” The term pierced must often be made more explicit, for example, “pierced with a spear” or “stuck into with a spear.”
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 .
And: This phrase introduces a second prophecy that was fulfilled.
as another Scripture says: This clause is short for “and another scripture was fulfilled which says.” This other scripture is Zechariah 12:10.
Scripture: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Scripture refers to a text or certain place in the writings of the Old Testament. In some languages it may not be necessary to supply a word meaning passage. For example:
it is also written in the Scriptures -or-
The Holy Book also says
says: The word says refers to what has been written down. In some languages it is more natural to speak about what was written down or what can be read. For example:
this is written in the Scriptures -or-
there is another scripture in which one can read (TH)
19:37b
They will look on the One they have pierced: This is a quotation from Zechariah 12:10. John understood this text to refer to the people seeing that Jesus’ side was pierced by a spear. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
People will look at him whom they pierced. (Good News Translation) -or-
They will look at the person whom they have stabbed. (God’s Word)
the One they have pierced: The verb pierced in this context means to wound or stab something by pushing a sharp object into it. The Greek word is different from the word in 19:35 but refers to the same action. In some languages it is more natural to indicate what pierced Jesus. For example:
him whom they pierced ⌊with a spear⌋ -or-
the one in whose side they stuck a spear (Contemporary English Version)
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