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 a term that refers to the Jewish people or is not translated at all if it implicitly refers to the Jewish people (for example “Passover” instead of “Passover of the Jews”). For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.
John as a first-person evangelist (John 2:13)
In the Yatzachi Zapotec translation of the Gospel of John, any reference to the evangelist and presumed narrator is done in the first person.
The translator Inez Butler explains (in: Notes on Translation, September 1967, pp. 10ff.):
“In revising the Gospel of John in Yatzachi Zapotec we realized from the start that the third person references of Jesus to himself as Son of Man had to be converted into first person references, but only more recently have we decided that similar change is necessary in John’s references to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ As I worked on those changes and questioned the informant about his understanding of other passages in the Gospel, I discovered that the reader misses the whole focus of the book as an eyewitness account unless every reference to the disciples indicates the writer’s membership in the group. In view of that we went back through the entire book looking for ways to cue in the reader to the fact that John was an eyewitness and a participant in a many of the events, as well as the historian.
“When the disciples were participants in events along with Jesus, it was necessary to make explicit the fact that they accompanied him, although in the source language that is left implicit, since otherwise our rendering would imply that they were not present.”
In this verse, the Yatzachi Zapotec says: “It was about time for the Passover of us Israelites when we went with Jesus to Jerusalem.”
John as a first-person evangelist (John 2:13)
In the Yatzachi Zapotec translation of the Gospel of John, any reference to the evangelist and presumed narrator is done in the first person.
The translator Inez Butler explains (in: Notes on Translation, September 1967, pp. 10ff.):
“In revising the Gospel of John in Yatzachi Zapotec we realized from the start that the third person references of Jesus to himself as Son of Man had to be converted into first person references, but only more recently have we decided that similar change is necessary in John’s references to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ As I worked on those changes and questioned the informant about his understanding of other passages in the Gospel, I discovered that the reader misses the whole focus of the book as an eyewitness account unless every reference to the disciples indicates the writer’s membership in the group. In view of that we went back through the entire book looking for ways to cue in the reader to the fact that John was an eyewitness and a participant in a many of the events, as well as the historian.
“When the disciples were participants in events along with Jesus, it was necessary to make explicit the fact that they accompanied him, although in the source language that is left implicit, since otherwise our rendering would imply that they were not present.”
In this verse, the Yatzachi Zapotec says: “Simon Peter said to us . . . And we said to him, ‘We also will go along.’ Then we went along to the shore and we got into a boat. But that night we did not catch anything.”
complete verse (John 2:13)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 2:13:
- Uma: “The time had almost arrived for the big day in the Yahudi religion called Paskah Day. So, Yesus went to Yerusalem to attend that big day.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “The festival of the Isra’il tribe was close which they call For-Remembering. Therefore Isa and his disciples went up to Awrusalam, the place of the festival.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Soon at that time the Jews would carry out in Jerusalem the feast where they celebrated the passing by long ago of the angel of God. Therefore Jesus and company went to Jerusalem,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “When the fiesta of the Jews called Passed-By was near-in-time, plural Jesus went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “When the time was close when the Judio celebrate their fiesta called Passed-by, Jesus went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “It was near to the time the Jews had a celebration called the Passover. Jesus went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Translation commentary on John 2:13
It was almost time for the Passover Festival is literally “and the Passover of the Jews was near.” Good News Translation qualifies the Passover as a Festival in order to make this information immediately explicit for its readers, who otherwise might not have a background for understanding the term. It was customary for Jews to go to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. John mentions this festival in two other places in his Gospel (6.4; 11.55; and possibly it is intended in 5.1). It is interesting to note that in 6.4 John himself qualifies the Passover as “the feast of the Jews.” The Passover Festival took place on Nisan 14 (around April 1). It celebrated the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (see especially Exo 12.1-27; Deut 16 1-8).
It is difficult to find an appropriate term to translate Passover or Passover Festival. A literal translation of Passover may be misleading, since it may appear to mean that some of the people passed over a river or some kind of barrier. It may be important, especially at the first mention of the Passover Festival, to indicate that it was “a festival to celebrate the passing over of the angel in ancient times.” In any translation of a Gospel or New Testament, a glossary should be provided, giving a description of major factors in the event of the ancient Passover in Egypt, just preceding the exodus of the Jews from that land.
Traditionally the Passover has been spoken of as the “feast of Passover,” but the term “feast” hardly seems appropriate in a present-day English version. For that reason the term “festival” is used, since it implies more than eating. The Passover was a joyous occasion which took a considerable period of time (especially in view of the need for people to go to and from Jerusalem), and a number of events were connected with it in addition to the ceremonial meal. Since festivals are common in most societies, an appropriate equivalent term can usually be found. The difficulty is that the terms associated with such festivals are often highly specific. If the fact that a term is specific prevents it from being used, it may be necessary to employ such a phrase as “a time of celebrating” or “days when the Jews celebrated the passing over of the angel,” or “… their deliverance from Egypt.”
It was almost time for may be rendered in some languages “a few days later would be the time for” or “soon it would be time for” or “in only a few days it would be the day for.”
Jesus went to Jerusalem is literally “Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” The verb “to go up” is the usual verb for describing a journey to Jerusalem, which was situated in the Judean hill country (compare 5.1; 7.8; 11.55; 12.20). Note the similar use of the verb “to go down to” in verse 12.
Both clauses in 2.13 begin with “and,” a common connective in Jewish Greek. Most translators into English use more natural transitional formulas.
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 .
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