Translation commentary on John 20:18

The verb told is actually a participle in Greek. Good News Translation renders it as a finite verb, as do many others translations. Note, for example, Revised Standard Version “went and said.”

The Greek text of Mary’s words presents a strange combination of direct and indirect discourse, which Good News Translation renders entirely as indirect discourse. Among other translations New English Bible retains the form of the Greek; “ ‘I have seen the Lord!’ she said, and gave them his message.” As far as most languages are concerned, it is more natural to follow through with either direct or indirect discourse, and not try to combine the two. It is also possible to preserve the direct discourse in the first part of this verse by saying, “told the disciples, I have seen the Lord; she also related to them what Jesus had told her.”

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 20:18

20:18a

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples: Mary went to where the disciples were, in Jerusalem. She gave them Jesus’ message. For example:

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news (New International Version)
-or-
Mary from Magdala went to the disciples and told them (God’s Word)

Mary Magdalene: See how you referred to Mary in 20:1. Refer back to her in a way that is natural in your language.

announced to the disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as announced means “informed” or “told.” Mary Magdalene told the disciples something that they did not know. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

and told them (God’s Word)
-or-
and informed the disciples (NET Bible)
-or-
and said to Jesus’ disciples
-or-
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news (New International Version)

the disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the disciples here refers to the group of Jesus’ followers who were closest to him. There were 11 of them after Judas Iscariot left.

I have seen the Lord!: Mary implied that she had seen the Lord alive. She had not just seen his dead body. Check that your readers will understand this.

the Lord: Mary was speaking to fellow believers, other followers of Jesus. So in some languages it is more natural to say:

our (incl.) Lord

General Comment on 20:18a

This is a direct quotation. In some languages it is more natural to use an indirect quotation. For example:

So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord (Good News Translation)

20:18b

And she told them what He had said to her: Mary delivered Jesus’ message about ascending to the Father. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and she told them what Jesus had said to her (New Century Version)
-or-
Then she gave them his message. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Then she also made-known to them what Jesus had told her. (Kankanaey Back Translation)

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