SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2:6

Paragraph 2:6–10

This is the climax (the most important part) of the story. The servants filled six large water jars with water. When they poured some out, it had become very good wine.

2:6a

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces some background information that describes the scene at the wedding. It is not a time word here. Many English translations do not translate this word. You should introduce the following information in a way that is natural in your language.

six stone water jars had been set there: These jars or pots were made by hollowing out large rocks. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Standing nearby were six stone water jars (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Six stone water jars were sitting near them

had been set there: While the Berean Standard Bible translates this clause literally as passive as in Greek, in some languages it may be more natural to translate it as active. For example:

stood nearby (New International Version)