Translation commentary on John 3:11

The shift from singular to plural should be carefully noted. The verse begins with the first person singular (I) addressing the second person singular (you). The shift is then made to the first person plural (we … our) addressing the second person plural (none of you). A number of theories exist as to why this shift is made, but the most probable solution is that John has shifted the time perspective from Jesus’ day to the time in which he writes his Gospel. If so, then “we” represents the Christian believers of John’s own day who are in dialogue with the Jews represented by “you (plural).” It is important for the translator to maintain the singular and plural contrast, and when using the first person plural to make it exclusive rather than inclusive. That is, in using the terms we and our, Jesus does not include Nicodemus.

As elsewhere, the expression I am telling you the truth may be rendered “What I am going to say to you now is certainly true.”

The two expressions, we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, amount to essentially the same thing; in other words, each attests to what one has personally experienced and therefore knows. It may be necessary in some languages to indicate to whom “we” are speaking, for example, “We are speaking to you all about what we know, and we are telling you all what we ourselves have seen.”

To accept our message is equivalent in a number of languages to “to believe what we say” or “to put confidence in what we declare.”

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 3:11

3:11a

Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus used the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly, truly, I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. See 3:3a.

you: This pronoun is singular. Jesus was speaking specifically to Nicodemus.

3:11b–c

we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen: The two ideas we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen are very similar. This repetition is a way that the Hebrew language emphasizes what is said. In some languages the ideas may need to be combined. For example:

I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. (Contemporary English Version)

3:11b

we speak of what we know: The word we is exclusive. It does not include Nicodemus. In this context there are several ways to interpret this pronoun:

(1) we means “Jesus and his followers ”

(2) we just means “I,” that is, Jesus.

(3) we means “John the Baptist and Jesus.”

(4) we means “the Father and the Son.”

(5) we means “Jesus and believers,” that is, the church.

Scholars have very different interpretations. It is recommended that you translate this as we exclusive, without saying exactly to whom it refers.

3:11c

testify to what we have seen: This expression means “tell about what we have seen.” The pronoun we is again exclusive. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

report what we have seen (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 3:11b–c

There is not much difference between the two verbs “speak” and “testify” in this context. In some languages it is more natural to say it just once. For example:

11b–c we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves (Contemporary English Version)

3:11d

and yet: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as yet here shows contrast and surprise. Jesus certainly knew what the truth was. In spite of this, the people did not accept the testimony. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

but still (New International Version)

you people do not accept: The pronoun you is plural here. Jesus probably referred to the people that Nicodemus included in his “we” in 3:2. These people did not believe that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

you won’t believe (New Living Translation (2004))

our testimony: The pronoun our is exclusive here. It does not include Nicodemus. For the various possibilities of whom it does include, see the note on 3:11b.

testimony: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as testimony refers to a report about what someone witnessed. Here is another way to translate this word:

what we (excl.) tell you (New Century Version)

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