3:14a–b

In this verse the Greek begins with the common conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Here it introduces an illustration that continues and advances Jesus’ argument. Some English translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, explicitly translate it. You should introduce Jesus’ illustration in a way that is natural in your language.

Just as…so: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Just as…so indicate a comparison of one idea to another. Jesus compared his dying on the cross to Moses healing people by putting a metal snake up on a stick. Whoever looked at the snake was healed. Just as God gave physical life to those who looked at the snake, so he gives spiritual life to those who trust Jesus. Jesus was lifted up on the cross so anyone can see and believe.

In some languages you may want to indicate the comparison in another way. For example:

As…, in the same way… (Good News Translation)
-or-
It will happen like the time when…

3:14a

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness: This is a reference to a story in the Old Testament. Moses lived over two thousand years before Jesus was born. He rescued the Israelites from being slaves in Egypt and led them into the desert. The people rebelled against God and Moses, and God sent snakes to bite them. Then they prayed to God and he told Moses to make a bronze snake to heal the people. See Numbers 21:4–9 for the complete story.

In some languages you may need to put the story in a footnote or supply some implied information. For example, here is a way to supply some implied information:

And what will happen to me is like what happened to the ⌊artificial/metal⌋ snake ⌊which Moses made⌋ . He raised it up on a pole/stick when they were walking through the place where no one lived.

lifted up: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lifted up refers to Moses putting the metal snake on top of a pole. He put it up like that so that everyone could see it.

the snake: The word snake here refers to a statue or image made out of metal to look like a snake. It may be necessary to make it explicit that this was not a real snake. For example:

the bronze snake (Good News Translation)
-or-
the ⌊metal/artificial⌋ snake

in the wilderness: This phrase refers to the time when the people of Israel traveled through the desert region of Sinai. A wilderness or desert is an area where there are few plants and where few people live. Here such an area is referred to as the wilderness because it was a well-known place in a well-known story.

General Comment on 3:14a

In some languages it may be natural to reorder 3:14a and start with the place where the event happened. For example:

When the people of Israel were in the desert, Moses lifted up the metal snake ⌊on a pole⌋.

3:14b

so the Son of Man must be lifted up: This clause indicates that it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. It is important that you try to use the same verb here and in the first part of the comparison, 3:14a. For example:

so the Son of Man must be put/raised up

the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is the same as in 3:13b. Translate it the same way in both verses.

must: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as must indicates necessity. It was necessary for this to happen. It fulfilled God’s plan. For example:

It is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up.

be lifted up: The verb phrase be lifted up here refers to the soldiers putting Jesus’ on the cross to die. This is a passive verb. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

the Son of Man must also be lifted up (New Century Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

so people must lift up the Son of Man ⌊onto a cross⌋

Use the form that is most natural in your language in this context.

General Comment on 3:14a–b

This is a comparison. It says that a future event is similar to a past event. The Greek text, along with most English translations, mentions the past event first. But in some languages it may be natural to reverse the order. For example:

14b And the Son of Man must be lifted up, 14a just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. (Contemporary English Version)

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