John the Baptist

The name that is transliterated as “John (the Baptist)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language as “baptize” (source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. ).


“John the Baptist” in Mexican Sign Language (source: BSLM )

In German Sign Language (Catholic) it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying a Catholic baptism by sprinkling on the head.


“John” in German Sign Language (catholic), source: Taub und katholisch

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “shout,” referring to John 1:23. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in French Sign Language, it is “prepare the way.” (Source: Lexique – Explications en langue des signes)

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign for leaping in the womb (see Luke 1:41) and baptism. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“John” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

A question of cultural assumptions arose in Tuvan. The instinctive way to translate this name denotatively would be “John the Dipper,” but this would carry the highly misleading connotation that he drowned people. It was therefore decided that his label should focus on the other major aspect of his work, that is, proclaiming that the Messiah would soon succeed him. (Compare his title in Russian Orthodox translation “Иоанн Предтеча” — “John the Forerunner.”) So he became “John the Announcer,” which fortunately did not seem to give rise to any confusion with radio newsreaders! (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

In Noongar it is translated as John-Kakaloorniny or “John Washing” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

A new oral translation into Yao / Ciyawo, spoken in Mozambique, uses John the one who ceremoniously washes/pours water, using a term (kusingula) that “indicates a ceremonial washing or pouring of water on a person in the Yawo’s expression of Islam which can be used for an act done in repentance of sin.” (Source: Houston 2025, p. 236)

See also John the Baptist (icon) and learn more on Bible Odyssey: John the Baptist .

John the Baptist (icon)

Following is a Syriac Orthodox icon of John the Baptist from the 18/19th century (found in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Yabrud, Syria).

 
The wings are often depicted in icons of John the Baptist because of his status as a messenger. The scroll that John the Baptist holds quotes John 1:29 and reads (translated into English): “I saw and witnessed concerning him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’”

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also John the Baptist.

complete verse (John 3:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:24:

  • Uma: “At that time, Yohanes the Baptizer had not yet been imprisoned. He was baptizing in Ainon town, not far from Salim town, because there was much water there. Every day people went asking Yohanes to baptize them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “At that time Yahiya had not yet been imprisoned. Yahiya also bathed people there at the place Anon for there was much water there. This place Anon is close to the place Salim. Many people went to him and were bathed by him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “(At that time John was not yet put in prison).” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because Juan had not yet been-imprisoned.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “because at that time, Juan had not yet been imprisoned.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “John was not yet put in jail when this took place.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 3:24

This verse is best taken as a parenthetical statement by the author of the Gospel. A number of translations, including Good News Translation, place the verse in curved brackets. The verse seems intended to give a background for verse 30.

There may be problems of tense sequence in the parenthetical expression This was before John had been put in prison. An equivalent may be “John was only later put in prison” or “Up to this time John was still not in prison.”

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 3:24

3:24

For: In the Greek text 3:24 is connected to 3:23 with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. It indicates that the clause that follows is background information that explains when this event happened. (The parentheses also help to indicate this.) Several translations do not explicitly translate this word but instead use parentheses. Indicate that the following clause is background information in whatever way is natural in your language.

John had not yet been thrown into prison: This statement is not part of the main story. It is a reference to what would happen later. The story is told in Matthew 14:3, Mark 6:17–20, and Luke 3:19–20. The author assumed that his readers already knew this story. In some languages it may be more natural to put this information before 3:23. See the General Comment on 3:23–24 following this note.

The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as been thrown is passive. King Herod was the one who ordered his soldiers/guards to put John in prison. (The word thrown is a figure of speech meaning that they put him in prison. They probably did not literally throw John into prison. But it does imply that they used force.)

There are at least two ways to translate this clause:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

John had not yet been put in prison. (English Standard Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

This was before ⌊the authorities⌋ put John in prison.

It would be good to have a footnote saying why the authorities later put John in prison. For example:

King Herod later put John in prison because John criticized Herod for marrying his brother’s wife.

General Comment on 3:23–24

The information that John the Baptist was not yet in jail is background information and not on the story line. In some languages it is more natural to put 3:24 before 3:23. For example:

23–24 John had not yet been put in jail. He was at Aenon near Salim, where there was a lot of water, and people were coming there for John to baptize them. (Contemporary English Version)

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