Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("answer")

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, kotae-rare-ru (答えられる) or “answer” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on John 3:5

I am telling you the truth is the same phrase discussed in 1.51.

As in verse 3, so here, Good News Translation inverts the sentence order of the Greek, placing the independent clause before the dependent clause.

Though the expression enter the Kingdom of God appears to have a spatial significance which is not present in see the Kingdom of God (verse 3), there is no essential difference in meaning. Therefore, the same type of expression can be employed in verses 3 and 5. It may be particularly advantageous to use such an expression as “God’s rule” for the Kingdom of God.

The phrase of water and the Spirit (literally “water and spirit” in Greek) offers many difficulties. First, this phrase is substituted for the word again in verse 3, and it may be assumed that John is still speaking of the same topic. However, the mention of “water and spirit” opens an opportunity for a further development of Jesus’ thought. Second, it is not clear just what “water” refers to; and several possibilities have been suggested, of which two are the most widely accepted. Some persons, for example, have suggested that in this context “water” refers to the baptism of John the Baptist or to Jewish purification as a whole, inclusive of the baptism of John, which would be understood as being insufficient, in contrast with that which the Spirit accomplishes. On the other hand, other scholars have seen in this occurrence of “water” a reference to Christian baptism: “water” being the reference to the outward symbol and “Spirit” a reference to the transforming power of God in the life of the believer. Since the phrase is “water and Spirit,” it is important that the two be joined in such a way as not to suggest any contrast.

As indicated above, the phrase is literally “water and spirit,” without a definite article before “spirit.” However, on the basis of verses 6 and 8 (literally “the spirit”) it seems most likely that the Spirit is referred to in this verse. A number of translations make this clear. In fact, the entire context indicates that God’s Spirit is meant. Thus to translate “water and spirit” (Phillips, New English Bible) would be to fail to bring out the real force of the meaning.

Certain serious complications may arise from a literal translation of born of water. In some languages this expression is a specific reference to “afterbirth.” In the present context born clearly refers to the rebirth. Therefore it may be appropriate in some languages to translate “if he is not born again by means of water and by means of the Spirit.” This rendering would be taken to refer to some kind of baptism by water and the transformation produced by the Spirit of God, spoken of as “the baptism of the Spirit.”

It may be important to indicate specifically that the Spirit is “the Holy Spirit.” Otherwise a reader could interpret “not born of water and of spirit” as meaning simply “a person born without any lymph fluid in his body and without any human spirit.”

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 3:5

3:5a

Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus used these words to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. The pronoun you is singular here. See the note on 3:3a, where the same expression is used.

3:5b

no one can enter the kingdom of God: This expression introduces a necessary condition for entering the kingdom of God. In order to enter the kingdom of God, the following condition (which is stated in 3:5c) must be met. Consider how it is natural to introduce this condition. For example:

If anyone wants to enter the kingdom of God
-or-
If you are going to enter the kingdom of God
-or-
In order to enter the kingdom of God

enter the kingdom of God: This expression means the same thing as “see the kingdom of God” in 3:3b. See the note there. The expression means to become one of God’s people, people who confess that God is their king and obey him. It refers to experiencing or living in God’s kingdom, under God’s rule.

the kingdom of God: This phrase refers to God’s rule. God rules as a good and just king who loves, protects, and blesses his people. See how you translated this expression at 3:3b.

3:5c

unless he is born of water and the Spirit: This expression states the condition for entering the kingdom of God. A person must be born of water and Spirit. Consider how it is natural to express a condition which must be fulfilled before something else becomes possible. For example:

born of water and the Spirit: There are two main ways to understand the connection between water and Spirit in this phrase:

(1) They refer to the same event. The phrases born of water and born of…the Spirit both refer to how God cleanses and gives new life to people.

(2) They refer to two different events. There are various suggestions as to what these events are. One suggestion is that born of water refers to baptism while born of…the Spirit refers to the new birth. Another suggestion is that born of water refers to physical birth and born of…the Spirit to second or spiritual birth.

Most English translations imply the first interpretation by following the Greek and using the phrase born of only once. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). That is because the form of the Greek phrase connects the two nouns water and Spirit together.

born of water: The phrase born of water here means “born by or through water.” This is probably a metaphor that refers to cleansing from sin. See Ezekiel 36:25. Some interpreters think that it refers to baptism, either John’s baptism or Christian baptism. However, it is not recommended that you make this explicit. It is probably implied, because baptism represents cleansing from sin.

born of…the Spirit: The words born of belong with Spirit as well as “with water.” A person must be born of (or “from”) Spirit as well as of (or “from”) water. This probably indicates that it is the Holy Spirit who must give a person new birth, or new life. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

it is necessary that the Holy Spirit give him a new life
-or-
born by means of the power of the God’s Spirit

General Comment on 3:5b–c

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 3:5b–c and state the condition first. For example:

5a Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, 5c unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 5b he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (English Standard Version)

3:5b–c contains a double negative, as in 3:3b and 3:2c. See how you translated the double negatives in those verses. In some languages it is more natural to both reorder the clauses and change the double negative to a positive. For example:

5a Jesus said, “I seriously assure you that 5c you must be born of/by water and the Spirit 5b in order to enter God’s kingdom.

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