Translation commentary on John 4:31

The focus of the narrative, in the form of a revelation discourse, now shifts from the woman and the people in the city back to Jesus and his disciples. Were begging (so also Phillips; New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible “were urging”) translates a Greek verb tense which stresses the continuing action of the disciples.

Teacher. On the meaning of this word, see 1.38.

Have something to eat (see New English Bible; Jerusalem Bible “do have something to eat”; New American Bible “eat something”) translates one word in Greek, an imperative, which Revised Standard Version renders “eat.” Although the verb is an imperative, in the present context it is used in the sense of encouragement rather than of command. Thus an equivalent translation may often have essentially the meaning of “please eat something” or “we urge you to eat something.” For languages in which the expression Teacher cannot be used as a form of direct address, one may translate “and the disciples begged Jesus as their teacher, ‘Please eat something.’ ”

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 4:31

Paragraph 4:31–38

The disciples came to Jesus and suggested that he eat something. Jesus told them that he had food to eat that they did not know about. The disciples wondered if someone else had given him food. But Jesus said that doing what his Father wanted satisfied him more than food. He also told them that the people there were like a field that was ready for them to harvest.

4:31

Meanwhile: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Meanwhile here indicates that the action in the next verses happened at the same time as the action in the previous verses. The disciples spoke with Jesus at the same time that the woman went to town and told her neighbors about Jesus.

Here is another way to translate this word:

While this was happening (Contemporary English Version)

the disciples urged Him: The verb urged here indicates that the disciples asked or encouraged Jesus several times to do something.

disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples refers to “learners” who are in a special relationship with a teacher. The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn and follow his teaching and example. Disciples often lived with their teacher and followed him wherever he went.

See how you translated this term in 1:35 and 4:27a.

Rabbi, eat something: The disciples encouraged Jesus to eat some of the food they had bought in town.

Rabbi: The word Rabbi is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “my great one.” When John wrote this Gospel, people used this word as a title of respect for an important religious teacher or leader. It does not refer to a school teacher.

If you do not have a word that expresses this idea of a religious teacher, you can just use the word “teacher” or “master.” If possible, use a word that implies that the teacher is respected. For example:

Teacher
-or-
My teacher/master
-or-
Honorable/Respected one

Use an expression in your language that is natural and shows proper respect. See how you translated it in Matthew 23:7–8 and Mark 11:21.

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