complete verse (John 4:49)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 4:49:

  • Uma: “That leader said: ‘Lord, let us go quickly, my child is going to die!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The titled-one said to him, ‘Andý’ (exclamation of pity or wonder) Sir, come with me as long as my child has not yet died.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the person said, ‘Datu, come with me so that my child may not die.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “While the official said, ‘Sir, please let’s (du) go so that my child will not die.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But that person replied saying, ‘Just excuse me, before my son dies, let’s go there now.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The man said to Jesus, ‘Man, let’s go quickly—my son is going to die.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kite (来て) or “come” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on John 4:49

The word translated Sir may also have the full Christian meaning of “Lord” (see verse 11). Most translations take the term here in the sense of Sir.

Because of the evident urgency of the situation and the nature of the official’s response to Jesus, it may be appropriate to use a strong expression to render Come with me, for example, “Do come with me” or “Come right now with me.”

In some languages it is difficult to express the temporal relation suggested by the clause before my child dies. The closest equivalent may be a conditional, for example, “if not, then my child will die.” Or the contrast may be made between such an expression as “now” and a future tense, for example, “Come with me now or my child will die.”

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 4:49

4:49

Sir: This is a polite form of address. Use a form of address that is natural for a respected religious teacher. See the note on 4:11a, where the same Greek word is used. Here is another way to translate this word:

Lord (New Living Translation (2004))

the official said: The verb said introduces an important request. The man was humble and urgent as he spoke. Here is another way to translate this verb:

pleaded (New Living Translation (2004))

come down before my child dies: The official wanted Jesus to go with him to Capernaum, where the child was. You may want to translate come down in the same way that you did in 4:47b. Here are other ways to translate this request:

come with me before my child dies (Good News Translation)
-or-
please come now before my little boy dies (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 4:47, 4:49

The official asked Jesus to come and heal his son at least twice. The first time (4:47) the author records it as indirect speech, and the second time (4:49) as direct speech. It is acceptable to use either indirect or direct speech both times, whichever is more natural in your language.

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