he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

Translation commentary on John 5:24

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

My words is literally “my word” (Revised Standard Version) and is equivalent to “my message.” In the present passage the verb hears is probably used in the sense of “obeys”; Moffatt and Jerusalem Bible have “listens to,” while New English Bible has “gives heed to.” In the Old Testament the verb “to hear” is frequently used in this sense, and the parallel to believes in the present passage would suggest the same meaning here. In some languages, whoever hears my words must be rendered “if anyone listens to and obeys my words” or “if anyone listens to and does what I say.” As these renderings suggest, it may be useful to combine in the rendering of hears the two components of listening to and obeying.

It may be necessary in some languages to specify the referent of him in the phrase believes in him who sent me. One can, for example, translate “trusts in God, who sent me” or “puts his confidence in God, who sent me.”

It is essential to keep the contrast between the verb tenses in this verse, as elsewhere in the Johannine dialogue: has eternal life … will not be judged … has already passed from death to life. Throughout John’s gospel there is always a tension between present and future. The believer already experiences in some degree the reality of eternal life which he will fully experience only at the end of time, and the one who refuses to believe is presently under God’s Judgement—a judgement which will be fully manifest only at the end of time. This means that just as eternal life is a present reality, so eternal death is also a present reality. This tension is clearly expressed in the following verse: the time is coming … the time has already come.

In some languages it is difficult to speak of “has eternal life,” since eternal life would seem to refer to something in the future. However, it is essential to indicate that this kind of life has already begun. It may be necessary to translate “has already begun to live the life that will never end” or “has already started living in a way that will always continue.”

Certain problems are involved in the passive expression he will not be judged. It can be made active, and the normal expression for judgement would suggest God as the agent, for example, “God will not judge him.” Since, as indicated, judgement has been passed to the Son (verse 22), one may translate “I will not judge him.” However, it is better, if possible, to employ a so-called pseudo passive, for example, “he will not experience judging” or “he will not suffer the consequences of judging.”

In some languages it is not easy to translate “has already passed from death to life.” Often it is necessary to make it a type of simile, for example, “he is no longer, as it were, on the road that leads to dying, but has already begun to live.” It may even be possible to say in some languages “he has already passed through dying and has begun to really live.”

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 5:24

Paragraph 5:24–29

In this paragraph Jesus spoke of his authority to give life. He first referred to himself in the first person (using “I” and “me” in 5:24). He said that he is the one who will cause righteous people to live again. He then referred to himself in the third person, as “the Son of Man,” in 5:25–29. God the Father gave him the right to judge all people.

In your translation, make sure that readers will understand that Jesus was speaking of himself through this whole passage. You may need to use first person pronouns to make it explicit that Jesus was talking about himself. For example:

24 “I tell you the truth. Whoever believes what I say and also believes the one who sent me, he has life that will not end. He will not be condemned to be punished, because his being separated from God is already finished and he has life forever. 25 This that I say is also the truth. All people, it is like they are dead, because they are separated from God. But the time has already arrived when even those who are spiritually dead will hear me, the Child of God, speak. And those who believe what they have heard, they will truly live. 26 Because my Father is the one who gives life. And it is the same with me, because he has given me the authority to give life. 27 He has also given to me his Child the authority to judge, because I am the Child of a Person. 28 Do not be surprised at what I said, because one day, all the dead will hear my words 29 and leave their graves. Those who have done good things will come to life so that they will receive eternal life. But those who have done evil things, they will come to life so they will be condemned to be punished.

5:24a

Truly, truly, I tell you: See note in 5:19a. See how you translated it there and in 1:51. This phrase appears many times in the Gospel of John. Consider whether in your language it is more natural to translate it the same way each time, or use different ways. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

I tell you for certain (Contemporary English Version)

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the Jewish leaders who were questioning Jesus.

whoever hears My word: This refers to any person who hears Jesus’ message. In some languages it is more natural to put this general idea in the plural instead of the singular. For example:

everyone who hears my message (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
those who listen to my message (New Living Translation (2004))

hears My word: The word hears means “listens to.” Here it implies that the person listens carefully and believes what Jesus said.

5:24b

believes Him who sent Me: Many times in John we see the phrase “believes in Jesus.” However, here there is no word translated “in” and God is the one whom people believe. Jesus was saying that anyone who believes God (believes what he says) will receive eternal life. It is implied that if someone believes God, then he will also accept Jesus, his son.

The phrase Him who sent Me refers to God. Make sure the reference is clear. For example:

believes God who sent me

5:24c

has eternal life and will not come under judgment: Both of the verbs has and will not come are in the present tense in the Greek. The present tense in Greek has a continuous quality. That means here that both ideas are true now, but they also will continue to be true in the future. In some languages it may be best to use two sentences. For example:

has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty now or ever.

has eternal life: The word eternal refers to something that does not end. The phrase eternal life refers to the new spiritual life that God gives us when we believe in Jesus. This life has already begun and it will never end. See the note at 3:15 and how you translated this phrase there. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

possesses forever life ⌊from God⌋
-or-
has already begun to live the ⌊spiritual⌋ life that never ends
-or-
has already started living forever ⌊with God⌋

will not come under judgment: This clause means that this person is not judged guilty nor will he ever be. He is not condemned now and he will never be condemned. Because this person has already passed from death to life (see 5:24d), he can no longer be condemned. The text does not say whether God or Jesus is the judge here, so it is best not to identify the judge. For example:

He is not condemned, now or forever
-or-
that person is not judged as guilty
-or-
he does not experience/suffer judgment/condemnation

5:24d

Indeed: In Greek, 5:24d connects to 5:24c with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed. This conjunction connects what does not happen to the believer (5:24c) and what does happen to him (5:24d). The believer is not condemned, but instead he has passed from death to life. This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. For example:

• Use the conjunction “but” as in the New Revised Standard Version.

That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life. (New Century Version)

• Use a conjunction other than “but” as in the Berean Standard Bible. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

He will not be judged. Instead, he will not be dead anymore and will live ⌊forever⌋ .

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

He has ⌊already⌋ left death and been given ⌊eternal⌋ life, and he will not be condemned.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

he has crossed over from death to life: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as has crossed over means “has changed” or “has transferred.” This expression indicates that people who were in the condition of death are now in the condition of life. This refers to spiritual death and life: these people were not dead physically but spiritually, and now they live spiritually.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

has already left death and entered life (New Century Version)
-or-
They have already gone from death to life. (Contemporary English Version)

from death to life: The noun death here refers to spiritual death, the state or condition of being separated from God. The noun life here refers to spiritual life, the state or condition of being united with God. In some languages it may be natural to use adjectives or verbs. For example:

this person is no longer dead and has begun to ⌊truly⌋ live

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