Translation commentary on John 6:27

Beginning with this verse and continuing through verse 30, the Greek text has a play on the verb “to work (for something)” and the noun “work.” In this verse the meaning of the verb work for is “to strive after.”

Food that spoils is translated in Jerusalem Bible as “food that cannot last” and in New English Bible as “this perishable food.” In Greek spoils is actually a participle made from the same stem as the verb used in verse 12 (see comments there on let us not waste a bit).

There is a problem in translating Do not work for food that spoils, since the negative is attached to work rather than to food. It is not an admonition “not to strive” but “to strive not for food that spoils.” In some languages it is necessary to place the negative directly before “for the food that spoils.” Thus it may be more satisfactory to introduce the positive statement first, for example, “Strive to obtain the food that lasts for eternal life and not for the food that spoils.”

Food that lasts for eternal life is translated in Jerusalem Bible “food that endures to eternal life” (see also Revised Standard Version). The idea is that this food lasts because it gives eternal life (see verses 33,50,54,58). Moffatt translates “that lasting food which means eternal life” and New English Bible “food that lasts, the food of eternal life.” (On the meaning of eternal life see comments at 1.4 and 3.15.) It is important to indicate that it is not the food that lasts forever, that is, “it is the food that causes people to live without end.” Only in this sense is the food itself imperishable.

The Greek of this verse is one sentence, and this food is actually a relative pronoun (“which”).

For the Son of Man see 1.51. As in many other instances where this phrase occurs, it may be necessary to introduce a first person pronoun, for example, “I, the Son of Man, will give you this food.”

God, the Father, has put his mark of approval on him is more literally “it is on him that God the Father has set his seal” (New American Bible). In 3.33 the verb “to seal” is used with the believer as the subject and is rendered proves by this (see comments there). In the present passage God, the Father is the subject of the verb. A few commentators equate “the seal of God” with “the likeness of God” (see Col 1.15), which Christ possessed before time began. However, the verb tense more naturally suggests a point in time, such as the coming of Jesus into the world or the descent of the Spirit on Jesus. Other commentators take this sealing to mean either that God has validated the authority of Jesus (New English Bible “upon whom God the Father has set the seal of his authority”) or that God has put his mark of approval on the Son, thus validating his work (Moffatt “has certified him”). Good News Translation follows this last interpretation.

Elsewhere in the New Testament the idea of a “sealing” by God occurs only in 2 Corinthians 1.22; Ephesians 1.13; 4.30. In each of these passages God is spoken of as “sealing” the believer. Good News Translation takes this term to mean that God has placed his mark of ownership on the believer. In the case of the Son of Man, God’s action has a different significance.

The expression God … has put his mark of approval on him is likely to be understood only in too literal a sense if it is translated word for word, that is, “a mark which shows he approves of him.” It may suggest that in some way God had branded Jesus or had provided him with some physical blemish or mark to show his approval. Accordingly, it may be better to drop this figure and translate the essential meaning, for example, “because God the Father has shown that he approves of him” or “… has said, ‘I approve of him.’ ” If the first person singular pronoun has been introduced above in connection with the Son of Man title (“I, the Son of Man”), then a first person singular pronoun should replace the third person singular pronoun here (him). The translation would then read “because God my Father has shown that he approves of me.”

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 6:27

6:27a

Do not work for food that perishes: This expression means “Do not work to get food that will spoil.” This is a command. It sounds like Jesus said that people should never work for food, but it is a figure of speech, a hyperbole. Jesus knew that most people must work to earn money to buy food. He was not telling people not to work. He was telling them to spend their lives wisely, working hard to get what is truly valuable.

In some languages a literal translation of Do not work may communicate that people should not work for wages. If your language is like that, you may need to follow one of these examples:

Do not work hard ⌊only⌋ for the food that does not last.
-or-
Do not concentrate your thoughts on food that spoils, but rather on the food that lasts

Jesus was saying that people should not spend all their time and energy to get ordinary food. They should not make food (and other material things, which become ruined) their main goal in life.

food that perishes: This clause refers to the fact that after a few days most ordinary food becomes dry or moldy. When that happens, people cannot safely eat it. This was especially true in Jesus’ time, when there was no way to keep food cold. But Jesus was referring to all types of food, even food like flour that lasts or keeps a long time. Here are some other ways to say this:

food that spoils (Good News Translation)
-or-
food that does not last/endure

In some languages it may be necessary to translate this as a separate clause. For example:

Do not work to get ⌊physical/material⌋ food. It will be spoiled/ruined!

6:27b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but connects the negative statement in 6:27a to the positive statement in 6:27b. This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. In 6:27a, Jesus said what the people should not do, and in 6:27b, he said what they should do. They should not work for food that spoils. Instead, they should work for food that endures. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. For example:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

You should work, not for this perishable food, but for the food that lasts, the food of eternal life. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do not look for the food that quickly spoils, but rather work hard so that you might get the food which gives eternal life.

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

Do not work for food that goes bad; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Don’t work for the food that spoils. Work for the food that stays good always and gives eternal life. (New Century Version)
-or-
don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life (New Living Translation (2004))

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

You should work to obtain the food that endures for eternal life, not for the food that spoils.
-or-
Work for what lasts and what leads to life that never ends. Do not use all your efforts to get food that will spoil.

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

for food that endures to eternal life: Jesus was referring to spiritual food. This food endures or remains and gives eternal life. It will never spoil and the life it gives will last forever. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Work for food that gives eternal life. (Contemporary English Version)

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 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:

forever life ⌊from God⌋
-or-

⌊spiritual⌋ life that never ends
-or-
living forever ⌊with God⌋

6:27c

which the Son of Man will give you: Jesus was talking about himself. He, the Son of Man, will give the food that endures. So it may be natural to say:

which I, the Son of Man, will give you

the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Son of Man is more literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus was referring to himself. He used this title to imply two things:

(a) He was a true human being, and he represented all people.

(b) He came from God and had authority from God.

Try to use an expression that implies both meanings. Here are some possible translations:

the Human-born
-or-
the True Man from God/Heaven
-or-
the Representative of Humanity/Humans

Translate this title as you did in other verses, for example, in 1:51; 3:13, 14. See also Key Biblical Terms, Son of Man.

6:27d

For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval: This is a metaphor. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as placed His seal of approval can mean “to put a seal on a document to show one’s approval.” Here, it means that God the Father has shown his approval of Jesus. Jesus did not say how the Father showed his approval.

In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. People may not understand that it is a figure of speech. Here are other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

It is as though God the Father has set his seal on him/me.

• Keep the figure of speech (either as metaphor or simile) and make its meaning explicit. For example:

For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

because my Father God has shown that he approves of me

For: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For means “because” and here introduces an explanation. Jesus, the Son of Man, will be the one to give food that endures for eternal life because he is the one whom the Father approves of. Some translations leave this word implicit. Here is another way to translate this word:

because

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