7:36a

What does He mean by saying…?: This question indicates that the Jewish authorities did not understand what Jesus meant. They were confused by what he said. Consider how it is natural to express this confusion in your language. Also consider whether it is natural to use the present tense to refer to something that has just been said. In some languages it may be more natural to use the past tense in this question.

Here are other ways to translate this question:

What did he mean when he said…? (New International Version)
-or-
What is he talking about?
-or-
What is he trying to tell us?

7:36b

You will look for Me, but you will not find Me: This is a direct quotation of Jesus’ words in 7:34a. Translate it so that this is clear. See the General Comment on 7:36a–c for a way to avoid having a quotation inside another quotation. It may be more natural to use an indirect quotation. If that is true, you will need to change the pronouns and say something like this:

that we (incl.) will search for him and will not find him

7:36c

Where I am, you cannot come: This is again an exact quotation of Jesus’ words, this time from 7:34b. It may be more natural to use an indirect quotation. For example:

that where he is, we (incl.) cannot come/go

General Comment on 7:36a–c

This verse includes two quotations inside a quotation. In some languages it may be natural to translate the inner quotations as indirect quotes, as the Good News Translation did. The Good News Translation also reordered the verse, placing the question of 7:36a at the end:

36b He says that we will look for him but will not find him, 36c and that we cannot go where he will be. 36a What does he mean? (Good News Translation)

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