judge vs. condemn

The Greek terms krino and katakrino/katadikazo that are translated as “judge” and “condemn” respectively in English are translated with only one term in Kutu (tagusa). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also do not condemn.

complete verse (John 8:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 8:16:

  • Uma: “If for example I sat-in-judgment of the cases of people, my judgments are definitely straight, because I am not alone. My Father who sent me, He is my companion.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if for example I would be the one judging people, my judgment would be straight/righteous because I am not the only one judging but we (excl.) are two, I and my Father, my Father who sent me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But even if I do give judgment, mine is reliable, because it is not my judgment alone, but rather it is the judgment of God who sent me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if there were someone, my judging would be correct, because I would not be alone in judging. There would also be my companion who is my Father who sent me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But even if I will judge, how I judge would indeed be correct, because not only I am giving judgment, but on the contrary two of us (excl.) the second being my Father who sent me to come here.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But if it was that I made judgments, whatever I decided would be correct. Because it would not be just myself who makes the judgment. The Father who sent me and I together would make the judgment.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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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 first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Father (address for God)

The Greek that is translated with the capitalized “Father” in English when referring to God is translated in Highland Totonac with the regular word for (biological) father to which a suffix is added to indicate respect. The same also is used for “Lord” when referring to Jesus. (Source: Hermann Aschmann in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 171ff. )

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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. In the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017, God the Father is addressed with mi-chichi (御父). This form has the “divine” honorific prefix mi– preceding the archaic honorific form chichi for “father.”

If, however, Jesus addresses his Father, he is using chichi-o (父を) which is also highly respectful but does not have the “divine” honorific. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also Lord and my / our Father.

Translation commentary on John 8:16

My judgment would be true may be rendered “the way in which I judge would be right.”

I am not alone in this may be translated “I’m not doing this just on my own.”

Some ancient manuscripts omit Father from this verse, and so read “because I am not alone in this; the one who sent me is with me.” Accordingly, Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, and Luther do not include Father. The term appears in New American Bible in brackets and in Revised Standard Version only in a footnote. Those who assume that it was not an original part of the Greek text believe that it crept into several ancient manuscripts by way of assimilation to verse 18. However, the best and most reliable ancient Greek manuscripts do include the word. The UBS Committee on the Greek text believes that its omission from four or five manuscripts is due to a scribal error.

It may not be enough in some languages to say the Father who sent me is with me. What is important here is that the Father participates in the process of judging. Therefore, it may be necessary to say “my Father, who sent me, joins with me in what I do” or “… in my judging.”

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 8:16

8:16a

But even if I do judge, My judgment is true: There are two ways to interpret these clauses:

(1) It refers to something that could or would happen. For example:

But if I judge, my judgment will be true. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible Bible, God’s Word, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to something that would not happen. For example:

but if I were to do so, my judgment would be true (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), in parallel with 8:14a. The expression even if I do judge is a condition that will be fulfilled. Jesus did not judge at that time, but he will judge.

My judgment is true: his clause indicates that Jesus’ decisions are true, right, and just. For example:

my decisions are right (New International Version (1984))
-or-
my judgment is valid (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
my judgment is correct

8:16b

because: The Greek conjunction that Berean Standard Bible translates as because introduces the reason why Jesus’ judgment was always valid and just. Here is another way to translate this word:

for (New Revised Standard Version)

I am not alone: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek expression literally as I am not alone. The idea of judging is implied. Someone will be with Jesus when he judges, and he will help him and inform him. For example:

I am not alone in this (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am not alone when I judge (NET Bible Bible)

8:16c

In Greek conjunction this clause begins with a conjunction that connects a negative statement (8:16b) to a positive statement (8:16c). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

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

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

I am not the only one to judge, rather/instead it is me and the one who sent me.

• Do not use a conjunction as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

My Father judges with me; it is not just me alone.

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

I am with the Father who sent Me: This expression indicates that Jesus and the Father judge together. For example:

I and the Father who sent me do so together (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
I make my judgment with the Father who sent me (God’s Word)
-or-
The Father who sent me is with me (Good News Translation)

the Father who sent Me: The phrase the Father here refers to God the Father. However there is a textual problem:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts say “the Father who sent me.” For example:

the Father, who sent me (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible Bible, God’s Word, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts say “he who sent me.” For example:

he who sent me (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The UBS Handbook Handbook Greek New Testament gives this an A rating, which indicates that it is almost certain.

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