Translation commentary on John 9:16

This verse indicates the division that developed among the Pharisees because of the different responses towards Jesus and what he had done.

The man who did this cannot be from God is literally “this man is not from God.” Good News Translation includes the qualifying phrase who did this in order to link the words of the Pharisees to the act of healing on the Sabbath day. The phrase “is not from God” is correctly taken by Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible with the force cannot be from God; New English Bible expresses the same meaning in different words, “is no man of God.” Deuteronomy 13.1-5 is perhaps the point of reference for the Pharisees’ judgement. This passage teaches that if a prophet or miracle worker leads people away from God, he must be stoned to death. The Pharisees are not denying the reality of the miracle; rather they are affirming that Jesus is not from God because he does not obey the Sabbath law. Does not obey the Sabbath law is literally “does not keep the Sabbath,” but for the English reader Good News Translation states it more clearly and naturally.

Cannot be from God may be rendered “cannot have come from God” or “cannot be one whom God has sent.”

He does not obey the Sabbath law may be rendered “he does not do what one should do on the Sabbath day” or “… the rest day.” However, it may be necessary to indicate a clear violation of the Sabbath law by saying “he does on the Sabbath day what he must not do” or “he violates the laws which apply to the Sabbath day.” In some languages the applicability of laws to particular days or events may be expressed as “binding,” for example, “the laws that tie one on the Sabbath day.” In other languages it may be expressed in terms of their “strength,” for example, “the laws that are strong on the Sabbath day.”

Those who defend the action of Jesus speak of “miracles” and not merely “a miracle,” which suggests the Pharisees must have had in mind not only this one particular healing but also other miracles of which they were aware. To translate accurately such miracles as these, it may be necessary to say “this and other miracles like this.”

There was a division among them may be rendered “they had different thoughts,” “they opposed one another,” or “their decisions did not agree.”

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 9:16

9:16a

Pharisees: The Pharisees were a strict Jewish religious group or party. See the note and how you translated this word in 9:13.

This man is not from God: This clause indicates that the Pharisees concluded that Jesus was not from God. Their reason for this conclusion is in the next clause (9:16b). See the General Comment on 9:16a–b. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

This man cannot be from God (Revised English Bible)
-or-
This man ⌊clearly⌋ did not come from God.

9:16b

for: The word for introduces the Pharisees’ reason for concluding that Jesus was not from God. Here is another way to translate this word:

because (NET Bible Bible)

He does not keep the Sabbath: This clause means “he does not obey the Sabbath law.” The Pharisees had rules for obeying the Sabbath law, one of the ten commandments. The law said that they should not work on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees decided what actions were work. Jesus did not obey all their rules and so they thought that he had disobeyed the Sabbath law. However, Jesus perfectly kept God’s law.

Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees thought that that was work. This action is the evidence that the Pharisees used to conclude that Jesus was not from God. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he is working on the Sabbath (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he does not obey the Sabbath law (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 9:16a–b

This verse presents the conclusion of some of the Pharisees’ that Jesus was not from God. Then it presents the reason they made this conclusion. Consider how it is natural to present such a logical statement. In some languages it may be natural to state the reason before the conclusion. For example:

16b This man does not observe the Sabbath, 16a and so he cannot be from God.
-or-

16b Because he does not obey the Sabbath law, 16a he cannot be from God.

Here is another possible way to show the logical thinking of the Pharisees:

16a This man Jesus doesn’t come from God. 16b If he did, he would not break the law of the Sabbath. (Contemporary English Version)

9:16c

But: The word But introduces the different response of a second group that contrasts with what the first group said. This second group was impressed by Jesus’ miracles.

others said: The word others refers to some different Pharisees. They asked a rhetorical question, so you might want to use a different verb than said. For example:

others asked (New International Version)

How can a sinful man perform such signs?: This is a rhetorical question. These Pharisees used it to make a strong statement. They were saying that a sinful person could not perform (do) miracles the way Jesus had. They implied that they concluded that Jesus must be a good person.

There are two ways to translate this statement:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

How could such signs come from a sinful man? (Revised English Bible)

• Use a statement. For example:

A man who is a sinner can’t do miracles like these. (New Century Version)

Translate this statement in a way that is natural in your language.

a sinful man: A sinful man is someone who sins or does not obey the law. These Pharisees were saying that Jesus could not be a sinner. The first group implied that Jesus was a sinner when they said that he did not obey their Sabbath law. However, though he did not follow all the Pharisees’ rules, he always obeyed God’s law.

perform such signs: This expression means “do miracles like these.” These signs were Jesus’ miraculous healings, such as the giving of sight to the blind man. See how you translated the word signs in 2:11a, and see the note there.

9:16d

And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here introduces the result of the discussion in 9:16a–c. It may therefore be natural to translate it like this:

So (New International Version)

there was division among them: This clause means that the Jewish leaders had different ideas about who Jesus was. In some languages it may be natural to make it clearer why they were divided. For example:

they were divided in their opinion (God’s Word)

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the Pharisees could not agree among themselves (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they took different sides (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 9:16 a-d

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder 9:16a–d and begin with the summary statement. For example:

16d The Pharisees could not agree about Jesus. 16a–c Some said….
-or-

16d The Pharisees were divided in their opinion of Jesus. 16a–c Some of them said….

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