complete verse (John 9:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 9:9:

  • Uma: “Some said: ‘It is he!’ But others said: ‘It is not. They just look alike.’ But he himself said: ‘It is I!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Some said, ‘Yes, it is him.’ Others also said, ‘It is not him. He only looks like him.’ But the person answered, he said, ‘I am the person who was blind.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And someone else said, ‘It is him.’ And others said, ‘It is not him, but it looks like him.’ And the cured blind man answered, ‘I really am the blind person.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘That’s the one all-right,’ some said. But others by-contrast, they said, ‘Definitely not, but that-one is his look-alike.’ Whereupon the man said, ‘I am definitely the one.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘That’s him all right!’ said others.’Excl., no!’ said others. ‘His face just looks the same.’ But that man said, ‘It’s I all right!'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Some said, ‘That’s the one.’ Others said, ‘He looks like him but it isn’t that one.’ But the man who had been blind said, ‘Yes, I am he.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 9:9

Some said may be rendered “some people said.” He is the one may require more specific identification to make the reference perfectly clear. For example, one may say “he is the one who begged” or “… used to beg.”

In some languages a literal rendering of No, he isn’t would have a positive meaning “he is”; therefore it may be necessary to render this expression as “he is not that beggar.”

He just looks like him is equivalent to a reason for the first statement, and so may be rendered “it is only that he resembles the beggar.” In some languages it may be better to treat the two closely related expressions No, he isn’t and he just looks like him as two separate sentences.

The man himself (so also Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New English Bible) is literally “that one.” This translation correctly brings out the force of the Greek and avoids ambiguity.

I am the man is literally “I am,” the same expression by which Jesus sometimes identifies himself with God the Father. Here it is obviously no more than a simple statement of identity. I am the man may be expressed in some languages as “I am the man who used to beg.”

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 .