John the Baptist

The name that is transliterated as “John (the Baptist)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language as “baptize” (source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. ).


“John the Baptist” in Mexican Sign Language (source: BSLM )

In German Sign Language (Catholic) it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying a Catholic baptism by sprinkling on the head.


“John” in German Sign Language /catholic, source: Taub und katholisch

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “shout,” referring to John 1:23. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in French Sign Language, it is “prepare the way.” (Source: Lexique – Explications en langue des signes)

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign for leaping in the womb (see Luke 1:41) and baptism. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“John” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

A question of cultural assumptions arose in Tuvan. The instinctive way to translate this name denotatively would be “John the Dipper,” but this would carry the highly misleading connotation that he drowned people. It was therefore decided that his label should focus on the other major aspect of his work, that is, proclaiming that the Messiah would soon succeed him. (Compare his title in Russian Orthodox translation “Иоанн Предтеча” — “John the Forerunner.”) So he became “John the Announcer,” which fortunately did not seem to give rise to any confusion with radio newsreaders! (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

In Noongar it is translated as John-Kakaloorniny or “John Washing” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

A new oral translation into Yao / Ciyawo, spoken in Mozambique, uses John the one who ceremoniously washes/pours water, using a term (kusingula) that “indicates a ceremonial washing or pouring of water on a person in the Yawo’s expression of Islam which can be used for an act done in repentance of sin.” (Source: Houston 2025, p. 236)

See also John the Baptist (icon) and learn more on Bible Odyssey: John the Baptist .

John the Baptist (icon)

Following is a Syriac Orthodox icon of John the Baptist from the 18/19th century (found in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Yabrud, Syria).

 
The wings are often depicted in icons of John the Baptist because of his status as a messenger. The scroll that John the Baptist holds quotes John 1:29 and reads (translated into English): “I saw and witnessed concerning him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’”

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also John the Baptist.

complete verse (Matthew 14:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 14:2:

  • Uma: “That is why he said to his workers: ‘That Yesus there [out of sight] is surely Yohanes the Baptizer! He has come back alive! That’s why he has power to do miracles.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Herod said to his titled-ones (officials), ‘That man is really Yahiya who bathed people. He has come back to life. That’s why he can do those powerful deeds.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Herod said to his servants, ‘This Jesus, certainly he is John the Baptist come back to life. That’s why his power is great to do miracles.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and he said to his officials, ‘This one is Juan the Baptizer who has come-to-life again. That’s the reason that he has power to be doing these amazing-things.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Herodes said to his officials/aids, ‘That is none other than Juan who was baptizing. He has come to life again. Therefore he can do those amazing things.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Herod said to those people who worked where he lived: ‘I think that he is John who baptized and now has resurrected. Therefore he is able to do miracles,’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 14:2

And continues the narration. “Then” is also possible. Other translators have found it more natural to restructure verses 1 and 2 slightly: “1 People were talking about the things that Jesus was doing. When Herod the ruler of Galilee heard these reports, 2 he said to his officials….”

The he of he said is Herod, not Jesus.

Servants translates the noun first used in 2.16; most recently it occurred in 12.18. Here the persons referred to are Herod’s court officials, and New Jerusalem Bible uses the collective term “his court.” New English Bible renders “his attendants,” and Phillips translates “his men.”

This is John the Baptist (so also New English Bible) is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure, which explains the restructuring of Good News Translation: (“He is really John the Baptist”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“This is John the Baptist himself”). It may be necessary to render This as “Jesus” or “this man Jesus.”

For John the Baptist, see comments on 3.1.

He has been raised from the dead (New English Bible “John has been raised to life”) is a passive construction, and many languages more naturally use an active sentence, such as “God has raised him back to life.” However, in order to avoid having Herod refer to God directly, a sentence such as “he is alive again,” “he has risen from the dead” (New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, An American Translation), or “who has come back to life” (Good News Translation) may be better.

That is why these powers are at work in him reflects a popular belief among the Jews and others that a person who has come back from the dead possesses unusual powers which enable him to perform miracles. Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1st edition translates “That is why he can perform such miracles”; Good News Translation has “That is why he has this power to perform miracles.” For comments on “miracles,” see 7.22. “That is why he can do such mighty acts” or “That is why he has this power to do such acts” are also renderings that may be natural here.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .