YHN 12:24 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ἀμήν
2. amēn
3. Truly
4. -
5. 2810
6. I·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. S
10. Y33
11. 74223
1. ἀμήν
2. amēn
3. truly
4. -
5. 2810
6. I·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74224
1. λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y33; R74209; Person=Jesus
11. 74225
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. to you all
4. you
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R74156
11. 74226
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74227
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74228
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74229
1. κόκκος
2. kokkos
3. seed
4. seed
5. 28480
6. N····NMS
7. seed
8. seed
9. -
10. Y33; F74243; F74246
11. 74230
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74231
1. σίτου
2. sitos
3. of wheat
4. wheat
5. 46210
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ wheat
8. ˱of˲ wheat
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74232
1. πεσών
2. piptō
3. having fallen
4. -
5. 40980
6. VPAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ fallen
8. ˓having˒ fallen
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74233
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. into
4. into
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. into
8. into
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74234
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. the
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74235
1. γῆν
2. gē
3. ground
4. ground
5. 10930
6. N····AFS
7. ground
8. ground
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74236
1. ἀποθάνῃ
2. apothnēskō
3. may die off
4. -
5. 5990
6. VSAA3··S
7. ˓may˒ die_off
8. ˓may˒ die_off
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74237
1. αὐτός
2. autos
3. it
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3NMS
7. it
8. it
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74238
1. μόνος
2. monos
3. only
4. -
5. 34410
6. E····NMS
7. only
8. only
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74239
1. μένει
2. menō
3. is remaining
4. is
5. 33060
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ remaining
8. ˓is˒ remaining
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74240
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. if
4. if
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74241
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. but
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74242
1. ἀποθάνῃ
2. apothnēskō
3. it may die off
4. -
5. 5990
6. VSAA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓may˒ die_off
8. ˱it˲ ˓may˒ die_off
9. -
10. Y33; R74230
11. 74243
1. πολύν
2. polus
3. much
4. -
5. 41830
6. A····AMS
7. much
8. much
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74244
1. καρπόν
2. karpos
3. fruit
4. produce
5. 25900
6. N····AMS
7. fruit
8. fruit
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74245
1. φέρει
2. ferō
3. it is bearing
4. it's
5. 53420
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ bearing
8. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ bearing
9. -
10. Y33; R74230
11. 74246

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:20–26: Some Greeks wanted to meet Jesus

Some Greek people went to Philip to ask to meet Jesus. Jesus responded to the Greeks’ request by giving the illustration of a seed that must die to produce fruit.

Here are some other possible titles for this section:

Some Greek people asked to see Jesus

Some Greeks sought Jesus

12:24a

Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

I tell you the truth, unless a seed/grain of wheat enters the ground and ceases to be a seed,
Listen to this true/important saying: someone must plant/bury a wheat seed in the ground to die,

12:24b

it remains only a seed;

it will remain just that one seed.
or it will always stay just one seed.

12:24a–b

Truly, truly, I tell you: This expression is often used in this Gospel. It introduces something important Jesus wanted to say. He was encouraging his listeners to listen carefully and accept what he said. See how you translated this expression in 5:24 and 8:58. For example:

I tell you the truth (NLT)

I tell you for certain (CEV)

Listen to this true saying

unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as unless is more literally “if not.” Jesus was saying that if a grain of wheat did not fall into the earth and die, it would remain just a single grain. It would only become more than a single grain if it fell into the ground and died. A seed must be buried in the ground, like it was dead, in order to produce a crop.

Jesus was illustrating his own death by comparing it to the way a wheat seed is planted in the ground. It was necessary for him to die in order to bear fruit (bring people into the kingdom of God). However, he did not explain this saying and it is best that you translate it literally. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

if a seed is not buried in the ground, it cannot produce fruit

a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds (NCV)

only if a wheat seed falls into the earth and dies will it become many

a kernel of wheat: The people of Palestine grew a lot of wheat in Jesus’ time and used it to make bread. See how you translated wheat in Luke 3:17, 16:7 and 1 Corinthians 15:37. The kernel is the individual seed that can grow into a new wheat plant. Refer to the wheat seed in a way that is natural in your language. For example

a seed of wheat

A single grain of wheat (GW)

Jesus used a kernel of wheat as an example of a seed that must be buried in the ground in order to produce many seeds. What Jesus said about the kernel of wheat is true for any type of seed. In some cultures where wheat is unknown, it may be more natural to use a different seed. For example:

a rice seed

a maize/corn seed

a seed

falls to the ground: A wheat seed has to enter the earth in order to start to grow and produce other seeds. Use the vocabulary that is natural in your language in this context. For example:

is dropped into the ground

is planted in the soil (NLT)

dies: When a seed is planted it does not literally die. It ceases to exist as a seed and grows into a young plant. A seed that actually dies does not produce more seeds. But Jesus was giving an illustration of his own death and burial.

It is good to translate literally if possible. In some languages it may be strange or impossible to say that a seed that starts to grow is “dying.” If that is true in your language, it may be necessary to use other words. For example:

loses/surrenders its own life

ceases to live as a seed

it remains only a seed: A grain of wheat that is never planted does not become many. It stays the same and will eventually dry up and become useless. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

will never be more than one grain (CEV)

it remains only a single seed (NIV)

it remains alone (ESV)

General Comment on 12:24a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 12:24a–b. For example:

^24ba grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain ^24aunless it is dropped into the ground and dies (GNT)

^24bA single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything ^24aunless it is planted in the ground and dies. (GW)

12:24c

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

But if the seed ceases to live as a seed, it produces a great/large crop.
But if the seed loses its own life, it will produce many more/other seeds.

but: The word but introduces a situation that contrasts with that in 12:24a–b. The result of not dying in 12:24a–b is that the grain of wheat remains a single grain. However, the result of dying in 12:24c is that it bears much fruit.

if it dies, it bears much fruit: These clauses indicate that the wheat seed/grain that is planted grows and then produces many more seeds/grains. It does not, of course, produce fruit like bananas or oranges, which is what the English word usually means. Jesus was comparing his death and burial to what happens to a seed. A seed that is planted becomes many and produces fruit. Jesus was saying that his death would result in many people receiving life. Here are other ways to translate these clauses:

If it does die, then it produces many grains (GNT)

if it dies, it bears a rich harvest (REB)

if it dies: The seed does not literally die but stops existing as a seed. See 12:24a–b. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

if it ceases to exist as a seed

if it loses/surrenders its own life

it bears much fruit: Literally this clause means that a single seed will produce many fruits (whether grains, vegetables, or fruits). Jesus was using this illustration to say that his death would produce many members of God’s kingdom. They would receive life because of his death. But Jesus did not explain this, so it is recommended that you translate this idea literally. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it produces many seeds (NIV)

it will produce lots of wheat (CEV)

General Comment on 12:24a–c

In this illustration, 12:24a–b discusses the negative possibility, that a seed is not planted. 12:24c discusses the positive possibility, that a seed is planted. In some languages it may be natural to discuss the positive before the negative. For example:

^24ca grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. ^24aBut if it never dies, ^24bit remains only a single seed. (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἀμὴν, ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ἐάν μή ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου πεσών εἰς τήν γῆν ἀποθάνῃ αὐτός μόνος μένει ἐάν δέ ἀποθάνῃ πολύν καρπόν φέρει)

Jesus uses this phrase to emphasize the truth of the statement that follows. See how you translated this phrase in [1:51](../01/51.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐὰν μὴ ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου πεσὼν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀποθάνῃ, αὐτὸς μόνος μένει; ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ, πολὺν καρπὸν φέρει

Jesus uses a grain of wheat to refer to himself. He speaks of the death of that grain to refer to his death, burial, and resurrection. He also uses fruit to refer to those people who will trust in him for salvation after his resurrection. Just as a seed is planted and grows into a plant that will bear much fruit, so will many people trust in Jesus after he is killed, buried, and raised back to life. If this would confuse your readers, you could use a simile or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I am like a grain of wheat. Unless that grain of wheat, having fallen into the earth, dies, it remains by itself; but if it would die, it bears much fruit]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Truly
2. -
3. 2810
4. S
5. amēn
6. I-·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. S
10. Y33
11. 74223
1. truly
2. -
3. 2810
5. amēn
6. I-·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74224
1. I am saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y33; R74209; Person=Jesus
11. 74225
1. to you all
2. you
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R74156
11. 74226
1. if
2. -
3. 14370
5. ean
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74227
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74229
1. seed
2. seed
3. 28480
5. kokkos
6. N-····NMS
7. seed
8. seed
9. -
10. Y33; F74243; F74246
11. 74230
1. of
2. wheat
3. 46210
5. sitos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ wheat
8. ˱of˲ wheat
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74232
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74231
1. wheat
2. wheat
3. 46210
5. sitos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ wheat
8. ˱of˲ wheat
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74232
1. may
2. -
3. 5990
5. apothnēskō
6. V-SAA3··S
7. ˓may˒ die_off
8. ˓may˒ die_off
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74237
1. not
2. -
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74228
1. die off
2. -
3. 5990
5. apothnēskō
6. V-SAA3··S
7. ˓may˒ die_off
8. ˓may˒ die_off
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74237
1. having fallen
2. -
3. 40980
5. piptō
6. V-PAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ fallen
8. ˓having˒ fallen
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74233
1. into
2. into
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. into
8. into
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74234
1. the
2. the
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74235
1. ground
2. ground
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····AFS
7. ground
8. ground
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74236
1. only
2. -
3. 34410
5. monos
6. E-····NMS
7. only
8. only
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74239
1. it
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3NMS
7. it
8. it
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74238
1. is remaining
2. is
3. 33060
5. menō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ remaining
8. ˓is˒ remaining
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74240
1. but
2. but
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74242
1. if
2. if
3. 14370
5. ean
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74241
1. it may die off
2. -
3. 5990
5. apothnēskō
6. V-SAA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓may˒ die_off
8. ˱it˲ ˓may˒ die_off
9. -
10. Y33; R74230
11. 74243
1. it is bearing
2. it's
3. 53420
5. ferō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ bearing
8. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ bearing
9. -
10. Y33; R74230
11. 74246
1. much
2. -
3. 41830
5. polus
6. A-····AMS
7. much
8. much
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74244
1. fruit
2. produce
3. 25900
5. karpos
6. N-····AMS
7. fruit
8. fruit
9. -
10. Y33
11. 74245

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 12:24

SR Greek word order