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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Yhn C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21
Yhn 12 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49
OET (OET-LV) Therefore the Yaʸsous said to_them:
The light is with you_all still a_little time.
be_walking while you_all_are_having the light, in_order_that you_all may_ not _grasp darkness, and the one walking in the darkness, has_ not _known where he_is_going.
OET (OET-RV) Yeshua answered them, “The light will be among you all for just a little bit longer, so get walking while you have the light so that you won’t have to deal with darkness. Anyone walking in the dark doesn’t know where they’re going.
Jesus spoke about his coming death. He said that he was disturbed by what was going to happen, but that was why he came to earth. He prayed that his Father God would reveal his glory in Jesus’ death. God answered that had already revealed his glory and that he would do it again.
Jesus said that the time had now come for God to judge the world and drive out Satan. And Jesus’ death would attract people to him. But the people there were confused because they did not think that the Messiah would die. Jesus told them to believe in the light, which was himself.
Here are some other possible titles for this section:
Jesus’ death will attract people to himself
What Jesus’ death would do
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you.
¶ So Jesus told the crowd, “The light will be among you(plur) just a little while longer.
¶ Then Jesus told the people, “It is only for a short while more that you(plur) will have the/my light.
Then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Then is often translated “therefore.” Many English translations do not translate this word. Others do translate this word. Translate this connection in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
So (ESV)
Jesus told them: The word them refers to the crowd.
For a little while longer, the Light will be among you: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor the Light represents Jesus. He is like light in that he shows/reveals things as they truly are. He reveals the true God to people.
In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Here are some other ways to translate it:
Make it explicit that Jesus is the source of light. For example:
My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. (NLT)
Change the metaphor to a simile and make it explicit that Jesus is the one like the light. For example:
I am like a light that will be with you a little longer.
For just a little more time I, who am like a light which shines on you, will be with you.
a little while longer…will be among you: This phrase indicates that Jesus will be with them just a little while more. (The Greek text emphasizes the phrase a little while longer.) After that, Jesus implied, he would no longer be with them. It may be natural to use the future tense for the verb. For example:
will be with you for a little longer (NCV)
will still be with you for a little while (GW)
Walk while you have the Light,
Keep going while you(plur) still have the light
Continue on your way while you have the light, (GNT)
Walk while you have the Light: The word Walk is a command to keep on going to continue following Jesus, as long as it is possible. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Continue on your way while you have the light (GNT)
Go on your way while you have the light. (NJB)
Walk in the light while you can. (NLT)
while you have the Light: While they still have Jesus with them, the people need to listen to him and believe him. Jesus was implying that he would not always be with them. Refer to how you translated the metaphor of the Light in 12:35a. Also check that your readers understand that Jesus continued to refer to himself. For example:
while I am with you to give you light
so that darkness will not overtake you.
before the darkness reaches you(plur).
so that you(plur) will not find yourself walking in dark places.
so that: This phrase introduces a purpose clause. It introduces the reason why the people should walk in the light.
darkness will not overtake you: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, darkness represents evil. People who do not believe in Jesus will not know the truth about God. So spiritual darkness will overcome them, and they will not know what is true or how they should live. In your translation, help your readers understand the meaning by implying that darkness is an evil thing to be avoided. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
the darkness may not come upon you (GNT)
the darkness will not catch you (NCV)
overtake: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as overtake can mean “to suddenly seize someone like an enemy.” It can also include the idea of overcoming and gaining control over someone or something. The same verb is used in John 1:5b (darkness is unable to overcome the light), Mark 9:18 (an evil spirit seized a boy), and 1 Thessalonians 5:4 (a day cannot overtake you like a thief). Refer to the notes on those verses and use a verb that refers to the sudden arrival of some enemy. For example:
seize you
overcome you
In some languages it may not be natural to talk about “darkness” as though it were a person that can “overtake” or overcome someone. It may be more natural for the pronoun “you” to be the subject of the clause. For example:
so that you will not be suddenly walking in the dark
so that you will not find yourselves walking in dark places
The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
If you(plur) walk in the dark, you will not know/see the way.
The person who walks in the dark cannot see where he is going.
People who walk in dark places do not know where they are going.
The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going: This is a metaphor or illustration of a spiritual truth. In this figure of speech darkness again represents evil. People who refuse to believe in Jesus, the light, are separated from good. They cannot know the truth about God and what he is like. They cannot know how loving and holy he is. They cannot know how he wants them to live. They walk in spiritual darkness.Two English translations, KJV and GNT, supply the word “for” (meaning “because”) before “the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going” (GNT). The Greek conjunction translated “for” usually means “and” (see NJB), though there could be a reason implied here. It is recommended that you follow BSB and not translate this word. However, if a major translation in your area includes a word like “for,” you may want to follow it.
The metaphors of “light” and darkness are important in scripture. So it is recommended that you keep the metaphor in your translation. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:
Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. (NIV)
Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going. (GW)
He who walks when it is dark cannot find the good/right path to walk on.
The BSB follows the Greek and translates this verse part in the third person. In some languages it may be more natural to express the idea in second person. For example:
If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. (NRSV)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τὸ φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν & ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἔτι μικρόν χρόνον Τό φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστίν περιπατεῖτε ὡς τό φῶς ἔχετε ἵνα μή σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ καί ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει)
Jesus uses light to refer to refer to himself. He is “the Light of the World” who reveals God’s truth and goodness the way a light reveals a person’s surroundings. See how you translated light in [8:12](../08/12.md). Alternate translation: [The one who reveals God’s truth and goodness will be with you … while you have him]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person
τὸ φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν & ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἔτι μικρόν χρόνον Τό φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστίν περιπατεῖτε ὡς τό φῶς ἔχετε ἵνα μή σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ καί ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει)
Jesus is speaking of himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these phrases in the first person. Alternate translation: [I, the light, will be with you … while you have me]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
περιπατεῖτε
˓be˒_walking
Jesus uses Walk to refer to how a person lives and behaves. He is telling the crowd to live and act according to the example that he has shown them while he has been with them. If this would be confusing in your language, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [Behave righteously]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
ἵνα μὴ σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ
in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἔτι μικρόν χρόνον Τό φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστίν περιπατεῖτε ὡς τό φῶς ἔχετε ἵνα μή σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ καί ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει)
Jesus uses darkness as though it were a person who could overtake someone. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could express this meaning plainly or with a simile. Alternate translation: [so that you do not act sinfully, as if the darkness of sin had taken control of you]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
σκοτία
darkness
Jesus uses darkness to refer to what is false and evil. See how you translated this term in [1:5](../01/05.md).
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ
¬the the_‹one› walking in the darkness
Jesus uses this phrase to refer to a person who lives a sinful life and behaves sinfully. If this would confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [the one who lives sinfully] or [the one who does not behave righteously]
12:1-50 Two stories build simultaneously. A growing number of people are praising Jesus (this climaxes in 12:12-13), and the authorities are increasingly determined to arrest him and put him to death.
• John records three events that occurred just days prior to Passover (12:1-11, 12-19, 20-36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and details Jesus’ final public appeal (12:37-50).
OET (OET-LV) Therefore the Yaʸsous said to_them:
The light is with you_all still a_little time.
be_walking while you_all_are_having the light, in_order_that you_all may_ not _grasp darkness, and the one walking in the darkness, has_ not _known where he_is_going.
OET (OET-RV) Yeshua answered them, “The light will be among you all for just a little bit longer, so get walking while you have the light so that you won’t have to deal with darkness. Anyone walking in the dark doesn’t know where they’re going.
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.