OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 1:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ἠρώτησαν

˱they˲_asked

Here, they refers to “the Jews,” mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state it explicitly. Alternate translation: “the Jews asked”

τί οὖν?

what therefore

Alternate translation: “If you are not the Messiah, then who are you?”

Ἠλείας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτόν τί οὖν σὺ Ἠλίας εἶ καὶ λέγει οὐκ εἰμί ὁ προφήτης εἶ σύ καὶ ἀπεκρίθη οὔ)

Elijah was a prophet whom the Jews expected to return to earth shortly become the arrival of the Messiah.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˱he˲_/is/_saying

Here John uses the present tense in past narration in order to call attention to a development in the story.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ προφήτης

the prophet

Here, the Prophet refers to a prophet the Jews were waiting for, based on God’s promise to send a prophet like Moses, which is recorded in Deuteronomy 18:15. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: “the prophet whom God promised to send to us”