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?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἠρώτησαν αὐτόν Τί οὖν σύ Ἠλίας Εἶ Καί λέγει οὐκ Εἰμί ὁ προφήτης Εἶ σύ Καί ἀπεκρίθη Οὒ)

Alternate translation: [If you are not the Messiah, then who are you?]

Note 2 topic: translate-names

Ἠλείας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἠρώτησαν αὐτόν Τί οὖν σύ Ἠλίας Εἶ Καί λέγει οὐκ Εἰμί ὁ προφήτης Εἶ σύ Καί ἀπεκρίθη Οὒ)

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

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˱he˲_˓is˒_saying

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

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ προφήτης

the prophet

Here, the Prophet refers to a prophet for whom the Jews were waiting, based on God’s promise to send a prophet like Moses, a promise recorded in Deuteronomy 18:15. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [the prophet whom God promised to send to us]