OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 1:24

1:24

Then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Then here introduces an explanation. The GNT and some other English translations do not translate this word. The Greek word can also be translated as “also.” For example:

Some Pharisees had also been sent to John. (CEV)

You should introduce this explanation in the way that is most natural in your language.

the Pharisees who had been sent: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as the Pharisees who had been sent can also be translated as “they had been sent from the Pharisees.” There are at least two ways to understand this expression:

1. At least some of the men who were sent were Pharisees. For example:

   Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him (NLT) (BSB, NIV, KJV, REB, GW, NLT, CEV, NCV)

2. The Pharisees sent these people. For example:

   The messengers, who had been sent by the Pharisees (NJB) (NJB, RSV, GNT)

The NASB, ESV, NET, and NRSV can be understood either way. Here is what these translations all say:

they had been sent from the Pharisees

You may be able to translate this in a way that can be understood either way. However, if this is not possible, you may follow interpretation (1) or the national translation. The difficulty with both alternatives above is that in Jesus’ time most priests and Levites were Sadducees and not Pharisees. That was also true of the Jewish religious leaders in general. Probably, the Pharisees did not have the authority to send a group of priests and Levites as representatives. Nor is it probable that all of the men sent to question Jesus were Pharisees. But it is very possible that some of them were. So you may want to follow this example:

Some Pharisees who had been sent asked him

Pharisees: The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully and exactly.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the word Pharisees using the sounds of your language. You may need to indicate that it refers to a group of people. For example:

  Farises

  Farisi members

  Parise followers

• Transliterate the word Pharisees and indicate that it refers to a group of people with certain beliefs. For example:

  people belonging to the Farise religious group

  members of the religious group called the Farasi

If you translate Pharisees in this second way, you will probably want to use a shorter translation after this. You probably do not want to include the full explanation every time you translate the word. You may want to follow one of the first set of examples in the rest of John.

You may want to add a footnote explaining more about the Pharisees, especially if you translated the word the first way. Here is a sample footnote:

The Pharisees was a Jewish religious group. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully.

See Pharisee in KBT.

who had been sent: This is a passive verb phrase. There are several ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

  Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees. (GW)

• Use an active verb. For example:

  The religious leaders had sent some Pharisees.

• Use a noun referring to a group of people sent on a mission. For example:

  some Pharisees in the group of representatives

See the General Comment at the end of 1:25b on how to combine verses 24 and 25.