OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 20:1

20:1a

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark: This time expression introduces the story of how Jesus’ followers learned that Jesus rose from the dead and was alive. It introduces this story by indicating the day and time of day. So this is the introduction to the climax or most important part of the book. Consider how it is natural to lead up to a significant change or climax. It may be natural to use short clauses or sentences, adding verbs. For example:

The first day of the week began. It was still dark when…

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark.

The first day of the week arrived/began. It was not yet dawn.

See the General Comment following 20:1b for suggestions of how to rearrange this information.

Early…while it was still dark: The story begins very early in the morning, before the sun rose.Mark 16:2 talks about three women, including Mary Magdalene, going to the tomb “when the sun had risen.” However, this could mean that it was dark when they started and the sun had risen by the time they arrived. Or it could be referring to the second time that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb (see 20:11–17). See also Matthew 28:1. Use the expression that is natural in your culture to indicate this time period. It may be natural to combine the two expressions Early and while it was still dark. For example:

In the darkness of the early morning

Before the sun rose

Early: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Early here refers to a time at the beginning of a morning. It does not have the meaning “too soon.” In some languages it may be natural to say:

Early in the morning

At the start of the day

while it was still dark: This clause indicates that it was still so early that people could not see well. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

before it was light

before becoming light

the sun had not yet risen

on the first day of the week: The Jews began their week with Sunday and ended it with Saturday. So the phrase the first day of the week refers to Sunday. You may want to include this information. It is important to do this if your readers consider that another day is the first day of the week. For example:

on Sunday morning (GW)

If you use footnotes, you may want to translate literally and indicate in a footnote that this refers to Sunday. For example:

This refers to Sunday.

20:1b

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb: One of Jesus’ followers, Mary Magdalene, arrived at the cave where Jesus was buried. She probably traveled on foot, walking from the place where she was staying. The distance was likely less than a mile. Use the verb that is most natural in your language. For example:

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb (NRSV)

Mary Magdalene went walking to the burial cave.

Mary Magdalene: Mary Magdalene was present at the cross and watched Joseph and Nicodemus bury Jesus (Matthew 27:56, 61, Mark 15:47). The word Magdalene means “from the village called Magdala.” Translate this name as you did in 19:25. For example:

Mary of Magdala (REB)

Mariyam, the woman from Magdala (Yakan Back translation)

In your translation of this phrase, be aware that Mary did not come from Magdala that morning. She was originally from Magdala, but was probably staying in a house in Jerusalem. She did not have to go far to get to the tomb. It was in a garden close to the place where they crucified Jesus (19:41–42), which was just outside Jerusalem.

the tomb: The word tomb refers to the place where Jesus had been buried. Tombs in Jerusalem were usually man-made caves cut into the sides of rocky hills. Inside was a stone shelf for the body. The entrance to the tomb was a large hole that could be closed with a round stone. See how you translated the word tomb in 19:41b, 42b. Because this is the beginning of a new chapter, it may be natural to indicate which tomb this was. For example:

Jesus’ tomb

the tomb where they had buried/placed Jesus

20:1c

and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance: Mary Magdalene saw that there was no stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb. The hole that formed the entrance was open. Apparently the stone was now lying nearby (see Matthew 28:2). Mary understood that someone must have moved the stone. In some languages it is more natural to say what she actually saw. For example:

saw that the entrance of the tomb was now open. Someone had removed the stone.

saw that the stone was no longer in its place in front of the entrance to the tomb

This clause tells a very important part of the story in the book of John. What it tells is not expected. It may be natural to translate this important information as a separate sentence or sentences. For example:

Mary saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

What she saw was that the tomb was open. The stone no longer covered the entrance hole.

Into her view/sight came/appeared the tomb. There was no stone at its entrance. It had been rolled away.

the stone had been removed from the entrance: This is a passive clause. An angel had moved the stone (Matthew 28:2), but Mary did not know this. It happened before she arrived (Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2). There are at least two ways to translate this clause:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

  the stone had been moved away from the tomb (NJB)

• Use an active verb. For example:

  Someone had rolled the stone away from the entrance.

  The stone was no longer in front of the entrance to the tomb.

  The stone was gone from the entrance hole to the tomb

stone: This word here refers to the large round stone that was used to close the entrance. Because this is the first time John mentioned the stone, it may be natural to tell what stone this is. For example:

the stone that was at the entrance to the tomb

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that the stone was large. It was so large that a person could not easily move it. For example:

the large stone (NCV)

from the entrance: This phrase here means “from the entrance to the tomb.” This entrance had been covered by a large stone or rock. The entrance was shorter than a door, but an adult man could enter if he stooped or bent down. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

from the entrance of the tomb/cave

from the hole where one entered the tomb/cave