YHN 20:31 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ταῦτα
2. houtos
3. these things
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····NNP
7. these ‹things›
8. these ‹things›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80932
1. Δέ
2. de
3. On the other hand
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. on_the_other_hand
8. on_the_other_hand
9. S
10. Y33
11. 80933
1. γέγραπται
2. grafō
3. has been written
4. written
5. 11250
6. VIEP3··S
7. ˓has_been˒ written
8. ˓has_been˒ written
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80934
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80935
1. πιστεύητε
2. pisteuō
3. you all may be believing
4. -
5. 41000
6. VSPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ believing
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ believing
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80936
1. πιστεύηται
2. pisteuō
3. -
4. -
5. 41000
6. VSPP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓may_be_being˒ believed
8. ˱it˲ ˓may_be_being˒ believed
9. -
10. -
11. 80937
1. πιστεύσητε
2. pisteuō
3. -
4. -
5. 41000
6. VSAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ believe
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ believe
9. -
10. -
11. 80938
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80939
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 80940
1. Ἰησοῦς
2. iēsous
3. Yaʸsous
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····NMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y33; F80961
11. 80941
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. is
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80942
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80943
1. Χριστός
2. χristos
3. chosen one messiah
4. messiah
5. 55470
6. N····NMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Messiah
9. WN
10. Y33; Person=Jesus
11. 80944
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. -
11. 80945
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80946
1. Υἱός
2. huios
3. son
4. -
5. 52070
6. N····NMS
7. son
8. Son
9. G
10. Y33; Person=Jesus
11. 80947
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. -
11. 80948
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80949
1. Θεοῦ
2. theos
3. of god
4. -
5. 23160
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y33; Person=God
11. 80950
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. But
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80951
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80952
1. πιστεύοντες
2. pisteuō
3. believing
4. -
5. 41000
6. VPPA·NMP
7. believing
8. believing
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80953
1. ζωήν
2. zōē
3. life
4. life
5. 22220
6. N····AFS
7. life
8. life
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80954
1. αἰώνιον
2. aiōnios
3. -
4. -
5. 1660
6. A····AFS
7. eternal
8. eternal
9. -
10. -
11. 80955
1. αἰώνιον
2. aiōnios
3. -
4. -
5. 1660
6. A····AFS
7. eternal
8. eternal
9. -
10. -
11. 80956
1. ἔχητε
2. eχō
3. you all may be having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VSPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may_be˒ having
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80957
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80958
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DNS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80959
1. ὀνόματι
2. onoma
3. name
4. -
5. 36860
6. N····DNS
7. name
8. name
9. -
10. Y33
11. 80960
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. his
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y33; R80941; Person=Jesus
11. 80961

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:30–31: John wrote this book so that people would believe and have life

The author explained that he wrote about Jesus’ signs so that people would believe that he was God’s promised Savior. That way they would have life from him. This is the first conclusion of the gospel.

Here are other possible section headings:

Why John wrote his book

John wrote this book so that people would believe

The purpose of this book

20:31a

But these are written so that you may believe

But these miracles/signs have been recorded/reported so that you^(plur) might believe
But these miracles I wrote/included. Yes, because I want you^(plur) to believe

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But here introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the many signs that the author did not record and the ones that he did record. He recorded certain signs so people would believe in Jesus.

these are written: This is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
But these have been written (GNT)
Use an active verb. You can use a first person pronoun for the subject. For example:
But I have written these things

these: This pronoun refers to the signs or miracles that John did write about in the Gospel of John. These include the miracles that Jesus did, but also (perhaps especially) his resurrection. The Greek text emphasizes this pronoun. For example:

these miracles (GW)

But these however, they have been written (Kankanaey Back Translation)

so that: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so that introduces a purpose. The purpose explains why the author John included certain signs in his gospel. Introduce this purpose in a way that is natural in your language.

you may believe: This clause tells the purpose for John including the signs that he wrote about. He wanted them to believe something. The Greek word that the BSB translates as you may believe probably refers to beginning to believe something.There is a textual issue here, with different manuscripts using two different forms of the word “believe.” Some commentaries say that the form in some manuscripts suggests a meaning of “keep believing.” However, it is difficult to know which word form is original. Also, some commentaries say that John uses both forms to mean both “start to believe” and “keep believing.” (Some translations indicate this by using the English phrase “come to believe,” which means “begin to believe.”) Some of John’s readers did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God. John wanted them to begin believing this. However, most important English translations just say something like you may believe. For example:

you will believe (GW)

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to all the readers or listeners of this book.

20:31b

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, and the son of God.

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: This clause indicates that the author wanted his readers to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Messiah was the one that God had promised to send to save his people. He was the one they could truly call both Christ and the Son of God. These titles accurately indicated who Jesus was, his true identity.

Through all the history of the Jewish people, God had promised to send one who would save them, their Messiah. Now that promised Savior had come. He showed that he was that promised Savior, the Messiah, by rising from the dead. The people of God could believe that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of God. They could believe that because the signs that he gave showed that this was who he truly was.

The expression that the BSB translates as the Christ, the Son of God, indicates that here the Son of God is a title for the Messiah. However, the expression the Son of God is also much more than a title for the Messiah.In 5:25, Jesus used the term “Son of God” to refer to himself. (In other verses in 5:19–26 he just used “Son” with the same meaning.) He used that term to indicate that he had the same nature as God and shared God’s authority. John wanted his readers to believe that Jesus was the Christ. Much more than that, he wanted them to believe that Jesus shared God’s very nature as his Son. See 11:27, where Martha also called Jesus the Christ and the Son of God.

the Christ: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates literally as the Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.” In Old Testament times, kings and priests were anointed with oil, meaning that a religious leader poured oil on their heads. This showed that God had chosen and appointed them as leaders. See how you translated the Christ in 1:20b and 1:41b and see the notes there. In some languages it may be natural to use the Hebrew form. For example:

the Messiah (NRSV)

the Son of God: This phrase is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

See how you translated the phrase the Son of God in 1:34, and see the note there.

General Comment on 20:30b–20:31a

Here there is a contrast between the miracles that the author recorded and those that he did not record. It is good to make that contrast clear in your translation. For example:

Those miracles…these miracles… (GW)

20:31c

and that by believing you may have life in His name.

And so that believing will enable you^(plur) to have true/eternal life through him.
And because I want that when you^(plur) believe, he will cause you to receive true life in him.
I also want you^(plur) to truly live because you are united with him through believing.

and that by believing you may have life in His name: This clause indicates John’s second purpose in recording the miracles in his gospel. He wanted people who read them to receive true life as they believed in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and that believing this you may have life through his name (NJB)

Then, by believing, you may have life through his name. (NCV)

and that: The word that means “in order that” or “so that.” Here it introduces the second reason that John recorded Jesus’ miracle signs in his gospel.

by believing: The Greek word that the BSB translates as by believing is the participle “believing.” It refers to believing that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. That should result in trusting in Jesus. Connect the word believing to the word “believe” in 20:31a by using a form of the same word if possible. In some languages you may need to add an object. For example:

believing this (NJB)

as you believe this/him

you may have life: The word life here refers to real life, life with God. See 1:4, 5:21, 24–26, 39, 40, 6:33–35. In some languages it may be natural to a verb instead of the noun life. For example:

you may truly live

you: This pronoun is plural and refers to all of the readers and listeners of this book.

life: This word refers to the new spiritual life that God gives us when we believe in Jesus. It is the same life as “eternal life” in 3:15. See the note there. Here are other ways to translate this word:

true life (CEV)

the new life (Otomi Back Translation)

in His name: This phrase indicates that it is in Jesus himself that we receive life. At that time, the word name represented the whole person, his character, nature, and authority. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

through his name (NCV)

in him (GNT)

because you are united with him

There are two ways to understand what the phrase in His name connects with:

It connects with “you may have life.” It means that the life is in Jesus’ name. For example:
Then, by believing, you may have life through his name. (NCV) (BSB, NIV, NRSV. RSV, ESV, KJV, NCV, NASB, NET, NJB, REB)
It connects with “believing.” It means that by believing in Jesus’ name that they will have life. For example:
and so that you will have life by believing in him (GW) (NLT, GW, CEV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is followed by most important English translations and also has the support of many commentaries. It is true that believing in Jesus’ name gives life, but that is probably not what John is saying here.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ταῦτα

these_‹things›

Here, these things could mean: (1) the miraculous signs that John wrote about in his Gospel and mentioned in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [these signs] (2) everything that John wrote about in his Gospel. Alternate translation: [everything in this book]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται

these_‹things› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ταῦτα Δέ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστίν ὁ Χριστός ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωήν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [but the author wrote about these things]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / you

πιστεύητε & ἔχητε

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_believing & ˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_having

In this verse you is plural and could refer to: (1) people who are reading this Gospel and do not trust in Jesus for salvation. Alternate translation: [you might believe … you might have] (2) people who are reading this Gospel and already believe in Jesus. Alternate translation: [you would continue believing … you would continue to have]

Note 4 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ταῦτα Δέ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστίν ὁ Χριστός ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωήν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ)

Son of God is an important title for Jesus.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πιστεύοντες

believing

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [believing that Jesus is the Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ζωὴν

Here, life refers to eternal life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. See the UST.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ

in the name ˱of˲_him

Here, in indicates the means by which people can have eternal life. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [by means of his name]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ

in the name ˱of˲_him

Here, his name could refer to: (1) Jesus himself. Alternate translation: [through union with him] or [by the power of his person] (2) calling on Jesus’ name for salvation. Alternate translation: [by calling on his name]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

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.