OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 21:1

21:1a–b

This is a summary statement introducing the next story. See the General Comment on ways to combine 21:1a and b.

21:1a

Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples: This clause introduces the final events in the gospel and indicates where they happened.

Later: This phrase refers to a time after Jesus appeared to Thomas and the other disciples in Jerusalem, as described in 20:19–29. It may have been a week or two later. We do not know exactly how much later it was.Acts 1:3 indicates that the total length of the time Jesus spent on earth after rising from the dead was forty days. Use a general expression that can refer to a few days or a couple of weeks. For example:

Some time later (REB)

Days later

by the Sea of Tiberias: The Sea of Tiberias was the Roman name for the lake that the Jews called Sea of Galilee or Lake Galilee. It was a freshwater (not salty) lake. See the note and how you translated this name in 6:1, where both terms are used. If this lake is known as Lake Galilee in your community, you may want to use that term here. For example:

at Lake Galilee (NCV)

Lake Tiberias (GNT)

If you do that, you will probably want to include a footnote. For example:

The Greek text uses the name “Sea of Tiberias” to refer to the same lake.

Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples: This clause indicates that Jesus came to some of his followers and allowed them to see him. The Greek verb that the BSB translates as revealed Himself also appears in 7:4. See how you translated the word there. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Jesus appeared once more to his disciples (GNT)

Jesus again caused/allowed his followers to see him

again: Jesus showed himself to the disciples twice previously, both times in the room in Jerusalem (20:19–29). This time, he showed himself to the disciples while they were by the sea or lake called Tiberias. This was the first time that Jesus met the disciples there after his resurrection. To avoid the wrong meaning that Jesus appeared there before, you can mention the Sea of Tiberias separately. For example:

Jesus showed himself to his followers again—this time at Lake Galilee. (NCV)

Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias…. (NJB)

the disciples: This phrase refers to seven of Jesus’ 12 closest disciples. The Greek word that the BSB translates as disciples means “learners” who are in a special relationship with a teacher. The learners committed themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and follow his teaching and example. Disciples often lived with their teacher and followed him wherever he went. See how you translated this word in 20:2. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

his disciples (NIV)

his followers (NCV)

21:1b

He made Himself known in this way: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as He made Himself known in this way uses the same verb as in 21:1a. Here is another way to translate this clause:

He appeared in this way

This clause introduces the next event in the story. In some languages it may be more natural to use a different verb rather than repeating the verb from 21:1. For example:

it happened like this: (NJB)

Now this is how he did so. (NET)