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Yhn C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21

Yhn 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V34 V35 V36

OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 3:11

◄ ← YHN (JHN) 3:11 ↓ → ► ║ ≡ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    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. Ἀμήν
    2. amēn
    3. Truly
    4. -
    5. 2810
    6. I·······
    7. truly
    8. truly
    9. S
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64059
    1. ἀμήν
    2. amēn
    3. truly
    4. -
    5. 2810
    6. I·······
    7. truly
    8. truly
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64060
    1. λέγω
    2. legō
    3. I am saying
    4. -
    5. 30040
    6. VIPA1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
    8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64061
    1. σοί
    2. su
    3. to you
    4. -
    5. 47710
    6. R···2D·S
    7. ˱to˲ you
    8. ˱to˲ you
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64062
    1. ὅτι
    2. hoti
    3. that
    4. that
    5. 37540
    6. C·······
    7. that
    8. that
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64063
    1. ὅ
    2. hos
    3. what
    4. -
    5. 37390
    6. R····ANS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64064
    1. οἴδαμεν
    2. eidō
    3. we have known
    4. know
    5. 14920
    6. VIEA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
    8. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64065
    1. λαλοῦμεν
    2. laleō
    3. we are speaking
    4. -
    5. 29800
    6. VIPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ speaking
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64066
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. and
    4. and but
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64067
    1. ὅ
    2. hos
    3. what
    4. -
    5. 37390
    6. R····ANS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64068
    1. ἑωράκαμεν
    2. horaō
    3. we have seen
    4. seen
    5. 37080
    6. VIEA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ seen
    8. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ seen
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64069
    1. μαρτυροῦμεν
    2. martureō
    3. we are testifying
    4. -
    5. 31400
    6. VIPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ testifying
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ testifying
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64070
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. and
    4. -
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64071
    1. τήν
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····AFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64072
    1. μαρτυρίαν
    2. marturia
    3. testimony
    4. testimony
    5. 31410
    6. N····AFS
    7. testimony
    8. testimony
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64073
    1. ἡμῶν
    2. egō
    3. of us
    4. our
    5. 14730
    6. R···1G·P
    7. ˱of˲ us
    8. ˱of˲ us
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64074
    1. οὐδείς
    2. oudeis
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 37620
    6. R····NMS
    7. no_one
    8. no_one
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 64075
    1. οὒ
    2. ou
    3. not
    4. aren't
    5. 37560
    6. D·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64076
    1. λαμβάνετε
    2. lambanō
    3. you all are receiving
    4. you
    5. 29830
    6. VIPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64054; R64035
    11. 64077

OET (OET-LV) Truly, truly, I_am_saying to_you that we_are_speaking what we_have_known, and we_are_testifying what we_have_seen, and you_all_are_ not _receiving the testimony of_us.

OET (OET-RV) It’s true that we just teach what we know, and explain what we’ve seen ourselves, but you people aren’t accepting our testimony.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

This section tells about how a Pharisee called Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus that all people need God to change them. Nicodemus could be sure that Jesus was speaking the truth because Jesus came from God.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told a Pharisee that he needed to change

Everyone must be born again

All people need God to give them a new birth/life

Paragraph 3:9–15

In this paragraph, in verse 10, Jesus began to talk about his authority. He claimed that he had the right to teach about God because he had come from God. In ancient Greek, quotation marks were not used, so it is not always easy to tell where a quotation ends. Different translations end Jesus’ speech at different points. Here are the possibilities:

  1. Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:21. (NASB, NRSV, ESV, NIV84, REB, NJB, NLT, NCV)

  2. Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:15. (RSV, NET, GW, NIV11)

  3. Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:13. (GNT)

It is not clear where the KJV and CEV end the quotation. It is recommended that you follow most English translations and end Jesus’ speech at the end of verse 21.

3:11a

Truly, truly, I tell you,

Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus used the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Truly, truly, I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. See 3:3a.

you: This pronoun is singular. Jesus was speaking specifically to Nicodemus.

3:11b–c

we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen: The two ideas we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen are very similar. This repetition is a way that the Hebrew language emphasizes what is said. In some languages the ideas may need to be combined. For example:

I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. (CEV)

3:11b

we speak of what we know,

we speak of what we know: The word we is exclusive. It does not include Nicodemus. In this context there are several ways to interpret this pronoun:

  1. we means “Jesus and his followers”

  2. we just means “I,” that is, Jesus.

  3. we means “John the Baptist and Jesus.”

  4. we means “the Father and the Son.”

  5. we means “Jesus and believers,” that is, the church.

Scholars have very different interpretations. It is recommended that you translate this as we exclusive, without saying exactly to whom it refers.

3:11c

and we testify to what we have seen,

testify to what we have seen: This expression means “tell about what we have seen.” The pronoun we is again exclusive. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

report what we have seen (GNT)

General Comment on 3:11b–c

There is not much difference between the two verbs “speak” and “testify” in this context. In some languages it is more natural to say it just once. For example:

11b–cwe know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves (CEV)

3:11d

and yet you people do not accept our testimony.

and yet: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as yet here shows contrast and surprise. Jesus certainly knew what the truth was. In spite of this, the people did not accept the testimony. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

but still (NIV)

you people do not accept: The pronoun you is plural here. Jesus probably referred to the people that Nicodemus included in his “we” in 3:2. These people did not believe that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

you won’t believe (NLT)

our testimony: The pronoun our is exclusive here. It does not include Nicodemus. For the various possibilities of whom it does include, see the note on 3:11b.

testimony: The Greek word that the BSB translates as testimony refers to a report about what someone witnessed. Here is another way to translate this word:

what we(excl) tell you (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἀμὴν, ἀμὴν, λέγω σοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοί ὅτι ὅ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν καί ὅ ἑωράκαμεν μαρτυροῦμεν καί τήν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν οὒ λαμβάνετε)

Jesus uses this phrase to emphasize the truth of the statement that follows. See how you translated this phrase in [3:3](../03/03.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ὃ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν & τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοί ὅτι ὅ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν καί ὅ ἑωράκαμεν μαρτυροῦμεν καί τήν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν οὒ λαμβάνετε)

When Jesus says we and our in this verse, he was not including Nicodemus. Jesus used these pronouns as a contrast to Nicodemus saying we in [3:2](../03/02.md). While Nicodemus used we to refer to himself and the other Jewish religious leaders, Jesus could have been referring to: (1) himself and his disciples. Alternate translation, as in the UST: [my disciples and I speak what we know … our testimony]; (2) himself and the other members of the Godhead. Alternate translation: [the Father, Spirit, and I speak what we know … our testimony]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / you

οὐ λαμβάνετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοί ὅτι ὅ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν καί ὅ ἑωράκαμεν μαρτυροῦμεν καί τήν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν οὒ λαμβάνετε)

The word you is plural and could refer to: (1) the Jewish people in general. Alternate translation: [you Jews]; (2) Nicodemus and his fellow Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: [you Jewish leaders do not welcome]

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

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Truly
    2. -
    3. 2810
    4. S
    5. amēn
    6. I-·······
    7. truly
    8. truly
    9. S
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64059
    1. truly
    2. -
    3. 2810
    5. amēn
    6. I-·······
    7. truly
    8. truly
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64060
    1. I am saying
    2. -
    3. 30040
    5. legō
    6. V-IPA1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
    8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64061
    1. to you
    2. -
    3. 47710
    5. su
    6. R-···2D·S
    7. ˱to˲ you
    8. ˱to˲ you
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64062
    1. that
    2. that
    3. 37540
    5. hoti
    6. C-·······
    7. that
    8. that
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64063
    1. we are speaking
    2. -
    3. 29800
    5. laleō
    6. V-IPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ speaking
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ speaking
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64066
    1. what
    2. -
    3. 37390
    5. hos
    6. R-····ANS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64064
    1. we have known
    2. know
    3. 14920
    5. eidō
    6. V-IEA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
    8. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64065
    1. and
    2. and but
    3. 25320
    5. kai
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64067
    1. we are testifying
    2. -
    3. 31400
    5. martureō
    6. V-IPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ testifying
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ testifying
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64070
    1. what
    2. -
    3. 37390
    5. hos
    6. R-····ANS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64068
    1. we have seen
    2. seen
    3. 37080
    5. horaō
    6. V-IEA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ seen
    8. ˱we˲ ˓have˒ seen
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64069
    1. and
    2. -
    3. 25320
    5. kai
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64071
    1. you all are
    2. you
    3. 29830
    5. lambanō
    6. V-IPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64054; R64035
    11. 64077
    1. not
    2. aren't
    3. 37560
    5. ou
    6. D-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64076
    1. receiving
    2. you
    3. 29830
    5. lambanō
    6. V-IPA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ receiving
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64054; R64035
    11. 64077
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····AFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64072
    1. testimony
    2. testimony
    3. 31410
    5. marturia
    6. N-····AFS
    7. testimony
    8. testimony
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
    11. 64073
    1. of us
    2. our
    3. 14730
    5. egō
    6. R-···1G·P
    7. ˱of˲ us
    8. ˱of˲ us
    9. -
    10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64045; Person=Jesus
    11. 64074

OET (OET-LV) Truly, truly, I_am_saying to_you that we_are_speaking what we_have_known, and we_are_testifying what we_have_seen, and you_all_are_ not _receiving the testimony of_us.

OET (OET-RV) It’s true that we just teach what we know, and explain what we’ve seen ourselves, but you people aren’t accepting our testimony.

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.

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◄ ← YHN (JHN) 3:11 ↑ → ► ║ ≡ ©