YHN 3:20 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. πᾶς
2. pas
3. everyone
4. everyone
5. 39560
6. S····NMS
7. everyone
8. everyone
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64263
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64264
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. which
4. that
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64265
1. φαῦλα
2. faulos
3. evil
4. -
5. 53370
6. S····ANP
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64266
1. πράσσων
2. prassō
3. doing
4. -
5. 42380
6. VPPA·NMS
7. doing
8. doing
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; F64273; F64283
11. 64267
1. μισεῖ
2. miseō
3. is hating
4. -
5. 34040
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ hating
8. ˓is˒ hating
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64268
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64269
1. φῶς
2. fōs
3. light
4. -
5. 54570
6. N····ANS
7. light
8. light
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64270
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64271
1. οὐκ
2. ou
3. not
4. won't
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64272
1. ἔρχεται
2. erχomai
3. is coming
4. -
5. 20640
6. VIPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ coming
8. ˓is˒ coming
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64267
11. 64273
1. πρός
2. pros
3. to
4. -
5. 43140
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64274
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64275
1. φῶς
2. fōs
3. light
4. -
5. 54570
6. N····ANS
7. light
8. light
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64276
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64277
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64278
1. ἐλεγχθῇ
2. elegχō
3. may be rebuked
4. -
5. 16510
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
8. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64279
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. -
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. -
11. 64280
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64281
1. ἔργα
2. ergon
3. works
4. -
5. 20410
6. N····NNP
7. works
8. works
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64282
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64267
11. 64283
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. -
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. because
8. because
9. -
10. -
11. 64284
1. πονηρά
2. ponēros
3. -
4. -
5. 41900
6. S····NNP
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. -
11. 64285
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ is
8. ˱it˲ is
9. -
10. -
11. 64286

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 3:19–21

Jesus used the metaphors of light and darkness to describe the basis for God’s judgment. The basis is whether we love the darkness or love the light.

Jesus is represented as light. Light usually refers to that which is good. That is why those who love the darkness do evil deeds and hate the light. Those who love the darkness do not want their sins to be known. They also do not want to accept Jesus or allow him to shine truth in their lives. However, those who follow the truth come to Jesus. Jesus will then reveal that they did their good deeds only because of God.

3:20a

Everyone who does evil hates the Light,

For all those who do evil things hate the light
Everyone who does what is evil/wrong hates light.

Everyone who does evil hates the Light: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Everyone who does evil here refers to everyone who does bad things. For example:

Every person who does bad things hates the light

Those who do evil things hate the light (GNT)

hates the Light: This expression here refers to hating the Son of God, who is the light. Jesus was referring to himself, but he did not explain this. So it is better that you do not make it explicit.

Jesus revealed/uncovered people’s evil deeds, and so people who did evil hated him. See the note on 3:19b. This is a figure of speech, a metaphor. In some languages a figure of speech like this is not clearly understood. Here are some other ways to translate this figure of speech:

Retain the figure of speech but make explicit that Light refers to a person. For example:
hate the one who is the light
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
hate the one who is like the light
Explain the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
hate the one who brings light, who shows/tells them the truth

3:20b

and does not come into the Light

and do not come into/toward the light.
They avoid it

does not come into the Light: These people do not want to be near the light. That means that they do not want to come to Jesus and listen to his words. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

avoid it (REB)

refuse to go near it (GNT)

refuse to enter/approach the light

3:20c

for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

They do not want their actions to be seen/revealed.
because they are afraid it will show what they have done.

for fear that his deeds will be exposed: This clause states a negative purpose. It indicates the reason why those who do evil do not come to the light: they want to avoid something. They do not want anyone to see the things that they have done. (The word exposed means that their deeds are uncovered or revealed.) It is implied that these deeds are evil. You may want to make this explicit. For example:

they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up (GNT)

Consider how your language naturally indicates the reason that people try to avoid a situation that they do not want. For example:

so that their deeds will not be exposed (NET)

for fear their sins will be exposed (NLT)

his deeds: The Greek word that the BSB translates as deeds can be translated as a verb phrase instead. For example:

what they have done (CEV)

will be exposed: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as be exposed means “made visible” or “be uncovered.” In this context, the light is what will expose the evil actions. The verb phrase be exposed is passive here. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
to prevent his actions from being shown up (NJB)
Use an active verb. For example:
because it clearly shows what they have done (CEV)
because they fear that the light will reveal the bad/wrong acts that they are doing

Use the verb form that is the most natural in your language.

General Comment on 3:20a–c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:

^20cThose who do evil do not want it to be known. ^20aTherefore they hate the one who is the light, ^20band do not want to go near him.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πᾶς Γάρ ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων μισεῖ τό φῶς καί οὐκ ἔρχεται πρός τό φῶς ἵνα μή ἐλεγχθῇ τά ἔργα αὐτοῦ)

For here indicates another reason why men love the darkness, as stated in the previous verse. People who do evil things hate the light. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [This is because]

πᾶς & ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων

everyone & ¬which evil doing

This phrase refers to someone who habitually does evil things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [everyone who habitually does evil]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ φῶς, καὶ & πρὸς τὸ φῶς

See how you translated the light in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [Jesus, who revealed the true and good things of God, and … to Jesus]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τὸ φῶς, καὶ & πρὸς τὸ φῶς

Jesus is speaking about himself in the third person. If your language does not allow people to speak of themselves in the third person, you may need to specify who the light is. Alternate translation: [me, the light, and … to me]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἵνα μὴ ἐλεγχθῇ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ

in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πᾶς Γάρ ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων μισεῖ τό φῶς καί οὐκ ἔρχεται πρός τό φῶς ἵνα μή ἐλεγχθῇ τά ἔργα αὐτοῦ)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [so that the light might not expose his deeds]

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. For/Because
2. because
3. 10630
4. S
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64264
1. everyone
2. everyone
3. 39560
5. pas
6. S-····NMS
7. everyone
8. everyone
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64263
1. which
2. that
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····NMS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64265
1. doing
2. -
3. 42380
5. prassō
6. V-PPA·NMS
7. doing
8. doing
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; F64273; F64283
11. 64267
1. evil
2. -
3. 53370
5. faulos
6. S-····ANP
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64266
1. is hating
2. -
3. 34040
5. miseō
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ hating
8. ˓is˒ hating
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64268
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64269
1. light
2. -
3. 54570
5. fōs
6. N-····ANS
7. light
8. light
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64270
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64271
1. is
2. -
3. 20640
5. erχomai
6. V-IPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ coming
8. ˓is˒ coming
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64267
11. 64273
1. not
2. won't
3. 37560
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64272
1. coming
2. -
3. 20640
5. erχomai
6. V-IPM3··S
7. ˓is˒ coming
8. ˓is˒ coming
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64267
11. 64273
1. to
2. -
3. 43140
5. pros
6. P-·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64274
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64275
1. light
2. -
3. 54570
5. fōs
6. N-····ANS
7. light
8. light
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64276
1. in order that
2. -
3. 24430
5. hina
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64277
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64281
1. works
2. -
3. 20410
5. ergon
6. N-····NNP
7. works
8. works
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64282
1. of him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus; R64267
11. 64283
1. may be
2. -
3. 16510
5. elegχō
6. V-SAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
8. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64279
1. not
2. -
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64278
1. rebuked
2. -
3. 16510
5. elegχō
6. V-SAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
8. ˓may_be˒ rebuked
9. -
10. Y30; TJesus_and_Nicodemus
11. 64279

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.

OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 3:20