OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 4:44

4:44

Now: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Now here introduces some background information. In some languages it is more natural to leave this word untranslated or use parentheses. For example:

(Jesus had said before that a prophet is not respected in his own country.) (NCV)

Jesus said previously that there is no prophet whom others in his town respect.

It is hard to know the connection between this verse and verse 43. Scholars give many suggestions about this connection. A big question is why Jesus would go to Galilee if they would not honor him there. In 4:1–3, we saw that Jesus left Judea because he was popular there. He wanted to avoid conflict with the Pharisees. Perhaps that was his motive here. Or perhaps he wanted to prove that a prophet has no honor in his country. Or perhaps, because he had received honor in Judea, he now needed to minister in Galilee.

He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown: This is an indirect quotation of something Jesus had said earlier (see notes on Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24). In some languages it may be natural to use direct speech. For example:

Jesus had said, “A prophet has no honor in his own country.”

As Jesus was referring to prophets in general, it may be natural to use the plural form. For example:

Jesus had said, “Prophets are honored everywhere, except in their own country.” (NCV)

had testified: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as had testified indicates that Jesus had told the truth about something that he knew from personal experience. It is a form of the same word that is translated as “testimony” in 4:39b. See the note there. Here are other ways to translate this verb here:

had said (GNT)

declared that (REB)

a prophet: A prophet is a person who receives a message directly from God. He then tells people what God revealed to him.

Here are some ways to translate prophet:

a messenger from God

a man/person who speaks God’s words

God’s message-speaker

Consider how you will translate words that are similar in meaning, such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.” See KBT Prophet 1(a) and see how you translated this word in 1:21d and 4:19b.

has no honor: The Greek word that the BSB translates as honor means “honor,” “respect,” or “status.” In some languages it may be more natural to use a verb, either active or passive. For example:

no one honors

is not respected (GNB)

his own hometown: It is difficult to know whether his own hometown refers here to Galilee or to Judea. It is best to translate this phrase literally.