OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 7:1

7:1a

After this: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as After this begins a new event in the narrative. See the note on 2:12a, where the same phrase occurs. The phrase does not indicate whether the new story takes place soon after or long after the previous event. However, the festival of Booths (7:2) was about six months after the Passover (6:4). So the events in chapter 7 probably took place about six months after the events in chapter 6. Introduce this new event in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

After that (REB)

Jesus traveled throughout Galilee: Jesus walked around Galilee, visiting and teaching people and staying in various towns and villages. Here is another way to translate this clause:

Jesus traveled in Galilee (GNT)

Galilee: Galilee is a region or province of Palestine. Translate it as you did in 1:43a, where it is first mentioned. For example:

the area/region called Galilee

7:1b

He did not want to travel in Judea: There is a textual issue in this clause.

1. Some Greek manuscripts have a phrase that means “he did not want to.” For example:

   He did not want to travel in Judea (BSB) (ESV, KJV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, GW, GNT, NCV, NLT, REB, NIV, NET, CEV, NABRE)

2. Some Greek manuscripts have a phrase that means “he was not able to.” For example:

   he could not travel round Judaea (NJB) (NJB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has the best manuscript support, and most English translations follow this option. The UBS Committee chose this reading and gave it an A rating, indicating it is almost certain.

The clause He did not want to travel in Judea indicates that Jesus wanted to avoid Judea. He did not want to travel or stay there. The Greek word that the BSB translates as travel means “walk around” or “go to different places.” Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He wanted to stay out of Judea. (NLT)

he decided to avoid Judaea (REB)

purposely staying away from Judea (NIV)

Judea: Judea is the province or region of Palestine where Jerusalem is located. See the note on “the Judean countryside” at 3:22b. In some languages it is more natural to supply here the information that Judea was a region or area. For example:

He deliberately stayed away from the area called Judea.

7:1c

because: The conjunction because here introduces the reason Jesus stayed away from Judea.

the Jews: The phrase the Jews here refers to the Jewish religious leaders. These leaders mainly lived and taught in Jerusalem, in Judea. Refer to the notes on 2:18a and your translation of the Jews there.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the Jewish authorities (GNT)

the Jewish leaders (NET)

were trying to kill Him: These Jewish leaders were looking for an excuse to punish Jesus with death. They were waiting for him to say or do something that would enable them to accuse him of a crime.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

were looking for a chance to kill him (REB)

were waiting to take his life (NIV)

wanted to kill him (NET)

to kill Him: The Jewish leaders did not want to kill Jesus themselves. They wanted the Roman authorities to order his execution (killing as punishment). So it may be natural to translate this phrase in one of these ways:

to cause him to be killed/executed

to persuade the authorities to punish him with death