YHN 12:34 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]So the crowd queried him, “We heard from the scriptures that the messiah will stay until the end of the age so why do you say that humanity’s child will be lifted up? And who is this ‘humanity’s child’?”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains into eternity. And how do you say that it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

UST The crowd of people then replied to him, “We have learned from Scripture that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say that the Son of Man will be lifted up to die on a cross? Who is this ‘Son of Man’ you are speaking about?”

MSB The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. [So] how {can} You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

BLB Then the crowd answered Him, "We have heard from the Law that Christ abides to the age, and how do you say that it behooves the Son of Man to be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"

AICNT The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

OEB ‘We have learned from the Law,’ replied the people, ‘that the Christ is to remain forever. So how can you say that “the Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?’

WEBBE The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

WMBB The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Messiah remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

NET Then the crowd responded, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain forever. How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

LSV the multitude answered Him, “We heard that the Christ remains out of the Law—throughout the age; and how do You say that it is required that the Son of Man be lifted up? Who is this—the Son of Man?”

FBV The crowd responded, “The Law[fn] tells us that the Messiah will live forever, so how can you say the Son of man must be ‘lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of man’?”

12:34 Referring to what we call the Old Testament.

TCNT The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, so how can yoʋ say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

T4T Someone in the crowd answered him, “We understand from the Scriptures that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say that the one who came from heaven, who is the Messiah, will be lifted up {that men will lift up the one who came from heaven, who is the Messiah,} on a cross? What kind of man who came from heaven are you talking about? (OR, That’s not the kind of Messiah we are expecting!)”

LEB Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains _⌊forever_⌋![fn] And how do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

12:34 Literally “for the age”; probably an allusion to Ps 89:35–37 |link-href="None"(in common usage “law” could refer to the entire Old Testament)

BBE Then the people in answer said to him, The law says that the Christ will have life without end: how say you then that it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

Moff So the people answered, "We have learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for ever; what do you mean by saying that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?"

Wymth The crowd answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ remains for ever. In what sense do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is that Son of Man?"

ASV The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

DRA The multitude answered him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth for ever; and how sayest thou: The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

YLT the multitude answered him, 'We heard out of the law that the Christ doth remain — to the age; and how dost thou say, That it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up? who is this — the Son of Man?'

Drby The crowd answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abides for ever; and how sayest thou that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this, the Son of man?

RV The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
(The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth/abides forever: and how sayest/say thou/you, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? )

SLT The crowd answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ remains forever: and how sayest thou That the Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Wbstr The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

KJB-1769 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
(The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth/abides forever: and how sayest/say thou/you, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? )

KJB-1611 The people answered him, We haue heard out of the Law, that Christ abideth for euer: and how sayest thou, The Sonne of man must bee lift vp? Who is this Sonne of man?
(The people answered him, We have heard out of the Law, that Christ abideth/abides forever: and how sayest/say thou/you, The Son of man must be lift up? Who is this Son of man?)

Bshps The people aunswered him: We haue hearde out of the lawe, that Christe bydeth euer: and howe sayest thou, the sonne of man must be lyft vp? Who is that sonne of man?
(The people answered him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ bydeth ever: and how sayest/say thou/you, the son of man must be lift up? Who is that son of man?)

Gnva The people answered him, We haue heard out of the Law, that that Christ bideth for euer: and howe sayest thou, that that Sonne of man must be lift vp? Who is that Sonne of man?
(The people answered him, We have heard out of the Law, that that Christ bideth forever: and how sayest/say thou/you, that that Son of man must be lift up? Who is that Son of man? )

Cvdl Then answered him the people: We haue herde in the lawe, that Christ endureth for euer: and how sayest thou then, that the sonne of man must be lift vp? Who is this sonne of man?
(Then answered him the people: We have heard in the law, that Christ endureth forever: and how sayest/say thou/you then, that the son of man must be lift up? Who is this son of man?)

TNT The people answered him: We have hearde of the lawe that Christ bydeth ever: and how sayest thou then that the sonne of man must be lifte vp? who is that sonne of man?
(The people answered him: We have heard of the law that Christ bydeth ever: and how sayest/say thou/you then that the son of man must be lift up? who is that son of man? )

Wycl And the puple answeride to hym, We han herd of the lawe, that Crist dwellith with outen ende; and hou seist thou, It bihoueth mannys sone to be arerid?
(And the people answered to him, We have herd of the law, that Christ dwelleth/dwells without end; and how sayest/say thou/you, It behoves mannys son to be arerid?)

Luth Da antwortete ihm das Volk: Wir haben gehöret im Gesetz, daß Christus ewiglich bleibe; und wie sagst du denn, des Menschen Sohn muß erhöhet werden? Wer ist dieser Menschensohn?
(So replied him the people: We have belongs/pertains in_the law, that Christ forever would_remain; and as/like say you(sg) because/than, the people son must increased/enhanced become? Who is this peoplesohn?)

ClVg Respondit ei turba: Nos audivimus ex lege, quia Christus manet in æternum: et quomodo tu dicis: Oportet exaltari Filium hominis? quis est iste Filius hominis?[fn]
(Respondit to_him crowd: We we_heard from lawfully, because Christ/Messiah remains in/into/on eternal: and how you(sg) you_say: Oportet to_be_exalted Son of_man? who/any it_is this Son of_man? )

12.34 Et quomodo tu, etc. Quomodo in cruce morietur? Hoc enim eum dixisse putabant quod facere cogitabant. Filium hominis. Quia hoc memoriter tenebant, quod sæpe dixerat se Filium hominis, non quod hic dixisset, si exaltatus fuerit Filius hominis. Quis est iste Filius hominis? Si enim Christus est, manet in æternum. Si manet in æternum, quomodo exaltabitur a terra, id est, morietur in cruce?

12.34 And how you(sg), etc. How/In_what_manner in/into/on stake/cross will_die? This because him to_have_said they_thought that to_do forcesabant. Son of_man. Because this memoriter tenebant, that often had_said himself Son of_man, not/no that this/here would_have_said, when/but_if exalted/highly_spoken_of has_been Son of_man. Who it_is this Son of_man? When/But_if because Christ/Messiah it_is, remains in/into/on eternal. When/But_if remains in/into/on eternal, how will_be_exalted from earth/land, that it_is, will_die in/into/on stake/cross?

UGNT ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου, ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ πῶς λέγεις σὺ, ὅτι δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου? τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου?
(apekrithaʸ oun autōi ho oⱪlos, haʸmeis aʸkousamen ek tou nomou, hoti ho Ⱪristos menei eis ton aiōna, kai pōs legeis su, hoti dei hupsōthaʸnai ton Huion tou Anthrōpou? tis estin houtos ho Huios tou Anthrōpou?)

SBL-GNT ἀπεκρίθη ⸀οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος· Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ πῶς ⸂λέγεις σὺ⸃ ⸀ὅτι δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου;
(apekrithaʸ ⸀oun autōi ho oⱪlos; Haʸmeis aʸkousamen ek tou nomou hoti ho ⱪristos menei eis ton aiōna, kai pōs ⸂legeis su⸃ ⸀hoti dei hupsōthaʸnai ton huion tou anthrōpou; tis estin houtos ho huios tou anthrōpou;)

RP-GNT Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· καὶ πῶς σὺ λέγεις, Δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου;
(Apekrithaʸ autōi ho oⱪlos, Haʸmeis aʸkousamen ek tou nomou hoti ho ⱪristos menei eis ton aiōna; kai pōs su legeis, Dei hupsōthaʸnai ton huion tou anthrōpou; Tis estin houtos ho huios tou anthrōpou;)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· καὶ πῶς [fn]σὺ λέγεις, Δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου;
(Apekrithaʸ autōi ho oⱪlos, Haʸmeis aʸkousamen ek tou nomou hoti ho Ⱪristos menei eis ton aiōna; kai pōs su legeis, Dei hupsōthaʸnai ton huion tou anthrōpou; Tis estin houtos ho huios tou anthrōpou; )

12:34 απεκριθη ¦ απεκριθη ουν CT

12:34 συ λεγεις ¦ συ λεγεις οτι TR ¦ λεγεις συ οτι CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:27–36b: Jesus talked about his death

Jesus spoke about his coming death. He said that he was disturbed by what was going to happen, but that was why he came to earth. He prayed that his Father God would reveal his glory in Jesus’ death. God answered that had already revealed his glory and that he would do it again.

Jesus said that the time had now come for God to judge the world and drive out Satan. And Jesus’ death would attract people to him. But the people there were confused because they did not think that the Messiah would die. Jesus told them to believe in the light, which was himself.

Here are some other possible titles for this section:

Jesus’ death will attract people to himself

What Jesus’ death would do

12:34a

The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever.

¶ The crowd replied/responded to him, “We^(excl) know from our^(excl) Law that the Messiah will live forever,
¶ The crowd said to Jesus, “The Christ will live forever. That is what the Scriptures tell us^(excl).

The Greek text includes a word that indicates a return to the main story after the parenthetical comment in verse 33. Many English translations, including the BSB, do not translate this word. Others use parentheses in verse 33 to mark the beginning and end of the parenthetical comment. Indicate that this is a return to the main story in a way that is natural in your language.

The crowd replied: These words indicate that the crowd responded to Jesus’ statement. They responded by making a statement and then asking Jesus a rhetorical question.

We have heard from the Law: This expression introduces something the crowd had learned from their teachers. They had heard people preaching from the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) and saying that the Messiah would live forever. They understood that when Jesus called himself “Son of Man,” he was saying that he was the Messiah. But they did not understand how Jesus could be the Messiah and be “lifted up” (crucified). Here are other ways to translate this expression:

Our Law tells us (GNT)

We understood from Scripture (NLT)

The Scriptures teach (CEV)

We: The Greek text emphasizes this word. It refers to the crowd and to the Jewish people in general. Even though Jesus was also Jewish, the crowd emphasized the words We and “you,” which indicates a contrast. So the word We does not include Jesus and it is best to translate it as an exclusive pronoun.

the Law: This phrase often refers to the books of Moses, the five books from Genesis through Deuteronomy. Here, however, the people are thinking of the whole Old Testament. In some languages it is more natural to say that. For example:

We have heard from the Scriptures (GW)

the Christ will remain forever: This clause indicates that the Christ, the Promised Savior, will never die. Here is another way to translate this clause:

the Messiah will live forever (GNT)

the Christ: The BSB translates literally the Greek text as the Christ. The Jews used this title to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as King and Savior. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” so the two words have the same meaning: “anointed one.” See KBT, Christ, Messiah, 1a and 2. See how you translated Christ in 1:20 and 4:25. Because the Greek here is Christ, you may want to use that word here, as many English translations do.

General Comment on 12:34a

The crowd was not quoting a specific verse of Scripture. The verse that is the closest to what they say is Psalm 89:36, which says, “His line shall continue forever.” What they say here was just their general understanding of the teaching they had heard. It is probably best to leave this as an indirect quotation if possible. If it is necessary to use the form of a direct quotation, try to be as general as possible. For example:

We have heard that the Law says, “The Messiah shall continue forever.”

12:34b

So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?

so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth’?
You should not say that they must lift up the Son of Man above the earth to die.

So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?: This is a rhetorical question. It was used to emphasize that you cannot say that or possibly to confirm that you cannot say that. The people assumed that once the Messiah came he would live forever. They did not understand that there were other Scriptures that talked about his death. They did not think that the Messiah would die, so what Jesus said confused them.

There are at least two ways to translate this expression:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
So how can it be true that the Son of Man must be lifted up to die’?
What do you mean by saying that the Son of Man must be lifted up? (REB)
Use a statement. For example:
We cannot understand why you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up to die.

you: The Greek text emphasizes the pronoun you. It is singular and refers to Jesus.

the Son of Man: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the Son of Man is more literally “the Son of the human/person.” Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man in 12:23. Jesus used this title to imply two things:

He was a true human being, and he represented all people.
He came from God and had authority from God.

Try to use an expression that implies both meanings and is the same as you used in 12:23. See also KBT Son of Man.

General Comment on 12:34b

This sentence includes an indirect quotation. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as direct speech. For example:

How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? (NET)

12:34c

Who is this Son of Man?”

What ‘Son of Man’ is this?”
What kind of Son of Man are you?”

Who is this Son of Man?: This is a real question. If the Son of Man was the Messiah, the crowd did not understand how he could die. They were confused by what Jesus said and asked him to make things clear. They wanted to know who the Son of Man that Jesus talked about was, what kind of person he was. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Who is this Son of Man you are talking about? (NLT)

What kind of Son of Man is this?

Son of Man: Use the same expression that you used in 12:23 and 12:34b. If you made it clear that this refers to Jesus, it may not be possible to say “Who is this Son of Man?” It may be necessary to translate the question in a different way. For example:

What do you mean by the words/phrase Son of Man?

What does “Son of Man” mean?

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

ὁ ὄχλος

the crowd

See how you translated crowd in [5:13](../05/13.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τοῦ νόμου

the law

The crowd is using the name of the first part of the Hebrew Scriptures, the law, to represent the entire Hebrew Scriptures in general. See how you translated this use of the law in [10:34](../10/34.md). Alternate translation: [the Scriptures]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου

˱it˲_˓is˒_fitting ˓to_be˒_exalted (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίθη Οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστός μένει εἰς τόν αἰῶνα καί πῶς λέγεις σύ ὅτι δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τόν Υἱόν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου Τίς ἐστίν οὗτος ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)

Here, the phrase lifted up means “crucified.” You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [it is necessary for the Son of Man to be crucified]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου & ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπεκρίθη Οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστός μένει εἰς τόν αἰῶνα καί πῶς λέγεις σύ ὅτι δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τόν Υἱόν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου Τίς ἐστίν οὗτος ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)

See how you translated the Son of Man in [1:51](../01/51.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου