YHN 12:36 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) While you still have the light, believe in the light so that you will become children of light.”
¶ Yeshua said these things and then after leaving them, he was hidden from them.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may be sons of light.”
¶  Jesus said these things, and having departed, was hidden from them.

UST Trust in me, the light that reveals God’s truth and goodness, while I am still with you. Do this in order to be God’s people, those who know his truth and goodness.”
¶  After he said those things, Jesus left them and hid himself from the people.

BSB While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”
§ [After] Jesus had spoken these things, He went away [and] was hidden from them.

BLB While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light." Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, He was hidden from them.

AICNT {While}[fn] you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” Jesus spoke these things, and going away, he hid himself from them.

12:36, while: Some manuscripts read “as.”

OEB While you still have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be children of light.’ After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them.

WEBBE While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

WMBB While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Yeshua said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

NET While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.

LSV while you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, He was hid from them,

FBV Put your trust in the light while you still have it so that you can become children of light.” When Jesus had told them this, he left and hid himself from them.

TCNT While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you will become sons of light.”
¶ After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

T4T Believe in my message [MET] while you still have an opportunity to do it, in order that you may become people who have accepted my truth [MET]!”
¶ After Jesus said those things, he left them and hid from them.

LEB While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said these things, and then he went away and[fn] was hidden from them.

12:36 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went away”) has been translated as a finite verb

BBE In so far as you have the light, put your faith in the light so that you may become sons of light. With these words Jesus went away and for a time was not seen again by them.

Moff While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may be sons of the Light."And Jesus cried aloud, "He who believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me,

Wymth In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." Jesus said this, and went away and hid Himself from them.

ASV While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.
¶ These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.

DRA Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke; and he went away, and hid himself from them.

YLT while ye have the light, believe in the light, that sons of light ye may become.' These things spake Jesus, and having gone away, he was hid from them,

Drby While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may become sons of light. Jesus said these things, and going away hid himself from them.

RV While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.
(While ye/you_all have the light, believe on the light, that ye/you_all may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them. )

SLT While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye might be the sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and having departed, he was hid from them.

Wbstr While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and concealed himself from them.

KJB-1769 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
( While ye/you_all have light, believe in the light, that ye/you_all may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. )

KJB-1611 While ye haue light, beleeue in the light, that ye may bee the children of light. These things spake Iesus, and departed, and did hide himselfe from them.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Whyle ye haue lyght, beleue on the lyght, that ye may be the chyldren of the lyght. These thynges spake Iesus, and departed, & hyd hym selfe from the.
(While ye/you_all have light, believe on the light, that ye/you_all may be the children of the light. These things spake Yesus/Yeshua, and departed, and hid himself from them.)

Gnva While ye haue that light, beleeue in that light, that ye may be the children of the light. These things spake Iesus, and departed, and hid himselfe from them.
(While ye/you_all have that light, believe in that light, that ye/you_all may be the children of the light. These things spake Yesus/Yeshua, and departed, and hid himself from them. )

Cvdl Beleue ye on the light, whyle ye haue it, that ye maye be the children of light. These thinges spake Iesus, and departed awaye, and hyd himself from them.
(Believe ye/you_all on the light, while ye/you_all have it, that ye/you_all may be the children of light. These things spake Yesus/Yeshua, and departed away, and hid himself from them.)

TNT Whyll ye have light beleve on the light that ye maye be the chyldren of light. These thinges spake Iesus and departed and hyd him silfe from them.
(While ye/you_all have light believe on the light that ye/you_all may be the children of light. These things spake Yesus/Yeshua and departed and hid himself from them. )

Wycl While ye han liyt, bileue ye in liyt, that ye be the children of liyt. Jhesus spak these thingis, and wente, and hidde hym fro hem.
(While ye/you_all have light, believe ye/you_all in light, that ye/you_all be the children of light. Yhesus spake these things, and went, and hid him from hem.)

Luth Glaubet an das Licht, dieweil ihr‘s habt, auf daß ihr des Lichtes Kinder seid.
(faitht at/to the light(n), meanwhile hers have, on/in/to that you(pl)/their/her the light(n)s children are.)

ClVg Dum lucem habetis, credite in lucem, ut filii lucis sitis. Hæc locutus est Jesus, et abiit et abscondit se ab eis.[fn]
(While the_light you(pl)_have, believe_me in/into/on the_light, as children light thirsts. This spoke it_is Yesus, and he_went/is_gone and hid himself away to_them. )

12.36 Dum lucem habetis. Id est, dum aliquid veri intelligitis de æternitate Christi, credite in veritatem addendo de humilitate, ut renascamini in veritate. Ab eis. Non ab his qui credere incœperant, sed ab his qui invidebant. Quod abscondit se, nostræ infirmitati consuluit, non suæ potestati derogavit.

12.36 While the_light you(pl)_have. That it_is, while something true do_you_understand from/about eternaltate Christi, believe_me in/into/on the_truth addendo from/about humility, as renascamini in/into/on with_truth. From to_them. Not/No away his who/which to_believe incœperant, but away his who/which invidebant. That hid himself, our infirmitati consuluit, not/no his/her_own power derogavit.

UGNT ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε.
¶  ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἀπελθὼν, ἐκρύβη ἀπ’ αὐτῶν.
(hōs to fōs eⱪete, pisteuete eis to fōs, hina huioi fōtos genaʸsthe.
¶  tauta elalaʸsen Yaʸsous, kai apelthōn, ekrubaʸ ap’ autōn.)

SBL-GNT ⸀ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε. Ταῦτα ⸀ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἀπελθὼν ἐκρύβη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν.
(⸀hōs to fōs eⱪete, pisteuete eis to fōs, hina huioi fōtos genaʸsthe. Tauta ⸀elalaʸsen Yaʸsous, kai apelthōn ekrubaʸ apʼ autōn.)

RP-GNT Ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε. Ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἀπελθὼν ἐκρύβη ἀπ' αὐτῶν.
(Heōs to fōs eⱪete, pisteuete eis to fōs, hina huioi fōtos genaʸsthe. Tauta elalaʸsen ho Yaʸsous, kai apelthōn ekrubaʸ ap' autōn.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε.
¶ Ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν [fn]ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἀπελθὼν ἐκρύβη ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν.
(Heōs to fōs eⱪete, pisteuete eis to fōs, hina huioi fōtos genaʸsthe.
¶ Tauta elalaʸsen ho Yaʸsous, kai apelthōn ekrubaʸ ap autōn. )

12:36 εως ¦ ως CT

12:36 ο ¦ — 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

12:36a

While you have the Light, believe in the Light,

Believe in the light while you^(plur) still have it,
Have^(plur) faith in me as your light while I am still here with you,

While you have the Light: This clause continues the metaphor or illustration. In this metaphor Jesus compares himself to Light that is present, shining, for a little while longer. The way that Jesus is similar to Light is that both show people the truth about things. Jesus shows people the truth about who God is. In some languages a literal translation of this picture may be difficult to understand. As in 12:35a, it may be natural to change the metaphor to a simile and make it explicit that Jesus spoke about himself. For example:

While you have me who is like a light

While you have me with you as your light

you: The word you is plural and refers in general to the people there.

believe in the Light: This clause continues the metaphor of Jesus as light. In some languages it may again be natural to indicate that this was a reference to Jesus. Or if you did that in the previous clause, you may refer back to that clause. For example:

believe in me, your true light

believe in me for I am like a light for you

believe in that light

This clause includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated similar phrases (without the metaphor) in 1:12b, 2:11c, and 3:16b. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

Have faith in the light (CEV)

you should trust in the light (Yakan Back Translation)

General Comment on 12:36a

In many languages it may be natural to reorder these clauses. For example:

Believe in the light, then, while you have it (GNT)

Put your trust in the light while there is still time (NLT)

12:36b

so that you may become sons of light.”

so you^(plur) may become like children of light.”
so you^(plur) will become God’s children, children of the true light.”

so that: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so that introduces the result of believing in the light. Those who believe in the light become children of light.

you may become sons of light: The word you is plural. It refers to the people listening to Jesus, and to anyone who might hear about Jesus and believe. Jesus was saying that those who trusted in him would become like him, his children.

sons of light: The BSB translates the Greek phrase literally as sons of light. The Jewish idiom “sons of (something)” refers to people who are described by that quality. So sons of light are people who live in the light of Jesus and belong to him. Their character is like that of the light. They have God’s character in them, and they love what he loves and hate what he hates. See how the same phrase is used in Luke 16:8, Ephesians 5:8, and 1 Thessalonians 5:5.

In some languages a literal translation of this idiom may be difficult to understand. Here are some other ways to translate it:

General Comment on 12:35–36b

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
you will be like sons/children of the light
Change the metaphor to simile and make explicit the way that they are similar. For example:
you will become like the light, like sons of light
Indicate something of the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:
so that you will become people whose lives are like that of the light
you will become God’s children, children of the true light

The phrase “the Light” does not refer to the sun. It refers to Jesus, the way to truly know God. If your readers might think of the light of the sun, moon, and stars, you should make the meaning clear. It may be possible to imply this by indicating that Jesus is the “true” or “real” light. For example:

The true/real light will be with you just a little longer. Walk in this light while you can….

Section 12:36c–43: The Unbelief of the People

This paragraph discusses the unbelief (lack of belief or faith) of many of those who heard Jesus and saw his miracles. Many of them rejected him, as the Hebrew Scriptures prophesied. Others did believe but remained silent, afraid that they themselves would be rejected.

Here are some other possible titles for this section:

The Jews still did not believe

Many Jews refused to have faith in Jesus

12:36c

After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

¶ After Jesus had said these things, he left and went into hiding. (CEV)
¶ Jesus said all these things, and then went away, out of their sight. (JBP)

After Jesus had spoken these things: This clause indicates that the next event happened immediately or soon after Jesus finished talking about the light. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

After saying these things (NLT)

After these words (REB)

Having said this (NJB)

He went away and was hidden from them: The phrase He went away indicates that Jesus left the people he had been talking to. The phrase went away means “left.” He went to a place that they did not know about so that they could not find him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he went off and hid himself from them (GNT)

Jesus went away from them into hiding. (REB)

Jesus left them and was hidden from their sight. (NJB)

was hidden from them: There are two ways to interpret the Greek verb that the BSB translates as hidden here:

It means “hid himself.” For example:
Jesus left and hid himself from them. (NIV) (NIV, ESV, RSV, NRSV, NASB, CEV, GNT, REB, KJV, NET, NCV)
It means was hidden. It is implied that God the Father was the one who hid Jesus. For example:
Jesus left them and was hidden from their sight. (NJB) (BSB, NLT, NJB, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most English translations.