YHN 12:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

OET (OET-RV) But he didn’t say this because he cared for poor people, but because he carried the purse for the group and used to steal from it.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 (Now he said this, not because it was a concern to him about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the moneybag, he was stealing the things being put in it.)

UST (Judas did not say this because he cared about poor people. Rather, he said this because he was a thief. He kept charge of the bag that held their money, but he would steal the money that people gave him to put in the bag.)

BSB [Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into [it].

BLB But he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief; and having the money bag, he used to pilfer that being put into it.

AICNT He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief and, having the money box, he used to take what was put into it.

OEB He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it.

WEBBE Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)

LSV And he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and what things were put in he was carrying.

FBV He wasn't saying this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was the one who looked after the disciples' money and he often took some for himself.

TCNT (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was the keeper of the moneybag and would pilfer what was put into it.)

T4T He said that, not because he cared about the poor people, but instead, because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the bag of funds that people gave to help Jesus and us his disciples, and he often stole some of the money that was {that people} put into it.

LEB (Now he said this not because _⌊he was concerned_⌋[fn] about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)[fn]

12:6 Literally “it was a concern to him”

12:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE (He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it.)

Moff (Not that he cared for the poor; he said this because he was a thief, and because he carried the money-box and pilfered what was put in.)

Wymth The reason he said this was not that he cared for the poor, but that he was a thief, and that being in charge of the money-box, he used to steal what was put into it.

ASV Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.

DRA Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein.

YLT and he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and what things were put in he was carrying.

Drby But he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and carried what was put into [it].

RV Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.

SLT And this he said, not that care was to him for the poor: but because he was a thief, and had the small coffer, and carried things deposited.

Wbstr This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bore what was put in it.

KJB-1769 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

KJB-1611 This he said, not that he cared for the poore: but because hee was a thiefe, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps This he sayde, not that he cared for the poore: but because he was a thiefe, and had the bagge, and bare that which was geuen.
(This he said, not that he cared for the poor: but because he was a thief, and had the bagge, and bare that which was given.)

Gnva Nowe he said this, not that he cared for the poore, but because hee was a theefe, and had the bagge, and bare that which was giuen.
(Now he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bagge, and bare that which was given. )

Cvdl (This sayde he not that he cared for the poore, but because he was a thefe, and had the bagge, and bare that which was geue.)
((This said he not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bagge, and bare that which was geue.))

TNT This sayde he not that he cared for the pooer: but because he was a thefe and kept the bagge and bare that which was geven.
(This said he not that he cared for the pooer: but because he was a thief and kept the bag and bare that which was given. )

Wycl But he seide this thing, not for it perteynede to hym of nedi men, but for he was a theef, and he hadde the pursis, and bar tho thingis that weren sent.
(But he said this thing, not for it perteynede to him of needy men, but for he was a thief, and he had the pursis, and bar those things that were sent.)

Luth Das sagte er aber nicht, daß er nach den Armen fragte, sondern er war ein Dieb und hatte den Beutel und trug, was gegeben ward.
(The said he but not, that he after the poor_(one) asked, rather he what/which a thief and had the bag/purse and wore/brought, what/which given was.)

ClVg Dixit autem hoc, non quia de egenis pertinebat ad eum, sed quia fur erat, et loculos habens, ea quæ mittebantur, portabat.[fn]
(He/She_said however hoc, not/no because from/about egenis pertinebat to him, but because a_thief was, and loculos having, them which sendbantur, gate/doorbat. )

12.6 Non quia, etc. Quantum ad suam intentionem ad eum non pertinebat de egenis, quia non curabat de ipsis, non quia commissum esset ei dispensare pauperibus. Loculos habens, etc. Cui ministrant angeli, loculos habet in sumptus pauperum, condescendens infirmis.

12.6 Not/No because, etc. Quantum to his_own intention to him not/no pertinebat from/about egenis, because not/no carebat from/about themselves, not/no because commissum was to_him dispensare to_the_poor. Loculos having, etc. To_whom ministrant messengers/angels, loculos has in/into/on sumptus of_the_poor, condescendens sick/weak.

UGNT εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο, οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ’ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.
(eipen de touto, ouⱪ hoti peri tōn ptōⱪōn emelen autōi, all’ hoti kleptaʸs aʸn, kai to glōssokomon eⱪōn ta ballomena ebastazen.)

SBL-GNT εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλʼ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ⸀ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.
(eipen de touto ouⱪ hoti peri tōn ptōⱪōn emelen autōi, allʼ hoti kleptaʸs aʸn kai to glōssokomon ⸀eⱪōn ta ballomena ebastazen.)

RP-GNT Εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο, οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ' ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχεν, καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.
(Eipen de touto, ouⱪ hoti peri tōn ptōⱪōn emelen autōi, all' hoti kleptaʸs aʸn, kai to glōssokomon eiⱪen, kai ta ballomena ebastazen.)

TC-GNT Εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο, οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον [fn]εἶχε, καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.
(Eipe de touto, ouⱪ hoti peri tōn ptōⱪōn emelen autōi, all hoti kleptaʸs aʸn, kai to glōssokomon eiⱪe, kai ta ballomena ebastazen. )

12:6 αλλ ¦ αλλα HF SCR

12:6 ειχε και ¦ εχων CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–8: Mary anointed Jesus

This section describes what happened at a dinner party in Bethany at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Mary anointed (poured perfume/oil on) Jesus’ feet. Judas thought that she wasted something very valuable, but Jesus said that it was for his burial. Here are some other possible titles for this section:

Jesus was anointed in Bethany

Mary anointed Jesus for his burial

Paragraph 12:4–8

This paragraph describes Judas’ reaction to what Mary had done. He said that she wasted something valuable that could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, the truth was that he wanted to steal the money. But Jesus defended Mary. He understood that she had anointed him to prepare him for his death and burial.

12:6a–b

Some English translations put 12:6a–b in parentheses to show that this is not part of the main story but is additional information. The author John was the one who provided this information. The verse explains why Judas said what he did in 12:5. Consider how it is natural to indicate that this verse is additional information in your language.

12:6a

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.
But in fact Judas said that because he was a thief. He did not say that because he cared about poor people because he did not care about them.

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief: These clauses explain why Judas suggested that they should help the poor. He wanted to encourage others to give generously to the poor. However, his reason for what he said was not because he wanted to help the poor. Instead, he said it because he hoped to steal some of the money.

Judas did not say this: The word this refers to what Judas said in 12:5. There he said that the money from selling the perfume should have been given to the poor.

not…because: This phrase introduces what was not the reason that Judas said what he did.

he cared about the poor: This clause indicates that Judas did not say what he did because he cared about (was concerned about) poor people. He did not really care for their welfare. In your translation it should be clear that Judas did not want to help poor people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

He said this, not out of any concern for the poor (REB)

Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor (NET)

Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor (GW)

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but here connects a negative statement (not because he cared about the poor) to a positive statement (because he was a thief). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

Use the conjunction but as in the BSB.
He said this, not out of any concern for the poor, but because he was a thief (REB)
He did not say this because he cared about poor people, but because he was a thief
Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:
He said this not because he cared about poor people, rather/instead he was a thief
Do not use a conjunction. For example:
Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief (NLT)
Change the order of the clauses. For example:
He said that because he was a thief, not because he cared about poor people.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

because: This word here introduces the true reason why Judas wanted people to give money to the poor.

he was a thief: The word thief here refers to a person who secretly takes money that does not belong to him. Judas was not a professional thief or burglar. He stole money that he was supposed to protect. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language.

General Comment on 12:6a

In some languages a literal translation may suggest that Judas did care about the poor; it was just not the reason that he spoke. If that is true in your language, it may be necessary to reorder the information to avoid this wrong meaning. For example:

But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. (NCV)

12:6b

As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

He was in charge of the group’s money bag and used to steal some of the money that people put into it.
He was in charge of the disciples’ money/finances and had the habit of taking some of the contributions/money for himself.

As keeper of the money bag: This clause indicates that Judas was in charge of the disciples’ finances. He was supposed to take care of the money that they used to buy food for them all. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he was in charge of the disciples’ money (NLT)

He was the one who kept the money box (NCV)

he carried the moneybag (CEV)

the money bag: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as the money bag refers to a small bag that held the money for Jesus and his followers. The group shared the money that was in it; it did not belong to any one person. Here is another way to make this clear:

the disciples’ money (NLT)

used to take: The phrase used to take indicates that Judas often stole some of the money from the disciples’ money bag. He took money from it to use for himself alone. For example:

he often stole some for himself (NLT)

he often stole from it (NCV)

and sometimes would steal from it (CEV)

what was put into it: This phrase refers to the money that people gave Jesus and his disciples. The disciples used this money to buy what they needed, like food. It appears from this story that they also gave some of the money to poor people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the coins that people gave for it

the money kept in it (REB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

In this verse John interrupts the story to explain why Judas made the statement in the previous verse. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

εἶπεν & τοῦτο, οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ’ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν

˱he˲_said & this not that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Δέ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περί τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ ἀλλʼ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καί τό γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τά βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [he said this because he was a thief, not because it was a concern to him about the poor]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τῶν πτωχῶν

the poor

See how you translated the poor in the previous verse.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλ’ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν

but because ˓a˒_thief ˱he˲_was

John is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the previous clause. Alternate translation: [but he said this because he was a thief]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὰ βαλλόμενα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπεν Δέ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περί τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ ἀλλʼ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καί τό γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τά βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν)

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: [what people gave him to put in it]

BMM BibleMapper.com Maps:

Map

Jesus’ Final Journey to Jerusalem

Much like the difficulties of discerning the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land (see here), the task of reconciling the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem into one coherent itinerary has proven very challenging for Bible scholars. As with many other events during Jesus’ ministry, the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (often referred to as the Synoptic Gospels) present a noticeably similar account of Jesus’ final travels, while John’s Gospel presents an itinerary that is markedly different from the others. In general, the Synoptic Gospels present Jesus as making a single journey to Jerusalem, beginning in Capernaum (Luke 9:51), passing through Perea (Matthew 19:1-2; Mark 10:1) and Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-19:10), and ending at Bethany and Bethphage, where he enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44). John, on the other hand, mentions several trips to Jerusalem by Jesus (John 2:13-17; 5:1-15; 7:1-13; 10:22-23), followed by a trip to Perea across the Jordan River (John 10:40-42), a return to Bethany where he raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11), a withdrawal to the village of Ephraim for a few months (John 11:54), and a return trip to Bethany, where he then enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey (John 12:1-19). The differences between the Synoptics’ and John’s accounts are noteworthy, but they are not irreconcilable. The Synoptics, after noting that Jesus began his trip at Capernaum, likely condensed their accounts (as occurs elsewhere in the Gospels) to omit Jesus’ initial arrival in Jerusalem and appearance at the Festival of Dedication, thus picking up with Jesus in Perea (stage 2 of John’s itinerary). Then all the Gospels recount Jesus’ trip (back) to Bethany and Jerusalem, passing through Jericho along the way. Likewise, the Synoptics must have simply omitted the few months Jesus spent in Ephraim to escape the Jewish leaders (stage 4 of John’s itinerary) and rejoined John’s account where Jesus is preparing to enter Jerusalem on a donkey.

Map

Bethany and Bethphage

Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:1-19; see also Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9

At the start of Passover one week before he was crucified, Jesus and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem, approaching the city from the east. When they arrived at the village of Bethphage, Jesus mounted a donkey and rode down the Mount of Olives as a humble king entering his capital city. Along the way, many people laid branches and cloaks in his path to welcome him. After Jesus entered the city, he immediately went up to the Temple and drove out the moneychangers and merchants there, and he healed the blind and the lame. Then he traveled nearly two miles outside the city to the village of Bethany to spend the night, which appears to have been where he typically lodged each night while visiting Jerusalem during the crowded Passover festival. Bethany is also where Jesus’ close friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. One evening while Jesus was there at a large dinner party given in his honor, Martha served the food, and Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

Parallel YHN 12:6