YHN 19:12 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) After hearing this, Pilate wanted to release him but the Jews yelled out, “If you release that man, you’re no friend of Caesar. Everyone who claims to be a king is no friend of Caesar’s.”

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 At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this one, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

UST From that moment on, Pilate kept trying to release Jesus. However, the Jewish leaders cried out, “If you release this man, you are not loyal to Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

BSB From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this [man], you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”

MSB From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept crying out,[fn] “If you release this [man], you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”

BLB Out of this, Pilate was seeking to release Him; but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar."

AICNT From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

OEB This made Pilate anxious to release him; but the crowd shouted, ‘If you release that man, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who makes himself out to be a king is setting himself against the Emperor!’

WEBBE At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”

WMBB At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Judeans cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”

NET From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!”

LSV From this [time] Pilate was seeking to release Him, and the Jews were crying out, saying, “If you may release this One, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

FBV When Pilate heard this he tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you set this man free you're not Caesar's friend. Anyone who sets himself up as a king is rebelling against Caesar.”

TCNT From that point forward Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If yoʋ release this man, yoʋ are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

T4T Because of that, Pilate kept trying to release Jesus. But the Jewish leaders [SYN], threatening to report to the Emperor that Pilate was not going to punish a man who claimed he was a king, continued to shout, “Anyone who claims that he is a king is opposing the Emperor! So if you release this man, we will make sure that the Emperor learns about it, and then he will not consider you as his friend!”

LEB From this point on Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews shouted, saying, “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar! Everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!”

BBE Hearing this, Pilate had a desire to let him go free, but the Jews said in a loud voice, If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend: everyone who makes himself a king goes against Caesar.

Moff This made Pilate anxious to release him, but the Jews yelled, "If you release him, you are no friend of Caesar's! Anyone who makes himself a king is against Caesar!"

Wymth Upon receiving this answer, Pilate was for releasing Him. But the Jews kept shouting, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's. Every one who sets himself up as king declares himself a rebel against Caesar."

ASV Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.

DRA And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar.

YLT From this [time] was Pilate seeking to release him, and the Jews were crying out, saying, 'If this one thou mayest release, thou art not a friend of Caesar; every one making himself a king, doth speak against Caesar.'

Drby From this time Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried out saying, If thou releasest this [man], thou art not a friend to Caesar. Every one making himself a king speaks against Caesar.

RV Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
(Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou/you release this man, thou/you art not Caesar’s friend: every one that maketh/makes himself a king speaketh/speaks against Caesar. )

SLT From this Pilate sought to loose him: and the Jews cried out, saying, If thou loose this, thou art not Caesar’s friend: every one making himself a king speaks against Caesar.

Wbstr And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend. Whoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar.

KJB-1769 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.
(And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou/you let this man go, thou/you art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh/makes himself a king speaketh/speaks against Caesar. )

KJB-1611 And from thencefore Pilate sought to release him: but the Iewes cried out, saying, If thou let this man goe, thou art not Cesars friend: whosoeuer maketh himselfe a king, speaketh against Cesar.
(And from thencefore Pilate sought to release him: but the Yews cried out, saying, If thou/you let this man go, thou/you art not Caesars friend: whosoever maketh/makes himself a king, speaketh/speaks against Caesar.)

Bshps And from thencefoorth sought Pilate meanes to loose hym. But the Iewes cryed, saying: Yf thou let hym go, thou art not Caesers friend. For whosoeuer maketh hym selfe a kyng, speaketh agaynst Caesar.
(And from thenceforth sought Pilate means to loose him. But the Yews cried, saying: If thou/you let him go, thou/you art not Caesers friend. For whosoever maketh/makes himself a king, speaketh/speaks against Caesar.)

Gnva From thence foorth Pilate sought to loose him, but the Iewes cried, saying, If thou deliuer him, thou art not Cesars friende: for whosoeuer maketh himselfe a King, speaketh against Cesar.
(From thence forth Pilate sought to loose him, but the Yews cried, saying, If thou/you deliver him, thou/you art not Caesars friend: for whosoever maketh/makes himself a King, speaketh/speaks against Caesar. )

Cvdl From that tyme forth Pilate sought meanes to lowse him. But the Iewes cryed, & sayde: Yf thou let him go, thou art not the Emperours frede. For whosoeuer maketh himself kynge, is agaynst the Emperoure.
(From that time forth Pilate sought means to lowse him. But the Yews cried, and said: If thou/you let him go, thou/you art not the Emperors frede. For whosoever maketh/makes himself king, is against the Emperor.)

TNT And from thence forthe sought Pylate meanes to lowse him: but the Iewes cryed sayinge: yf thou let him goo thou arte not Cesars frende. For whosoever maketh hi selfe a kynge is agaynst Cesar
(And from thenceforthe sought Pilate means to lowse him: but the Yews cried saying: if thou/you let him go thou/you art not Caesars friend. For whosoever maketh/makes hi self a king is against Caesar )

Wycl Fro that tyme Pilat souyte to delyuere hym; but the Jewis crieden, and seiden, If thou delyuerist this man, thou art not the emperouris freend; for ech man that makith hym silf king, ayen seith the emperoure.
(From that time Pilate sought to deliver him; but the Yews cried, and said, If thou/you deliverist this man, thou/you art not the emperoris friend; for each man that maketh/makes himself king, again saith/says the emperor.)

Luth Von dem an trachtete Pilatus, wie er ihn losließe. Die Juden aber schrieen und sprachen: Lässest du diesen los, so bist du des Kaisers Freund nicht; denn wer sich zum Könige macht, der ist wider den Kaiser.
(From to_him at/to strives/aspirese Pilatus, as/like he him/it losließe. The Yews but shouted/screamed and said: Lässest you(sg) this go/loose/off, so are you(sg) the Kaisers friend not; because/than who itself/yourself/themselves for_the king(s) power, the/of_the is against the Kaiser.)

ClVg Et exinde quærebat Pilatus dimittere eum. Judæi autem clamabant dicentes: Si hunc dimittis, non es amicus Cæsaris. Omnis enim qui se regem facit, contradicit Cæsari.[fn]
(And exinde was_looking_for Pilatus to_release him. Jews however they_cried saying: When/But_if this_one dimittis, not/no you_are a_friend Cæsaris. Everyone because who/which himself the_king he_does, contradicts Cæsari. )

19.12 Et exinde. Id est, ex hac causa, ne haberet peccatum occidendi innocentem (et si minus illis invidis) quærebat dimittere, non quod tunc primum quæreret, sed si prius volebat modo quærebat. Si hunc dimittis, non es amicus. Supra legem proposuerunt, secundum quam deberet mori, quia Filium Dei se fecit: sed quia ille legem gentis alienæ non timet, sed magis timet occidere Filium Dei, terrent eum a Cæsare, quem non potest ut auctorem potestatis suæ contemnere.

19.12 And exinde. That it_is, from this_way cause, not would_have sin to_kill innocent (and when/but_if minus to_them invidis) was_looking_for to_release, not/no that then first to_seek/search_fort, but when/but_if first/before wanted just/only was_looking_for. When/But_if this_one dimittis, not/no you_are a_friend. Above the_law they_proposed, after/second how to_have_tot to_die, because Son of_God himself he_did: but because he/that_one the_law nation foreign not/no he_is_afraid, but more he_is_afraid to_kill Son of_God, terrent him from Cæsare, which not/no can as author powers his/her_own contemnere.

UGNT ἐκ τούτου ὁ Πειλᾶτος ἐζήτει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν; οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες, ἐὰν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς, οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος. πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν, ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι.
(ek toutou ho Peilatos ezaʸtei apolusai auton; hoi de Youdaioi ekraugasan legontes, ean touton apolusaʸs, ouk ei filos tou Kaisaros. pas ho basilea heauton poiōn, antilegei tōi Kaisari.)

SBL-GNT ἐκ τούτου ⸂ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει⸃ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν· οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι ⸀ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες· Ἐὰν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς, οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος· πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι.
(ek toutou ⸂ho Pilatos ezaʸtei⸃ apolusai auton; hoi de Youdaioi ⸀ekraugasan legontes; Ean touton apolusaʸs, ouk ei filos tou Kaisaros; pas ho basilea heauton poiōn antilegei tōi Kaisari.)

RP-GNT Ἐκ τούτου ἐζήτει ὁ Πιλάτος ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν. Οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι ἔκραζον λέγοντες, Ἐὰν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς, οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος· πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν, ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι.
(Ek toutou ezaʸtei ho Pilatos apolusai auton. Hoi de Youdaioi ekrazon legontes, Ean touton apolusaʸs, ouk ei filos tou Kaisaros; pas ho basilea heauton poiōn, antilegei tōi Kaisari.)

TC-GNT Ἐκ τούτου [fn]ἐζήτει ὁ Πιλάτος ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν. Οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι [fn]ἔκραζον λέγοντες, Ἐὰν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς, οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος· πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα [fn]ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν, ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι.
(Ek toutou ezaʸtei ho Pilatos apolusai auton. Hoi de Youdaioi ekrazon legontes, Ean touton apolusaʸs, ouk ei filos tou Kaisaros; pas ho basilea heauton poiōn, antilegei tōi Kaisari. )

19:12 εζητει ο πιλατος ¦ ο πιλατος εζητει NA SBL ¦ ο πειλατος εζητει TH WH

19:12 εκραζον ¦ εκραυγασαν CT

19:12 εαυτον ¦ αυτον TR

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:28–19:16a: Pilate investigated Jesus and decided that he should die

This section tells how the soldiers took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate. Pilate questioned Jesus to find out why the Jews wanted him to punish Jesus with death. He could find no reason to do that. But the Jewish leaders there insisted that Pilate crucify him. Finally, Pilate agreed that Jesus could be crucified.

Here are other possible section headings:

Pilate questioned the Jews and Jesus and sent Jesus to be crucified

Pilate investigated Jesus and decided that he could be punished with death

Jesus’ trial and judgment before Pilate

This section can be divided into seven smaller pieces, where each piece is a separate event. Jews often arranged written materials to include seven related pieces, where the first and last pieces relate, and the second and sixth relate, and the third and fifth relate. Then the middle piece, the fourth, stands alone and is emphasized. That happens in this section as well. Here is a chart showing the seven pieces of this section and how they relate:

18:28–32: Outside the house; Jews ask for Jesus’ death

18:33–38a: Inside the house; Pilate asks Jesus if he is King of the Jews

18:38b–40: Outside the house; Pilate says, “I find no case against him.”

19:1–3: The soldiers beat Jesus with a whip and pretend that he is the king of the Jews

19:4–8: Outside the house; Pilate says, “I find no case against him.”

19:8–11: Inside the house; Pilate asks Jesus where he came from

19:12–16a: Outside the house; Pilate allows Jews to crucify Jesus

The middle piece, 19:1–3, is different from all the other pieces. Pilate is only mentioned and is not an important person in this event. That is different from all the other pieces. This middle piece therefore is emphasized. The only ones who seem to worship Jesus in the whole section do so in this middle piece. However, they only pretend to worship and are very cruel as they mock Jesus.

In your translation, you may want to find ways to emphasize 19:1–3. Also, try to translate this section in ways that make it possible to see the connections between the pieces.

Paragraph 19:12–16a

This paragraph tells of Pilate’s last attempt to get the Jewish religious leaders to agree to release Jesus. The Jewish leaders threatened him by implying that releasing Jesus would make the emperor angry. So finally Pilate condemned Jesus to death.

19:12a

From then on, Pilate tried to release Him,

¶ From that moment Pilate looked for a way to free Jesus.
¶ Starting then, Pilate made efforts to let Jesus go free,

From then on: The phrase that BSB translates as From then on is more literally “From this.”Several scholars think that this phrase indicates a result. However, the NASB is the only English translation that follows this interpretation (“As a result of this”). Therefore it is strongly recommended that you translate this phrase as a time phrase. The idea of result should be implied in a time phrase anyway. It introduces Pilate’s reaction to what Jesus said in 19:11. This phrase and the tense of “tried” in the following clause indicate that Pilate repeated his trying. Indicate either here or in the next clause that the action is repeated in a natural way in your language. For example:

From this point on (NET)

From that moment (REB)

Starting then

Pilate tried to release Him: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as tried to release Him indicates that Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. He did not do that by trying to remove Jesus’ ropes. His efforts were legal or verbal rather than physical. The tense of the Greek word indicates that he also made repeated efforts. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Pilate made efforts to release him (NASB)

Pilate was anxious to set him free (NJB)

he tried to find a way to set Jesus free (GNT)

19:12b

but the Jews kept shouting,

But the Jewish people there shouted,
but the Jewish crowd loudly threatened him,

but the Jews kept shouting: This clause indicates that the Jews opposed Pilate’s efforts to release Jesus. The word but indicates a contrast between what Pilate wanted and what the Jews wanted. The Greek text emphasizes the phrase the Jews to indicate a change in the topic. For example:

But the Jews, they continued to shout (Kankanaey Back Translation)

But the crowd shouted back (GNT)

the Jews: This phrase here refers to the people gathered at Pilate’s house who accused Jesus. Like Jesus and his disciples, they were Jewish. They included the chief priests and temple guards mentioned in 19:6a. This phrase was used to refer to the same group of people in 18:31, 18:38, and 19:7. See how you translated this phrase in those verses. For example:

some in the crowd (NCV)

the Jewish leaders (NET)

kept shouting: The people shouted to express their opposition to what Pilate was trying to do. Here are other ways to translate this Greek verb:

shouted back (GNT)

yelled (CEV)

19:12c

“If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar.

“If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor’s friend! (GNT)
“If you^(sing) free Jesus, then you are an enemy of the highest ruler Caesar.

If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar: This sentence expresses a condition (If you release this man) and a conclusion (you are no friend of Caesar). The Jews said that if the condition were fulfilled, then the conclusion would be true.

The Jews were trying to persuade Pilate to not release Jesus. They knew that it was important to him to be a friend of the emperor. Not being his friend could result in punishment or even death. So he would not want to do anything that would mean that he was not his friend. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor’s friend! (GNT)

You are not a friend of the emperor if you release this man!

If you release this man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as release means “set free.” For example:

If you set this man free (CEV)

If you free this man (GW)

you: This pronoun here is singular and refers to Pilate.

this man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as this man is more literally “this one.” It is a way to refer to someone that implies that they are not important. Here it refers to Jesus.

you are no friend of Caesar: The phrase no friend of Caesar means “an enemy of the emperor.” The Jews were threatening Pilate. They said that freeing Jesus would be acting like an enemy of the Roman emperor. They implied that the emperor would notice what Pilate did and act to punish him. In some languages it may be natural to use a positive expression. For example:

you are an enemy of the emperor

Caesar: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as Caesar was the family name of the Roman Emperor (king of an empire), and it became a title. It was the emperor who had appointed Pilate to this job and he could also dismiss or execute (punish with death) Pilate. Here are other ways to translate this word:

the emperor

the ruler in Rome (Otomi Back Translation)

our^(incl) King Caesar who is in Rome (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)

19:12d

Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”

Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor.” (CEV)
If a person says he is a king, he is rebelling against Caesar.”

Anyone who declares himself a king: This clause refers to the fact that Jesus claimed (declared) that he was the Messiah. The Messiah was thought to be the “king of the Jews.” Use the term for king that you used in 18:33 and 19:3.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as declares is more literally “makes,” as in 19:7. It implies that the person is not really a king but says he is and acts like a king. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Everyone who claims to be a king (NRSV)

Everyone who makes himself a king (ESV)

Anyone who says, “I am a king”

is defying Caesar: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as is defying means “speaks against.” In this context it refers to rejecting and rebelling against the most powerful ruler. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

is against Caesar (NCV)

is an enemy of the Emperor (CEV)

is a rebel against the Emperor (GNT)

opposes Caesar (NASB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐκ τούτου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐκ τούτου ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν οἱ Δέ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες Ἐάν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος Πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτόν ποιῶν ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι)

Here, this refers to Jesus’ answer. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [When Pilate heard Jesus’ answer]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

οἱ & Ἰουδαῖοι

the & Jews

Here, the Jews refers to the Jewish leaders. See how you translated this term in [1:19](../01/19.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῦτον

this_‹man›

The Jewish leaders say this one as a disrespectful way to refer to Jesus and to avoid saying his name. If your language has a similar way to refer to someone in an indirect but derogatory manner, you may use it here. Alternate translation: [this so-and-so]

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες

cried_out saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [cried out and said]

οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος

not ˱you˲_are ˓a˒_friend ¬the ˱of˲_Caesar

Alternate translation: [you do not support Caesar] or [you are opposing the emperor]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν

˓a˒_king (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐκ τούτου ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν οἱ Δέ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες Ἐάν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος Πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτόν ποιῶν ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι)

See how you translated a similar phrase in [19:7](../19/07.md).