YHN 1:31 Parallel Verse View

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

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 And I did not know him, but so that he might be revealed to Israel, because of this, I came baptizing in water.”

UST I did not know who he was at first. Nevertheless, I have been baptizing people with water for the very purpose of revealing him to the people of Israel.”

BLB And I did not know Him. But so that He might be revealed to Israel, because of this, I came baptizing with water."

AICNT And I did not know him, but in order that he might be revealed to Israel, for this reason I came baptizing in water.”

OEB I did not know who he was, but I have come baptising with water to make him known to Israel.’

LSB I did not know Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing with water.”

WEBBE I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptising in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”

WMBB I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came immersing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”

NET I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

LSV and I did not know Him, but that He might be revealed to Israel, because of this I came immersing in water.”

FBV I didn't know myself who he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

TCNT I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

T4T I myself did not previously recognize that he was the Messiah. But now I know who he is, and I have baptized people with water to enable you people of Israel to recognize who he is.”

LEB And I did not know him, but in order that he could be revealed to Israel, because of this I came baptizing with water.”

BBE I myself had no knowledge of him, but I came giving baptism with water so that he might be seen openly by Israel.

Moff I myself did not recognize him; I only came to baptize with water, in order that he might be disclosed to Israel."

Wymth I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water."

ASV And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.

DRA And I knew him not, but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

YLT and I knew him not, but, that he might be manifested to Israel, because of this I came with the water baptizing.

Drby and I knew him not; but that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore have I come baptising with water.

RV And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing with water.
(And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptising with water. )

SLT And I knew him not: but that he might be manifested to Israel, for this I came immersing in water.

Wbstr And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

KJB-1769 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
(And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptising with water. )

KJB-1611 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therfore am I come baptizing with water.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps And I knewe hym not: but that he shoulde be declared to Israel, therfore am I come, baptizing with water.
(And I knew him not: but that he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptising with water.)

Gnva And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.
(And I knew him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptising with water. )

Cvdl and I knewe him not: but that he shulde be declared in Israel, therfore am I come to baptyse with water.
(and I knew him not: but that he should be declared in Israel, therefore am I come to baptise with water.)

TNT and I knew him not: but that he shuld be declared to Israell therfore am I come baptisynge with water.
(and I knew him not: but that he should be declared to Israell therefore am I come baptising with water. )

Wycl And Y knew hym not, but that he be schewid in Israel, therfor Y cam baptisynge in watir.
(And I knew him not, but that he be showed in Israel, therefore I came baptising in water.)

Luth Und ich kannte ihn nicht, sondern auf daß er offenbar würde in Israel, darum bin ich kommen, zu taufen mit Wasser.
(And I knew him/it not, rather on/in/to that he apparently would in Israel, therefore am I coming, to/for baptise with water.)

ClVg et ego nesciebam eum, sed ut manifestetur in Israël, propterea veni ego in aqua baptizans.[fn]
(and I nesciebam him, but as manifest in/into/on Israel, therefore I_came I in/into/on water baptizans. )

1.31 Ut manifestetur. Hic est agnus qui tollit peccata, quod non ego quem etiam melius modo novi, sed propterea baptizo ut manifestetur Isræli. Ne enim propter insolentiam minus baptizarentur a Christo in spiritu, usu baptizandi ei viam paravit, unde postquam ad ipsum, qui via est, ventum est, baptismus ejus cessat. In baptismo etiam Joannis manifestatur humilitas Christi, quæ est impletio totius justitiæ; sicut enim opus est Christum nasci et mori, sic et baptizari. Si enim ipse qui non eget a servo baptizatur, non dedignentur quantumcunque sapientes et sancti a Domino baptizari, sine quo permanent in peccatis. Baptizans. Christus a Joanne baptizatur, ut indicetur omnis humilitas quæ est omnis justitia. Sed non solus, ne baptisma Joannis sanctius et majus, in quo Deus homo baptizatus est, videretur baptismo Christi, in quo homines baptizantur. Baptizantur autem alii a Joanne, ut usus baptizandi præparet viam baptismo Christi.

1.31 As manifest. Here/This it_is lamb who/which takes_away sins, that not/no I which also better just/only new, but therefore baptizo as manifest Israeli. Don't because because insolentiam minus baptizarentur from to_Christ/Messiah in/into/on in_spirit, usu baptizandi to_him way/road paravit, from_where/who after to him, who/which way/road it_is, the_wind it_is, baptismus his ceases. In baptism also Yoannis obvioustur humility Christi, which it_is fillsio of_the_whole justice; like because work/need it_is Christ/Messiah to_be_born and to_die, so and baptizari. When/But_if because exactly_that/himself who/which not/no needs from server/keeper baptizatur, not/no dedignentur quantumcunque wise_people and holy from Master baptizari, without where permanent in/into/on sins. Baptizans. Christ/Messiah from Yoanne baptizatur, as indicateur everyone humility which it_is everyone justice. But not/no alone, not baptism Yoannis sanctius and greater, in/into/on where God human baptised/immersed it_is, it_would_seem baptism Christi, in/into/on where people/men baptizantur. Baptizantur however others from Yoanne, as use(n) baptizandi beforeparet way/road baptism Christi.

UGNT κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο, ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων.
(kagō ouk aʸdein auton, all’ hina fanerōthaʸ tōi Israaʸl dia touto, aʸlthon egō en hudati baptizōn.)

SBL-GNT κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ⸀ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων.
(kagō ouk aʸdein auton, allʼ hina fanerōthaʸ tōi Israaʸl dia touto aʸlthon egō ⸀en hudati baptizōn.)

RP-GNT Κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν· ἀλλ' ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραήλ, διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ὕδατι βαπτίζων.
(Kagō ouk aʸdein auton; all' hina fanerōthaʸ tōi Israaʸl, dia touto aʸlthon egō en tōi hudati baptizōn.)

TC-GNT Κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν· ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραήλ, διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν [fn]τῷ ὕδατι βαπτίζων.
(Kagō ouk aʸdein auton; all hina fanerōthaʸ tōi Israaʸl, dia touto aʸlthon egō en tōi hudati baptizōn. )

1:31 τω ¦ — CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:29–34: John the Baptist saw Jesus and said that he was the Lamb of God

This section is the most important part of what John the Baptist said about Jesus. Here John identified Jesus as God’s sacrifice for sin. John declared that Jesus was the one on whom the Spirit came down, and that Jesus was the Son of God.

Here are other possible section headings:

John the Baptist saw Jesus and told people that he was the Lamb of God

John the Baptist told about who Jesus was

Jesus was the Lamb of God

1:31a

I myself did not know Him,

I myself did not recognize him.
Until now, I did not recognize him as the Christ/Messiah,

I myself did not know Him: We can assume that John knew Jesus, because he was a relative (their mothers were related, perhaps cousins, as seen in Luke 1:36). However, previously he did not know that Jesus was the promised Messiah. For example:

I did not know who he was (GW)

I did not recognize him as the Messiah. (NLT)

1:31b–c

the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel: The Greek words that the BSB translates as the reason here indicate purpose. John’s purpose in baptizing people was to reveal Jesus the Messiah to the people of Israel. At first John himself may not have realized that this was his purpose. God showed it to him when he baptized Jesus. Here are other ways to translate 1:31b–c:

I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel. (NET)

I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel. (GW)

I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel. (GNT)

1:31b

but the reason I came baptizing with water was

But the reason I came baptizing people with water was
but I baptized people with water

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but introduces something that is not expected. John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah (1:31a). So we do not expect that he will reveal the Messiah to Israel (1:31b). Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural for your language.

I: This pronoun refers to John the Baptist. He baptized with water as a way of preparing people for the coming of the Messiah.

baptizing with water: This phrase means to wash people with a special ritual that uses water. Baptizing people indicated that God had made them morally pure. See the note on 1:26.

1:31c

that He might be revealed to Israel.”

so that the people of Israel would see/understand who he is.”
so that the people of Israel would recognize him.”

that He might be revealed to Israel: The pronoun He refers to the man who was greater than John. He was the man who was the Chosen Savior or Messiah. John was to tell the people of Israel that the Messiah had arrived.

The verb phrase He might be revealed is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
so that he might be manifested to Israel (NASB)
Use an active verb. For example:
so that the people of Israel would know who he is (NCV)

Translate this using the verb form that is most natural in your language.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἀγώ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραήλ διά τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγώ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων)

Here, him refers to Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [And I did not know Jesus]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν

John means that he did not know previously that Jesus was the Messiah. It does not mean that he didn’t know who Jesus was, because Jesus was his cousin. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [And I did not know that he was the Messiah]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο

in_order_that ˓may_be˒_revealed ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἀγώ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραήλ διά τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγώ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων)

John uses the redundant words so that and because of this to emphasize the reason why he was baptizing people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine these phrases and indicate the emphasis. Alternate translation: [for the exact purpose that he might be revealed to Israel]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ Ἰσραὴλ

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἀγώ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραήλ διά τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγώ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων)

John uses the name of the nation, Israel, to represent the people who belong to that nation. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to the Israelites]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τοῦτο

Here, this refers to the revealing of the Messiah to Israel that is mentioned in the previous clause. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [because he might be revealed]

Parallel YHN 1:31

Section 1:29–34: John the Baptist saw Jesus and said that he was the Lamb of God

1:31a

1:31b–c

1:31b

1:31c