YHN 1:51 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]And he continued, “Honestly, I’m telling all of you: you’ll be seeing the sky opened up and God’s messengers going up and coming down on me—humanity’s child.”

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 And he says to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

UST Then Jesus said to him, “I am telling you the truth: Just like the vision your ancestor Jacob long ago saw, you will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’s angels going up and coming down on me, the Son of Man.”

BSB Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”[fn]

1:51 Or before long; CT does not include from now on.

1:51 See Genesis 28:12.

BLB And He says to him, "Truly, truly, I say to all of you, you will see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

AICNT And he says to him, “Truly, truly I say to you [[hereafter]],[fn] you will see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

1:51, hereafter: Some manuscripts include. A(02) Latin(e) BYZ TR Syriac(sy)

OEB In truth I tell you,’ he added, ‘you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’

LSB And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING on the Son of Man.”

WEBBE He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth – you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

LSV and He says to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, from now on you will see Heaven opened, and the messengers of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”

FBV Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of man.”[fn]

1:51 Referring to Jacob's experience in Genesis 28:12, with the term “Son of man” replacing the word “ladder.”

TCNT Then he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, [fn]before long you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

1:51 before long 95.9% ¦ — CT 0.7%

T4T Then Jesus said to him, “This is the absolute truth: Just like what your ancestor Jacob saw long ago in a vision, some day you (pl) will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’s angels ascending from me and descending on me, the one who came from heaven.”

LEB And he said to him, “Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

BBE And he said to him, Truly I say to you all, You will see heaven opening and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of man.

Moff He said to him, "Truly, truly I tell you all, you shall see heaven open wide and God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Wymth "I tell you all in most solemn truth," He added, "that you shall see Heaven opened wide, and God's angels going up, and coming down to the Son of Man."
¶ 

ASV And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

DRA And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

YLT and he saith to him, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the messengers of God going up and coming down upon the Son of Man.'

Drby And he says to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of [fn]God ascending and descending on the Son of man.

1.51 Elohim

RV And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
(And he saith/says unto him, Verily/Truly, verily/truly, I say unto you, Ye/You_all shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. )

SLT And he says to him, Amen, amen, I say to you, From henceforth shall ye see heaven opened, and the messengers of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Wbstr And he saith to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

KJB-1769 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
(And he saith/says unto him, Verily/Truly, verily/truly, I say unto you, Hereafter ye/you_all shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. )

KJB-1611 And hee saith vnto him, Uerily, verily I say vnto you, heereafter yee shall see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending vpon the sonne of man.
(And he saith/says unto him, Verily/Truly, verily/truly I say unto you, heereafter ye/you_all shall see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending upon the son of man.)

Bshps And he sayth vnto hym: Ueryly, veryly I say vnto you, hereafter shall ye see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascendyng & descendyng vpon the sonne of man.
(And he saith/says unto him: Verily/Truly, verily/truly I say unto you, hereafter shall ye/you_all see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man.)

Gnva And he saide vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto you, hereafter shall yee see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending vpon that Sonne of man.
(And he said unto him, Verily/Truly, verily/truly I say unto you, hereafter shall ye/you_all see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending upon that Son of man. )

Cvdl And he sayde vnto him: Verely verely I saye vnto you: Fro this tyme forth shal ye se the heauen open, and the angels of God goinge vp & downe ouer the sonne of man.
(And he said unto him: Verily/Truly verily/truly I say unto you: From this time forth shall ye/you_all see the heaven open, and the angels of God going up and down over the son of man.)

TNT And he sayde vnto him: Verely verely I saye vnto you: herafter shall ye se heven open and the angels of God ascendynge and descendynge over the sonne of man.
(And he said unto him: Verily/Truly verily/truly I say unto you: hereafter shall ye/you_all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the son of man. )

Wycl And he seide to hem, Treuli, treuli, Y seie to you, ye schulen se heuene opened, and the aungels of God stiynge vp and comynge doun on mannys sone.
(And he said to hem, Truly, truly, I say to you, ye/you_all should see heaven opened, and the angels of God stiing up and coming down on mannys son.)

Luth Und spricht zu ihm: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch, von nun an werdet ihr den Himmel offen sehen und die Engel Gottes hinauf- und herabfahren auf des Menschen Sohn.
(And speaks/says to/for him: Truly, truly, I said you, from now at/to become you(pl)/their/her the heaven open/plainly see and the angel God’s up- and descend on/in/to the people son.)

ClVg Et dicit ei: Amen, amen dico vobis, videbitis cælum apertum, et angelos Dei ascendentes, et descendentes supra Filium hominis.[fn]
(And he_says to_him: Amen, amen I_mean/say to_you(pl), you(pl)_will_see the_sky open, and messenger/angels of_God ascending, and descendentes above Son of_man. )

1.51 Videbitis cœlum apertum. Nathanæl Isrælita, dicitur visurus apertum cœlum, et angelos Dei descendentes et ascendentes, ut olim patriarcha Jacob vidit scalam, et angelos ascendentes et descendentes, qui per benedictionem vocatus est Isræl. Angelos Dei. Sæpe hoc miraculum apparuit quod angeli ascendebant et descendebant super Christum. Super Filium hominis. Christus dicit se Filium hominis, affirmans quod minus est, scilicet humanitatem, Nathanæl et Petrus Filium Dei, quod majus est, affirmantes divinitatem. Ecce confirmatio utriusque naturæ in Christo. Isti confitentes deitatem, merentur ascendere, ille asserens humanitatem, testatur se ad redimendum venisse. Super Filium hominis. Confirmat se esse hominem ne aliqui errarent, credentes ipsum tantum esse Deum ut etiam Petrus cum dixit: Absit a te, Domine.

1.51 Seebitis sky open. Nathanæl Israelita, it_is_said visurus open sky, and messenger/angels of_God descendentes and ascending, as formerly/once patriarcha Yacob he_saw scalam, and messenger/angels ascending and descendentes, who/which through blessing called it_is Israel. Angelos of_God. Often this miracle appeared that messengers/angels ascendebant and they_were_descending over Christ/Messiah. Above/Over Son of_man. Christ/Messiah he_says himself Son of_man, affirmans that minus it_is, namely humanity, Nathanæl and Peter Son of_God, that greater it_is, affirmantes divinity. Behold confirmsio of_both of_nature in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah. These confessing deitatem, they_deserve to_ascend, he/that_one asserens humanity, testifies himself to to_be_redeemed came. Above/Over Son of_man. Confirmat himself to_be man not some to_errnt, believers him only to_be God as also Peter when/with he/she_said: Absit from you(sg), Master.

UGNT καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, ἀμὴν, ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν, ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου.
(kai legei autōi, amaʸn, amaʸn, legō humin, opsesthe ton ouranon aneōigota, kai tous angelous tou Theou anabainontas kai katabainontas epi ton Huion tou Anthrōpou.)

SBL-GNT καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ⸀ὑμῖν, ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
(kai legei autōi; Amaʸn amaʸn legō ⸀humin, opsesthe ton ouranon aneōigota kai tous angelous tou theou anabainontas kai katabainontas epi ton huion tou anthrōpou.)

RP-GNT Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ' ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
(Kai legei autōi, Amaʸn amaʸn legō humin, ap' arti opsesthe ton ouranon aneōigota, kai tous angelous tou theou anabainontas kai katabainontas epi ton huion tou anthrōpou.)

TC-GNT Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, [fn]ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
(Kai legei autōi, Amaʸn amaʸn legō humin, ap arti opsesthe ton ouranon aneōigota, kai tous angelous tou Theou anabainontas kai katabainontas epi ton huion tou anthrōpou. )

1:51 απ αρτι 95.9% ¦ — CT 0.7%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:43–51: Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to follow him

This section tells how Philip and Nathaniel became disciples of Jesus. Jesus showed them his power to know all things. He told Nathaniel that he had seen him under a fig tree. That showed Nathaniel that Jesus was the Son of God and King of Israel.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to be his disciples/followers

Jesus invited two more men to follow him

Philip and Nathanael became disciples

1:51a

Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you,

He then added, “I tell you^(plur) something true/important.
Jesus also said to them, “I promise you^(plur) this:

Then He declared: This phrase indicates that Jesus continued talking to Nathanael.

Truly, truly, I tell you: The phrase that the BSB translates as Truly, truly, I tell you can also be translated as “Very truly, I tell you,” as in the NRSV. Jesus often used this phrase to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and completely reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Sometimes it introduces a serious warning or something the speaker predicts. Here it introduces a promise.

In some languages you may need to translate the phrase in different ways in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

Here are some ways that English translations have translated the phrase in this context:

In all truth I tell you (NJB)

I am telling you the truth (GNT)

I tell you for certain that… (CEV)

you: The personal pronoun you is plural here. Jesus was speaking to the entire group of disciples gathered there, not just to Nathanael.

1:51b–c

1:51b–c is similar to the dream recorded in Genesis 28:12. In his dream the patriarch Jacob saw a ladder leading up to heaven and God’s angels ascending (going up) to and descending (going down) from heaven. Read the passage in Genesis before translating this verse. You may want to use similar words in both passages in order to help readers make the connection.

1:51b

you will all see heaven open

You^(plur) will see heaven open
You^(plur) will see heaven standing/wide open

you will all see heaven open: The pronoun you is plural here also. The phrase will…see heaven open is a figure of speech. Jesus was indicating that the disciples would receive a revelation from God. It would be like seeing into the spiritual world. See also Acts 7:56 and Revelation 4:1, where the same expression appears. If a literal translation does not give the correct meaning, you may need to say something like this:

it will look like heaven opens

it will be for you like heaven opening up

heaven: The word heaven in this context refers to the spiritual world, where God lives. People understood heaven to be above the earth

1:51c

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

and God’s angels going up to heaven and down to earth by means of the Son of Man.”
and upon the Son of Man, as upon stairs, God’s angels will go up to heaven/God and come down to earth.”

the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man: Verse 1:51c tells what the revelation from God would be: the Son of Man will link or connect heaven and earth. The whole clause is a metaphor. Angels would not literally walk on Jesus (the Son of Man). But God’s truth would be revealed through Jesus because he is the connection between heaven and earth. In some languages you may need to say where the angels ascend (go up) and descend (go down). For example:

on the Son of Man the angels of God will ascend to heaven and descend to earth

the angels of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angels means “messengers.” It refers here to spirit beings who serve God. Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Using a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messengers from God
good/holy spirit-beings sent from God
Using a local term that fits the biblical meaning.
In some areas the churches may already use a borrowed term or a transliterated word for “angel.” Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. You may need to indicate the correct meaning in some way. For example:
an angelos messenger from God
a sacred angelos spirit

Be sure that your term for “angel” is different from your terms for “prophet” and “apostle.” See angel 1. in KBT.

on the Son of Man: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as on the Son of Man:

it indicates that the Son of Man replaces the ladder in Jacob’s dream. For example:
on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth (NLT)
(NLT, probably NJB, CEV note)
it indicates that the Son of Man replaces Jacob in the dream. For example:
to the Son of Man (GW)
(GW)

Most English translations translate literally and say on or “upon” the Son of Man. These translations can be considered ambiguous. And that is a good option. But if you need to choose, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which agrees with many commentators.Interpretation (1) is followed by the UBS Handbook, p. 52, Keener, pp. 489–491, Barrett, p. 187, F.F. Bruce, pp. 62–63, Brown, pp. 89–91, and Tasker, p. 54, who says “[Nathanael] now learns that Jesus is the real ladder by which the gulf between earth and heaven is bridged.” Interpretation (2) is followed by Carson, pp. 63–64, and Beasley-Murray, p. 28.

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 was referring to himself. He used this title to imply two things:

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

Try to use an expression that implies both meanings. Here are some possible translations:

the Human-born

the Man from God/Heaven

the Representative of Mankind

Translators have also used expressions that are more literal. These more literal expressions may be suitable where readers are familiar with a literal title in another translation.

In some languages you may need to use a form like “I” or “me” to indicate that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

me, the Son of Man

I who became man/human

See Son of Man in KBT.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˱he˲_˓is˒_saying

Here John uses the present tense in past narration in order to call attention to a development in the story.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἀμὴν, ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί λέγει αὐτῷ Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὄψεσθε τόν οὐρανόν ἀνεῳγότα καί τούς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καί καταβαίνοντας ἐπί τόν Υἱόν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)

Jesus repeats Truly in order to emphasize the truth of the statement that follows. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you could combine these phrases, forming a separate sentence. Alternate translation: [What I am about to tell you is very true.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / you

λέγω ὑμῖν

˱I˲_˓am˒_saying ˱to˲_you_all

Jesus is using the plural form of you to indicate that he is speaking to all those who are with him at that moment. He is not only speaking to Nathaniel. If it would be misunderstood to your readers, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [I say to all of you here]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας

˱you_all˲_˓will_be˒_seeing (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί λέγει αὐτῷ Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὄψεσθε τόν οὐρανόν ἀνεῳγότα καί τούς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καί καταβαίνοντας ἐπί τόν Υἱόν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου)

Jesus refers to an event described in the book of Genesis. While fleeing from his brother, Jacob had a dream in which he saw angels descending from and ascending to heaven. If it would be helpful to your readers who may not be familiar with the story, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [just as Jacob saw in his vision, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου

Jesus is referring to himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person, as in the UST.

Note 6 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples