YHN 20:17 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) “Don’t touch me,” Yeshua said to her, “because I haven’t gone back up to the father yet, but go and tell my brothers that I’m going up to my father and the father of you all, and my god and the god of you all.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 Jesus says to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet gone up to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I go up to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.’ ”

UST Jesus told her, “Stop clinging to me, because I have not yet returned to heaven to be with my Father. Go to the disciples, my brothers, and tell them that I am about to return to heaven to be with my God and Father, who is also your God and Father.”

BSB “{Do} not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”

MSB “{Do} not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to My Father.[fn] But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”

BLB Jesus says to her, "Do not touch Me, for not yet have I ascended to the Father. Now go to My brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

AICNT Jesus says to her, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to {the}[fn] Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.’ ”

20:17, the: Some manuscripts read “my.”

OEB ‘Do not hold me,’ Jesus said, ‘for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God.’

WEBBE Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

WMBB Yeshua said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

NET Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

LSV Jesus says to her, “Do not be touching Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; and be going on to My brothers, and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and [to] My God and your God.”

FBV “Don't hold onto me,”[fn] Jesus said to her, “for I haven't yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”

20:17 Meaning “don't detain me by holding me back.”

TCNT Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to [fn]my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

20:17 my ¦ the NA SBL WH

T4T Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to me, because I have not yet returned to my Father. Go to my disciples and tell them, ‘I am about to return to my Father and your Father, to the one who is my God and your God’.”

LEB Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.’ ”

BBE Jesus said to her, Do not put your hand on me, for I have not gone up to the Father: but go to my brothers and say to them, I go up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.

Moff Jesus said, "Cease clinging to me. I have not ascended yet to the Father, but go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and yours, to my God and yours.'"

Wymth "Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But take this message to my brethren: `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

ASV Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.

DRA Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.

YLT Jesus saith to her, 'Be not touching me, for I have not yet ascended unto my Father; and be going on to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and to your God.'

Drby Jesus says to her, Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and [to] my [fn]God and your [fn]God.

20.17 Elohim

RV Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
(Jesus saith/says to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren/brothers, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. )

SLT Jesus says to her, Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: and go thou to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.

Wbstr Jesus saith to her, Touch me not: for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.

KJB-1769 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
(Jesus saith/says unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren/brothers, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. )

KJB-1611 Iesus saith vnto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but goe to my brethren, and say vnto them, I ascend vnto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Iesus saith vnto her: Touche me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father: But go to my brethren, and saye vnto them, I ascende vnto my father and your father, and to my God & your God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva Iesus saith vnto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but goe to my brethren, and say vnto them, I ascend vnto my Father, and to your Father, and to my God, and your God.
(Yesus/Yeshua saith/says unto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren/brothers, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and to your Father, and to my God, and your God. )

Cvdl Iesus sayde vnto her: Touche me not, for I am not yet ascended vnto my father. But go thou yi waye vnto my brethre & saye vnto the: I ascede vp vnto my father and yor father: to my God, & yor God.
(Yesus/Yeshua said unto her: Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended unto my father. But go thou/you ye/you_all way unto my brethren/brothers and say unto them: I ascede up unto my father and your father: to my God, and your God.)

TNT Iesus sayde vnto her touche me not for I am not yet ascended to my father. But goo to my brethren and saye vnto them I ascende vnto my father and youre father to: my god and youre god.
(Yesus/Yeshua said unto her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my father. But go to my brethren/brothers and say unto them I ascend unto my father and your(pl) father to: my god and your(pl) god. )

Wycl Jhesus seith to hir, Nyle thou touche me, for Y haue not yit stied to my fadir; but go to my britheren, and seie to hem, Y stie to my fadir and to youre fadir, to my God and to youre God.
(Yhesus saith/says to her, Not/Don’t thou/you touch me, for I have not yet stied to my father; but go to my brethren/brothers, and say to hem, I ascend/descend to my father and to your(pl) father, to my God and to your(pl) God.)

Luth Spricht JEsus zu ihr: Rühre mich nicht an; denn ich bin noch nicht aufgefahren zu meinem Vater. Gehe aber hin zu meinen Brüdern und sage ihnen: Ich fahre auf zu meinem Vater und zu eurem Vater, zu meinem GOtt und zu eurem GOtt.
(Speakt Yesus to/for you(pl)/their/her: Rühre me not an; because/than I am still not driven to/for my father. Go but there/therefore to/for my brothers and said to_them: I drive on/in/to to/for my father and to/for yours(pl) father, to/for my God and to/for yours(pl) God.)

ClVg Dicit ei Jesus: Noli me tangere, nondum enim ascendi ad Patrem meum: vade autem ad fratres meos, et dic eis: Ascendo ad Patrem meum, et Patrem vestrum, Deum meum, et Deum vestrum.
(Sayit to_him Yesus: Don't me to_touch, not_yet because ascendi to Father mine: go however to brothers mine, and say to_them: Ascendo to Father mine, and Father of_you, God mine, and God of_you. )

UGNT λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς, μή μου ἅπτου, οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα; πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς, ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα μου, καὶ Πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου, καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν.
(legei autaʸ Yaʸsous, maʸ mou haptou, oupō gar anabebaʸka pros ton Patera; poreuou de pros tous adelfous mou, kai eipe autois, anabainō pros ton Patera mou, kai Patera humōn, kai Theon mou, kai Theon humōn.)

SBL-GNT λέγει ⸀αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· Μή μου ἅπτου, οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν ⸀πατέρα· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν καὶ θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν.
(legei ⸀autaʸ Yaʸsous; Maʸ mou haptou, oupō gar anabebaʸka pros ton ⸀patera; poreuou de pros tous adelfous mou kai eipe autois; Anabainō pros ton patera mou kai patera humōn kai theon mou kai theon humōn.)

RP-GNT Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μή μου ἅπτου, οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς, Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν.
(Legei autaʸ ho Yaʸsous, Maʸ mou haptou, oupō gar anabebaʸka pros ton patera mou; poreuou de pros tous adelfous mou, kai eipe autois, Anabainō pros ton patera mou kai patera humōn, kai theon mou kai theon humōn.)

TC-GNT Λέγει αὐτῇ [fn]ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μή μου ἅπτου, οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα [fn]μου· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς, Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν.
(Legei autaʸ ho Yaʸsous, Maʸ mou haptou, oupō gar anabebaʸka pros ton patera mou; poreuou de pros tous adelfous mou, kai eipe autois, Anabainō pros ton patera mou kai patera humōn, kai Theon mou kai Theon humōn. )

20:17 ο ¦ — CT

20:17 μου ¦ — NA SBL WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:11–18: Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene

This section tells how Mary Magdalene remained at the tomb after the two disciples left. She was crying and saw two angels inside the tomb. They asked her why she was crying and she said that someone had taken Jesus’ body. Then she turned around and saw Jesus, but she did not recognize him until he said her name. He told her not to hold him, but to go tell his disciples what she had seen, which she did.

Here are other possible section headings:

Mary Magdalene saw Jesus at the tomb

Jesus’ first resurrection appearance

Mary from Magdala was the first to see Jesus

Paragraph 20:17–18

Jesus told Mary to go and tell the disciples that she had seen him alive. She obeyed him.

20:17a

“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said,

¶ Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to me,
¶ Jesus told her, “You^(sing) must stop holding on to me

Do not cling to Me: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as Do not cling to Me means “You should stop clinging to me.”The verb can mean “touch” (NET, KJV) rather than “hold,” though most important translations and many commentaries think that here it means the latter. The form of the Greek verb has the sense of “stop doing what you are doing.”Almost all important English translations translate it as “Do not cling to me” rather than “Stop clinging to Me” (NASB). However, “Do not cling to me” can mean “Stop clinging to me,” and also “Do not start clinging to me.” It appears that Mary was clinging to Jesus, possibly holding his feet (see Matthew 28:9). This is a command, but it is used as a gentle rebuke. Jesus was saying that Mary should not cling to him, something she was apparently doing. Translate this clause in a way that implies a gentle rebuke. For example:

You^(sing/fem) should stop holding on to me.

You must not cling to me like this.

Jesus said: In the Greek text this is at the beginning of the verse and introduces a direct quotation, a command. If you begin a new paragraph here, it may be natural to make explicit that Jesus was speaking to Mary. Place this quote introducer where it is natural in your language. For example:

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me” (NRSV)

20:17b

“for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

because I have still not gone up to the Father.
because I must still go up to my Father.

for I have not yet ascended to the Father: This clause indicates the reason why Mary should not keep clinging to Jesus. The reason is because Jesus had not yet ascended (gone up) to his Father in heaven. However, it is difficult to understand why that meant that Mary should not cling to him. It is especially difficult to understand because a week later Jesus told Thomas to touch him. However, Jesus does not explain his statement, so your translation does not need to explain it either. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

because I have not yet gone back up to the Father (GNT)

because I have not yet gone up, going home to my Father

because I must go up to where my Father is

for: The Greek connector that the BSB translates as for here introduces a reason. It is the reason why Mary should not keep clinging to Jesus. He had not yet gone back to his Father, and, it is implied, he had to go back. A few translations leave this word implied. For example:

Don’t hold on to me. I have not yet gone to the Father. (GW)

I have not yet ascended to the Father: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as I have not yet ascended to the Father refers to when Jesus would ascend (go up) to heaven. He had said that he would do this in 14:12, 28, 16:10. But at this time he had not done this. The Greek word that the BSB translates as not yet implies that this would happen in the future. In some languages it may be more natural to indicate this using a positive expression. For example:

I will soon ascend to the Father

the time is near/coming when I will go up to the Father

the time for me to ascend to my Father is still future

20:17c

But go and tell My brothers,

Instead, go^(sing) to my brothers, my disciples, and give them this message. Say,
And you^(sing) should go to my dear followers and tell them that

But go: This phrase indicates what Jesus wanted Mary to do instead of clinging to him. He gave her a new responsibility or mission. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Go instead (NIV)

and tell My brothers: This introduces a direct quotation inside the direct quotation of this whole verse. In some languages it is natural to avoid such a direct quotation inside another quotation by using an indirect quotation. See the General Comment on 20:17c–d for examples of how to translate in this way.

My brothers: The phrase My brothers refers to Jesus’ closest disciples, the 11 who remained after Judas left. In this context it does not refer to Jesus’ family members. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

my disciples (CEV)

20:17d

‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

‘I will soon go up to my Father, who is your Father too. He is also my God, and your God too.’”
I am going to my Father and God. He is the one who is also their Father and God.”

I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as I am ascending is present tense, although here it has a future meaning. He would certainly ascend (go up) back to his Father in heaven. The process had already started because he was no longer in the tomb. And Jesus’ ascension (going up to heaven) was certain to happen. Indicate this in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God (CEV)

to My Father and your Father: This phrase indicates that Jesus’ Father was the Father of the disciples also, although in a different sense. Connect the phrases My Father and your Father in a way that indicates Jesus referred to one being, not two. For example:

to the One who is my Father and your Father

to my Father, yes, to your Father

to My God and your God: Jesus continued to speak of his heavenly Father, calling him both My God and your God. Consider how it is natural to refer to the divine being whom one worships. See how you translated the phrase My God in Matthew 27:26. It may be necessary to add a verb. For example:

the God whom I worship, who is also the God whom you worship

General Comment on 20:17d

The phrases “my Father,” “your Father,” “My God,” and “your God” all refer to the one divine being. It is important that this should be clear. For example:

I am returning to the One who is my Father and your Father, who is my God and your God.

Now because of Jesus dying for their sins, they are now sons of God. That means that God is their Father and God, not just Jesus’ Father and God. Here are some ways to translate this idea:

He is now your Father and your God.

Now you also can think of him as your Father and your God.

General Comment on 20:17c–d

This sentence includes a direct quotation inside another quotation. In some languages it may be natural to avoid an inside quotation by using indirect speech instead. For example:

But go to my brothers. Tell them that I am ascending to my Father and their Father, to my God and their God.

But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˓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: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τὸν Πατέρα & τὸν Πατέρα μου & Πατέρα ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγει αὐτῇ Ὁ Ἰησοῦς Μή μού ἅπτου οὔπω γάρ ἀναβέβηκα πρός τόν Πατέρα πορεύου δέ πρός τούς ἀδελφούς μού καί εἰπέ αὐτοῖς Ἀναβαίνω πρός τόν Πατέρα μού καί Πατέρα ὑμῶν καί Θεόν μού καί Θεόν ὑμῶν)

Father is an important title for God.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου

Jesus used the word my brothers here to refer to his disciples. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [my disciples, who are like brothers,]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς, ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα μου, καὶ Πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου, καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν

If the direct quotation inside a direct quotation would be confusing in your language, you could translate the second direct quotation as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [say to them that I go up to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

ἀναβαίνω

Jesus uses the present tense I go up to refer to something that will happen in the near future. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you could use the future tense in your translation. Alternate translation: [I will go up]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα μου, καὶ Πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου, καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν

These two long phrases mean basically the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize to whom Jesus will return. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: [to God, who is my Father and your Father]

Parallel YHN 20:17