YHN 3:17 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 For God did not send the Son into the world so that he might condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

UST This is true because God did not send me, his Son, into the world in order to declare the world’s people guilty. Rather, God sent me in order to save the world’s people by me.

BSB For God {did} not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

BLB For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

AICNT For God did not send {the}[fn] Son into the world in order to judge the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

3:17, the: 𝔓66 𝔓75 ℵ(01) B(03) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “his.” 𝔓63 A(02) Latin(a b e ff² ) Syriac(sy) BYZ TR

OEB For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

LSB For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

WEBBE For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(16-18)“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

NET For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

LSV For God did not send His Son into the world that He may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through Him;

FBV God didn't send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

TCNT For God did not send [fn]his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

3:17 his ¦ the CT

T4T When God sent his Son into the world, his purpose was not to punish the people in [MTY] the world for their sins. Instead, he sent him in order that they might be saved by him {he might save them} from being ◄guilty/punished► for their sins.

LEB For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge[fn] the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.

3:17 Or “he should condemn”

BBE God did not send his Son into the world to be judge of the world; he sent him so that the world might have salvation through him.

Moff God did not send his Son into the world to pass sentence on it, but to save the world by him.

Wymth For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

ASV For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.

DRA For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.

YLT For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him;

Drby For [fn]God has not sent his Son into the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him.

3.17 Elohim

RV For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.

SLT For God sent not his Son into the world that he judge the world; but that the world might be saved through him.

Wbstr For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved.

KJB-1769 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

KJB-1611 For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world: but that the world through him might be saued.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For God sent not his sonne into the worlde, to condempne the worlde: but that the worlde through hym myght be saued. He that beleueth on hym, is not condempned:
(For God sent not his son into the world, to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth/believes on him, is not condemned:)

Gnva For God sent not his Sonne into the world, that he should condemne the world, but that the world through him might be saued.
(For God sent not his Son into the world, that he should condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. )

Cvdl For God sent not his sonne in to ye worlde to condempne the worlde, but that the worlde might be saued by him.
(For God sent not his son in to ye/you_all world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved by him.)

TNT For God sent not his sonne into the worlde to condempne the worlde: but that the worlde through him might be saved.
(For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved. )

Wycl For God sente not his sone in to the world, that he iuge the world, but that the world be saued bi him.
(For God sent not his son in to the world, that he judge the world, but that the world be saved by him.)

Luth Denn GOtt hat seinen Sohn nicht gesandt in die Welt, daß er die Welt richte, sondern daß die Welt durch ihn selig werde.
(Because God has his son not sent in the world, that he the world judge(v), rather that the world through him/it blessed become.)

ClVg Non enim misit Deus Filium suum in mundum, ut judicet mundum, sed ut salvetur mundus per ipsum.
(Not/No because he_sent God Son his_own in/into/on the_world, as he_will_judge the_world, but as savesur world through him. )

UGNT οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Υἱὸν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ’ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι’ αὐτοῦ.
(ou gar apesteilen ho Theos ton Huion eis ton kosmon, hina krinaʸ ton kosmon, all’ hina sōthaʸ ho kosmos di’ autou.)

SBL-GNT οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ⸀υἱὸν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλʼ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ.
(ou gar apesteilen ho theos ton ⸀huion eis ton kosmon hina krinaʸ ton kosmon, allʼ hina sōthaʸ ho kosmos diʼ autou.)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
(Ou gar apesteilen ho theos ton huion autou eis ton kosmon hina krinaʸ ton kosmon, all' hina sōthaʸ ho kosmos di' autou.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν [fn]αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι᾽ αὐτοῦ.
(Ou gar apesteilen ho Theos ton huion autou eis ton kosmon hina krinaʸ ton kosmon, all hina sōthaʸ ho kosmos di autou. )

3:17 αυτου ¦ — CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

This section tells about how a Pharisee called Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus that all people need God to change them. Nicodemus could be sure that Jesus was speaking the truth because Jesus came from God.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told a Pharisee that he needed to change

Everyone must be born again

All people need God to give them a new birth/life

Paragraph 3:16–18

God sent his Son into the world to save people from being condemned.

3:17a–b

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him: The two parts of this sentence say similar things, the first part negatively and the second positively. In some language it is more natural to reorder them. See the General Comment on 3:17a–b.

3:17a

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,

For God did not send the Son to the people of the world to judge them,
For God did not send his Son into the world to judge/condemn its people.
God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, (GW)

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world: This part of the sentence indicates what God’s purpose was not: God’s purpose and desire were not to condemn the world. Translate this verse so it is clear that God did send his Son into the world, but his purpose was not to condemn the world. Here are other ways to translate this purpose:

It was not to judge the world that God sent his Son into the world. (REB)

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world. (NLT)

For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge. (GNT)

For: The Greek word that the BSB translates as For introduces an explanation. Most English translations translate it as “for” here (ESV, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT, GNT). Others do not translate the word (CEV, GW, NCV, REB). It is recommended that you translate the word using the natural way to introduce an explanation in your language.

His Son: The phrase His Son refers to God’s Son, as in 3:16a. In some languages it may be necessary to make this more explicit, like the BSB does.

condemn: To condemn someone is to declare that they are guilty of some wrongdoing. Here is another way to translate this word:

judge guilty (NCV)

world: The Greek word that the BSB translates as world refers to the people of the world. See also the note on 3:16a.

3:17b

but to save the world through Him.

but to rescue them through/by the Son.
He sent his Son to save them from their sins.
but to save the world. (GW)

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but here connects a negative statement in 3:17a to a positive statement in 3:17b. 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.
It was not to judge the world that God sent his Son into the world, but that through him the world might be saved. (REB)
Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:
God did not send his son here to earth in order to sentence the people. Rather he sent him here to earth that he save the people.3:17 Otomi BT.
Do not use a conjunction. For example:
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! (CEV)
Change the order of the clauses. For example:
God sent his son to the world to save the people there, not to judge them.

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

to save the world through Him: This is a purpose clause. It tells God’s purpose in sending Jesus into the world.

save the world through Him: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as save is actually passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
that through him the world might be saved (REB)
Use an active verb. For example:
be its savior (GNT)

save: The word that the BSB translates as save here means to be rescued, delivered, or freed from sin. The result is that God will not judge or condemn a person that he has saved. That means that he will not punish that person.

the world: Here again the world refers to the people of the world. For example:

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! (CEV)

through Him: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as through Him here means “because of what he/Jesus did.” Jesus lived, died, and rose again for us so that we might be saved from sin and evil. In some languages you may need to make some of this clear. For example:

he sent his Son to be the one who saves the world

God’s purpose/intention in sending his Son into the world is to save/deliver/rescue people from their sins.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεός τόν Υἱόν εἰς τόν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τόν κόσμον ἀλλʼ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ)

For here indicates that Jesus is giving a reason why the statement in the previous verse is true. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [God gave his One and Only Son because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Υἱὸν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ’ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι’ αὐτοῦ

These two clauses mean nearly the same thing, said twice for emphasis, first in the negative and then in the positive. Use whatever form your language uses for emphasis. Alternate translation: [For God truly sent his Son into the world so that he might save it]

Note 3 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τὸν Υἱὸν

Son is an important title for Jesus.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τὸν Υἱὸν & δι’ αὐτοῦ

Jesus is speaking about himself in the third person. If this is confusing in your language, you can use the first person. Alternate translation: [me … through me]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν κόσμον

Here, world refers to the universe God created. It does not refer only to the people in the world or only to the earth. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [the universe]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ἵνα κρίνῃ

in_order_that ˱he˲_˓may˒_judge

Here, he refers to God; it does not refer to Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [so that God might condemn]

ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον

in_order_that ˱he˲_˓may˒_judge in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεός τόν Υἱόν εἰς τόν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τόν κόσμον ἀλλʼ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ)

The word translated condemn means to judge someone to be guilty and deserving of punishment. Alternate translation: [so that he might judge the world as guilty]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸν κόσμον & ὁ κόσμος

Here, world refers to the people who live in it. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the people in the world … the people in the world]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος

in_order_that in_order_that ˓may_be˒_saved the world

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. If you must state who did the action, John implies that God did it. Alternate translation: [so that God might save the world]

δι’ αὐτοῦ

through him

This phrase indicates the means by which God would save the world. Alternate translation: [by means of him]

Parallel YHN 3:17

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

Paragraph 3:16–18

3:17a–b

3:17a

3:17b