YHN 3:26 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) So some people went to Yohan and said, “Teacher, that man that came to you across the river and that you testified about, now he’s immersing people and so they’re all going to him.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
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 they went to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan, about whom you had testified, behold, he is baptizing, and they are all going to him.”

UST Those who were arguing came to John and said, “Teacher, there was a man who was with you when you were baptizing people on the other side of the Jordan River. You had testified about who he was. Look! Now he is baptizing people, and many people are going out to him!”

BSB So [John’s disciples] came to [him] and said, “Look, Rabbi, the [One who] was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

BLB And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold He baptizes, and all are coming to Him."

AICNT And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, this one is baptizing and all are coming to him.”

OEB and the disciples came to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptising, and everybody is going to him.’

LSB And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”

WEBBE They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptises, and everyone is coming to him.”

WMBB They came to Yochanan and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he immerses, and everyone is coming to him.”

NET So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified – see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!”

LSV and they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you testified, behold, this One is immersing, and all are coming to Him.”

FBV They went to John and told him, “Rabbi, the man you were with on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you testified in support of—see, now he's baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”

TCNT So John's disciples came and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with yoʋ beyond the Jordan, about whom yoʋ have testified, behold, he is baptizing people, and everyone is going to him.”

T4T Then those disciples went to John and said to him, “Teacher, do you remember the man who was with you when you were baptizing people on the other side of the Jordan River? He is the one you were telling us about. Well, now he is baptizing people, and many people are going to him instead of coming to us!”

LEB And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, about whom you testified—look, this one is baptizing, and all are coming to him!”

BBE And they went to John and said to him, Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the man to whom you gave witness, is now giving baptism, and everyone is going to him.

Moff and they came and told John, "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the opposite side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore testimony — here he is, baptizing, and everybody goes to him!"

Wymth they came to John and reported to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him."

ASV And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

DRA And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all men come to him.

YLT and they came unto John, and said to him, 'Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou didst testify, lo, this one is baptizing, and all are coming unto him.'

Drby And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptises, and all come to him.

RV And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
(And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee/you beyond Yordan, to whom thou/you hast born witness, behold, the same baptiseth, and all men come to him. )

SLT And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast testified, behold, he immerses, and all come to him.

Wbstr And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou didst bear testimony, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

KJB-1769 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
(And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee/you beyond Yordan, to whom thou/you barest witness, behold, the same baptiseth, and all men come to him. )

KJB-1611 And they came vnto Iohn, and said vnto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Iordane, to whom thou barest witnesse, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
(And they came unto Yohn, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee/you beyond Yordan, to whom thou/you barest witness, behold, the same baptiseth, and all men come to him.)

Bshps And they came vnto Iohn, and sayde vnto hym: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyonde Iordane, to whom thou barest witnesse, beholde the same baptizeth, and all men come to hym.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva And they came vnto Iohn, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Iorden, to whom thou barest witnesse, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him.
(And they came unto Yohn, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee/you beyond Yordan, to whom thou/you barest witness, behold, he baptiseth, and all men come to him. )

Cvdl and they came vnto Ihon, and sayde vnto him: Master, he yt was with the beyonde Iordan, of whom thou barest wytnesse, beholde, he baptyseth, and euery man cometh vnto him.
(and they came unto Yohn, and said unto him: Master, he it was with the beyond Yordan, of whom thou/you barest witness, behold, he baptiseth, and every man cometh/comes unto him.)

TNT And they came vnto Iohn and sayde vnto him: Rabbi he that was with the beyonde Iordan to whom thou barest witnes. Beholde the same baptyseth and all me come to him.
(And they came unto Yohn and said unto him: Rabbi he that was with the beyond Yordan to whom thou/you barest witnes. Behold the same baptiseth and all me come to him. )

Wycl And thei camen to Joon, and seiden `to hym, Maister, he that was with thee biyonde Jordan, to whom thou hast borun witnessyng, lo! he baptisith, and alle men comen to hym.
(And they came to Yohn, and said to him, Master, he that was with thee/you biyonde Yordan, to whom thou/you hast born witnessing, lo! he baptisith, and all men came to him.)

Luth Und kamen zu Johannes und sprachen zu ihm: Meister, der bei dir war jenseit des Jordans, von dem du zeugtest, siehe, der taufet, und jedermann kommt zu ihm.
(And came to/for Yohannes and said to/for him: master, the/of_the at/in you/to_you(sg) what/which beyond the Yordans, from to_him you(sg) zeugtest, see/look, the/of_the taufet, and anyone comes to/for him.)

ClVg Et venerunt ad Joannem, et dixerunt ei: Rabbi, qui erat tecum trans Jordanem, cui tu testimonium perhibuisti, ecce hic baptizat, et omnes veniunt ad eum.[fn]
(And they_came to Yoannem, and they_said to_him: Rabbi, who/which was with_you across Yordan, to_whom you(sg) testimony perhibuisti, behold this/here baptizat, and everyone they_come to him. )

3.26 Et venerunt ad Joannem et dixerunt ei: Rabbi, etc. Volentes accusare Christum quem paulo ante viderant a Joanne baptizatum.

3.26 And they_came to Yoannem and they_said to_him: Rabbi, etc. Volentes accusare Christ/Messiah which paulo before they_had_seen from Yoanne baptizatum.

UGNT καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, Ῥαββεί, ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας, ἴδε, οὗτος βαπτίζει καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν.
(kai aʸlthon pros ton Yōannaʸn kai eipan autōi, Ɽabbei, hos aʸn meta sou peran tou Yordanou, hō su memarturaʸkas, ide, houtos baptizei kai pantes erⱪontai pros auton.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Ῥαββί, ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας, ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν.
(kai aʸlthon pros ton Yōannaʸn kai eipan autōi; Ɽabbi, hos aʸn meta sou peran tou Yordanou, hō su memarturaʸkas, ide houtos baptizei kai pantes erⱪontai pros auton.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ῥαββί, ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας, ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει, καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν.
(Kai aʸlthon pros ton Yōannaʸn kai eipon autōi, Ɽabbi, hos aʸn meta sou peran tou Yordanou, hō su memarturaʸkas, ide houtos baptizei, kai pantes erⱪontai pros auton.)

TC-GNT Καὶ [fn]ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν [fn]Ἰωάννην καὶ [fn]εἶπον αὐτῷ, [fn]Ῥαββί, ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας, ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει, καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν.
(Kai aʸlthon pros ton Yōannaʸn kai eipon autōi, Ɽabbi, hos aʸn meta sou peran tou Yordanou, hō su memarturaʸkas, ide houtos baptizei, kai pantes erⱪontai pros auton. )

3:26 ηλθον ¦ ηλθαν WH

3:26 ιωαννην ¦ ιωανην WH

3:26 ειπον ¦ ειπαν CT

3:26 ραββι ¦ ραββει TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:22–30: John the Baptist told his disciples that Jesus was greater than him

John’s disciples had an argument with another Jew. They argued about whether John’s baptism or Jesus’ baptism was better. John told his disciples that he was just there to tell people that Jesus was the Savior. So Jesus should get more followers. Jesus was superior to him.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus was more important than John the Baptist

John the Baptist told the truth that he knew about Jesus

Paragraph 3:22–26

John’s disciples began to discuss ceremonial washing. They told John that Jesus was baptizing more people than he was. John said that Jesus was superior to him and should get more disciples.

3:26a

So John’s disciples came to him and said,

The disciples came over to John. They said,
John’s followers told him about this. They said,

Apparently the disciples came to John to ask a question related to what they discussed about purification. Perhaps baptism was part of their discussion or the word “purification” referred to baptism.

3:26b

“Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan,

“Teacher, remember that man who was with you^(sing) when you were on the other side of the Jordan.
“Sir, you know that man who was with you^(sing) when we^(incl) were on the other side of the Jordan River.

Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan: These men referred back to the events recorded in John 1:19–34. It appears that they wanted John to be jealous of Jesus. They were not happy that Jesus was getting more disciples than John. Consider how it is natural to refer to someone in a situation like that. For example:

Teacher, remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River…? (NCV)

Look: The Greek word that the BSB translated as Look calls attention to what is being said. In some languages it is more natural to say “behold” or “pay attention.”

Rabbi: This word is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “my great one.” When John wrote his gospel, people used this word as a title of respect for an important religious teacher or leader. It does not refer to a teacher at a school. Use an expression that is natural and shows proper respect.

See how you translated this term in 3:2b and 1:38, and see the notes there.

beyond the Jordan: This phrase refers to the east side of the Jordan River. In some languages it may be natural to make one or both of these points explicit. For example:

the east side of the Jordan (GNT)

the other side of the Jordan River (NCV)

3:26c

the One you testified about—

He was the one you^(sing) told us^(excl) who he was.
He was the one about whom you^(sing) knew and you declared/explained that he was the Lamb of God.

the One you testified about: John’s followers used this expression to make clear whom they were talking about. Perhaps they also wanted to remind John of what he had done for Jesus. Maybe they did not think that it was right that Jesus had more disciples than John after John helped him.

Jesus was the one about whom John had testified (told what he knew). John testified that Jesus was the Son of God. See John 1:15, 1:29–34. Here are other ways to translate this expression:

the man to whom you bore witness (NJB)

the one you identified as the Messiah (NLT)

you spoke about a man (CEV)

testified: The verb testified means “told what he knew was true.” In this context John has said positive things about Jesus. John had spoken well of Jesus and had declared that he was “the Lamb of God” and “the Son of God.” See the note on “testimony” at 1:19a.

3:26d–e

He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him: These clauses indicate that John’s disciples were not happy about what was happening. Previously, John had been the only one who baptized people. Now Jesus was becoming popular and was baptizing people.

3:26d

He is baptizing,

Now he is baptizing people
See here, he is now also baptizing people.

He: The pronoun He refers to Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to supply the name. For example

Jesus is baptizing

baptizing: The verb baptizing means to wash a person with water in a special religious ritual. In this context the ritual represented purification from sin. It did not mean that the person was washed to remove dirt. Baptism also marked the beginning of a person’s life as one of God’s pure people. See how you translated this word in 3:22c.

3:26e

and everyone is going to Him.”

and all the people are going to him.”
Many more people are going to him instead of coming to us^(incl).”

everyone is going to Him: This clause is a hyperbole, an exaggeration. It emphasizes that many people were going to Jesus. But not every person in the area was going to Jesus. You may need to indicate in some way that the speaker is exaggerating. For example:

everyone in the world is running to him

absolutely everybody is going to him!

In other languages it may be necessary to remove the exaggeration. For example:

more and more people are going to him!

look at how many people are going to him!

going to Him: The implied idea is that people were going to Jesus to be baptized. In some languages it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

now all the people are going to him and are being baptized

look at all the people going to him to be baptized!

In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit that these people were not going to John and his disciples. For example:

everybody is going to him instead of coming to us. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ἦλθον

˱they˲_came

Here, they refers to John the Baptist’s disciples, who were disputing in the previous verse. If it would be misunderstood in your language, you could state it explicitly. Alternate translation: [John’s disciples went]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἦλθον πρός τόν Ἰωάννην καί εἶπαν αὐτῷ Ῥαββί ὅς ἦν μετά σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ᾧ σύ μεμαρτύρηκας ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει καί πάντες ἔρχονται πρός αὐτόν)

This phrase refers to Jesus. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [Jesus, who was with you beyond the Jordan, about whom you had testified]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἴδε, οὗτος βαπτίζει

behold this_‹one› ˓is˒_baptizing

John the Baptist’s disciples used the term behold to call John’s attention to what Jesus was doing. Your language may have a similar expression that you can use here. Alternate translation: [see how he is baptizing]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν

all ˓are˒_coming (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἦλθον πρός τόν Ἰωάννην καί εἶπαν αὐτῷ Ῥαββί ὅς ἦν μετά σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ᾧ σύ μεμαρτύρηκας ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει καί πάντες ἔρχονται πρός αὐτόν)

John the Baptist’s disciples use the word all as a generalization for emphasis. If this might confuse your readers, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [it seems like everyone is going to him]

Parallel YHN 3:26