John 1:1

In the beginning

This refers to the very earliest time before God created the heavens and the earth.

the Word

This refers to Jesus. Translate as "the Word" if possible. If "Word" is feminine in your language, it could be translated as "the one who is called the Word."

John 1:3

All things were made through him

"God made all things through him"

without him there was not one thing made that has been made

"God did not make anything without him" or "with him there was every thing made that has been made" or "God made with him every thing that God has made"

John 1:4

In him was life, and the life was the light of men

"He is the one who caused everything to live. And he revealed to people what is true about God"

In him

Here "him" refers to the one who is called the Word.

life

Here use a general term for "life." If you must be more specific, translate as "spiritual life."

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it

"The truth is like a light shining into a dark place, and no one in the dark place could put out the light"

John 1:7

testify about the light

"show how Jesus is like the true light of God"

John 1:9

The true light

Here light represents Jesus as the one who both reveals the truth about God and is himself that truth.

John 1:10

the world did not know him

"the people did not know who he really was"

John 1:11

He came to his own, and his own did not receive him

"He came to his own fellow countrymen, and his own fellow countrymen did not accept him either"

John 1:12

believed in his name

"believed in him"

he gave the right

"he gave them the authority" or "he made it possible for them"

children of God

The word "children" is a metaphor that represents our relationship to God, which is like children to a father.

John 1:14

The Word

This refers to Jesus. Translate as "the Word" if possible. See how you translated this in John 1:1.

became flesh

"became human" or "became a human being"

the one and only who came from the Father

"the unique Son of the Father" or "the only Son of the Father"

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 1:15

He who comes after me

John is speaking about Jesus. The phrase "comes after me" means that John's ministry has already started and Jesus's ministry will start later.

is greater than I am

"is more important than I am" or "has more authority than I have"

for he was before me

Jesus is greater and more important than John because he is God the Son, who has always been alive.

John 1:16

grace after grace

"blessing after blessing"

John 1:18

the only God

"the only Son, who is himself God"

the only God

"the only begotten God" or "the only begotten Son, who is himself God" or "the only Son who proceeds from God and is himself God"

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 1:19

the Jews sent

"the Jewish leaders sent"

John 1:20

He confessed—he did not deny, but confessed

This means that John was telling the truth and was strongly stating that he was not the Christ. Your language may have a different way of doing this.

John 1:21

What are you then?

"What then is the case, if you are not the Messiah?" or "What then is going on?" or "What then are you doing?"

John 1:22

they said to him

"the priests and Levites said to John"

John 1:23

He said

"John said"

I am a voice, crying in the wilderness

"I am the one calling out in the wilderness"

Make the way of the Lord straight

"Prepare yourselves for the Lord's arrival the same way that people prepare the road for an important person to use"

John 1:27

who comes after me

John is speaking about Jesus. The phrase "comes after me" means that John's ministry has already started and Jesus's ministry will start later.

me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie

"me, whom I am not worthy to serve in even the most unpleasant way" or "me. I am not even worthy to untie the strap of his sandal"

John 1:29

Lamb of God

Jesus is called the "Lamb of God" because he was sacrificed to pay for people's sins.

world

The word "world" refers to all the people in the world.

John 1:32

like a dove

Possible meanings: 1) the Spirit descended in the form of a dove or 2) the Spirit descended in the way a dove descends.

heaven

The word "heaven" refers to the "sky."

John 1:33

The one on whom

"The one upon whom"

he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit

"he is the one who will baptize in the Holy Spirit"

John 1:34

the Son of God

Some copies of this text say "Son of God"; others say "chosen one of God."

Son of God

This refers to Jesus, the Son of God. It is best to translate “Son” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human son.

John 1:35

Again, the next day

This is another day. It is the second day that John sees Jesus.

John 1:39

tenth hour

"hour 10." This phrase indicates a time in the afternoon, before dark, at which it would be too late to start traveling to another town, possibly around 4 p.m.

John 1:42

son of John

This is not John the Baptist. "John" was a very common name.

John 1:46

Nathaniel said to him

"Nathaniel said to Philip"

Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?

"No good thing can come out of Nazareth!"

John 1:47

in whom is no deceit

"a completely truthful man"

John 1:49

Son of God

This refers to Jesus, the Son of God. It is best to translate “Son” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human son.

John 1:50

Because I said to you, 'I ... tree,' do you believe?

"You believe only because I said, 'I ... tree'!"

John 1:51

Truly, truly

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true.

John 2:1

Three days later

Most interpreters read this as on the third day after Jesus called Philip and Nathaniel to follow him.

John 2:2

Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding

"Someone invited Jesus and his disciples to the wedding"

John 2:4

Woman

This refers to Mary. If it is impolite for a son to call his mother "woman" in your language, use another word that is polite, or leave it out.

why do you come to me?

"this has nothing to do with me." or "you should not tell me what to do."

My time has not yet come

"It is not yet the right time for me to perform a mighty act"

John 2:6

two to three metretes

"75 to 115 liters"

John 2:7

to the brim

This means "to the very top" or "completely full."

John 2:8

the head waiter

This refers to the person in charge of the food and drink.

John 2:10

drunk

unable to tell the difference between cheap wine and expensive wine because of drinking too much alcohol

John 2:11

Cana

This is a place name.

revealed his glory

"showed his power"

John 2:12

went down

This indicates that they went from a higher place to a lower place. Capernaum is northeast of Cana and is at a lower elevation.

his brothers

The word "brothers" includes both brothers and sisters. All Jesus's brothers and sisters were younger than he was.

John 2:13

went up to Jerusalem

This indicates that he went from a lower place to a higher place. Jerusalem is built on a hill.

John 2:14

were sitting there

The next verse makes it clear that these people are in the temple courtyard. That area was intended for worship and not for commerce.

sellers of oxen and sheep and pigeons

People are buying animals in the temple courtyard to sacrifice them to God.

money changers

Jewish authorities required people who wanted to buy animals for sacrifices to exchange their money for special money from the "money changers."

John 2:15

So

This word marks an event that happens because of something else that has happened first. In this case, Jesus has seen the money changers sitting in the temple.

John 2:16

Stop making the house of my Father a marketplace

"Stop buying and selling things in my Father's house"

the house of my Father

This is a phrase Jesus uses to refer to the temple.

my Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 2:17

your house

This term refers to the temple, God's house.

consume

Jesus's love for the temple is like a fire that burns within him.

John 2:18

sign

This refers to an event that proves something is true.

these things

This refers to Jesus's actions against the money changers in the temple.

John 2:19

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up

"If you destroy this temple, I will rebuild it in three days"

John 2:20

you will raise it up in three days?

"you will rebuild it in three days?" or "you cannot possibly rebuild it in three days!"

John 2:23

Now when he was in Jerusalem

The word "now" introduces us to a new event in the story.

believed in his name

"believed in him" or "trusted in him"

the signs that he did

Miracles can also be called "signs" because they are used as evidence that God is the all-powerful one who has complete authority over the universe.

John 2:25

about man, for he knew what was in man

"about people, for he knew what was in people"

John 3:1

Now

This word is used here to mark a new part of the story and to introduce Nicodemus.

John 3:3

Truly, truly

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true. See how you translated this in John 1:51

born again

"born from above" or "born of God"

he cannot see the kingdom of God

Possible meanings of seeing the kingdom of God are 1) seeing the place God rules over or 2) knowing what God's kingdom is like or 3) belonging to the kingdom of God.

John 3:4

How can a man be born when he is old?

"A man certainly cannot be born again when he is old!"

He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?

"Certainly, he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb!

womb

the part of a woman's body where a baby grows

John 3:5

born of water and the Spirit

There are two possible meanings: 1) "baptized in water and in the Spirit" or 2) "born physically and spiritually"

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God

"he cannot belong to the kingdom of God"

John 3:8

The wind blows wherever it wishes

"The Holy Spirit is like a wind that blows wherever it wants"

John 3:9

How can these things be?

"This cannot be!" or "This is not able to happen!"

John 3:10

Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

"You are a teacher of Israel, so I am surprised you do not understand these things!" or "You are a teacher of Israel, so you should understand these things!"

John 3:11

you do not accept

The word "you" is plural and refers either the Pharisees or to the Jewish leaders or to the Jews in general.

we speak

When Jesus said "we," he was not including Nicodemus.

John 3:12

I told you ... you do not believe ... how will you believe if I tell you

In all three places "you" is plural and refers to Jews in general.

how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

"you certainly will not believe if I tell you about spiritual things!"

John 3:13

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven

"The only one who has ascended into heaven is he who descended from heaven"

John 3:14

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up

Some people will "lift up" Jesus just as Moses "lifted up" the bronze serpent in the place where Moses and the Israelites walked around for forty years.

John 3:16

God so loved the world

Here "world" refers to everyone in the world.

loved

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves. God himself is love and is the source of true love.

John 3:17

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but in order to save the world through him

God""'s real reason for sending his Son into the world was to save it"

to condemn

"to punish." Usually "punish" implies that the person who has been punished is then accepted by God. When a person is condemned, he is punished but never accepted by God.

John 3:18

Son of God

This refers to Jesus, the Son of God. It is best to translate “Son” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human son.

John 3:19

The light has come into the world

"The one who is like a light has revealed God's truth to all people" or "I, who am like a light, have come into the world"

men loved the darkness

Here "darkness" means evil.

John 3:20

so that his deeds will not be exposed

"so that the light will not show the things he does" or "so that the light does not make clear his deeds"

John 3:21

plainly seen that his deeds

"people may clearly see his deeds" or "everyone may clearly see the things he does"

John 3:22

After this

This refers to after Jesus had spoken with Nicodemus.

John 3:23

Aenon

This word means "springs," as of water.

Salim

a village or town next to the Jordan River

were being baptized

"John was baptizing them" or "he was baptizing them"

John 3:25

Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and a Jew

"Then John's disciples and a Jew began to fight with each other using words"

John 3:26

you have testified, look, he is baptizing,

"you have testified, 'Look! He is baptizing,'" or "you have testified. 'Look at that! He is baptizing,'"

John 3:27

A man cannot receive anything unless

"Nobody has any power unless"

it has been given to him from heaven

"God has given it to him"

John 3:28

You yourselves

"You all" or "All of you"

I have been sent before him

"God sent me to arrive before him"

John 3:29

The bride belongs to the bridegroom

Jesus is like the "bridegroom" and John is like the friend of the "bridegroom."

This, then, is my joy made complete

"So then I rejoice greatly" or "So I rejoice much"

my joy

The word "my" refers to John the Baptist, the one who is speaking.

John 3:30

He must increase

"He" refers to the bridegroom, Jesus, who will continue to grow in importance.

John 3:31

He who comes from above is above all

"He who comes from heaven is more important than anyone else"

He who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks about the earth

"He who is born in this world is like everyone else who lives in the world and he speaks about what happens in this world"

John 3:32

He testifies about what he has seen and heard

"The one from heaven tells about what he has seen and heard in heaven"

no one accepts his testimony

"very few people believe him"

John 3:33

He who has received his testimony

"Anyone who believes what Jesus says"

has confirmed

"proves" or "agrees"

John 3:34

For the one whom God has sent speaks

"This Jesus, whom God has sent to represent him, speaks"

For he does not give the Spirit by measure

"For he is the one to whom God gave all the power of his Spirit"

John 3:35

Father ... Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

given ... into his hand

This means to be put in his power or control.

John 3:36

He who believes

"A person who believes" or "Anyone who believes"

the wrath of God stays on him

"God will continue to punish him"

John 4:1

Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John

"Now Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John. When he knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was doing this"

John 4:2

Jesus himself was not baptizing

It was not Jesus who was baptizing, but his disciples.

John 4:3

he left Judea and went back again to Galilee

When Jesus knew that the Pharisees learned what he was doing, he left Judea and went back again to Galilee"

John 4:8

For his disciples had gone

He did not ask his disciples to draw water for him because they had gone.

John 4:9

Then the Samaritan woman said to him

The word "him" refers to Jesus.

How is it that you, being a Jew, are asking me, being a Samaritan woman, for something to drink?

"I cannot believe that you, being a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink!"

have no dealings with

"do not associate with"

John 4:10

living water

“Living water” to refer to the Holy Spirit, who works in a person to transform and bring new life.

John 4:12

You are not greater, are you, than our father Jacob ... livestock?

You are not greater than our father Jacob ... livestock!"

our father Jacob

"our ancestor Jacob"

drank from it

"drank water that came from it"

John 4:13

will be thirsty again

"will need to drink water again"

John 4:14

the water that I will give him will become a fountain of water in him

"the water that I will give him will become like a spring of water in him"

eternal life

Here "life" refers to the "spiritual life" that only God can give.

John 4:15

Sir

In this context, the Samaritan woman is addressing Jesus as "Sir," which is a term of respect or politeness.

draw water

"get water" or "pull water up from the well" using a container and rope

John 4:17

You have said correctly

Jesus is acknowledging that what she had said was strictly true but was hiding a fact about her that she expected Jesus to disapprove of. He was saying neither that it was a good thing that she had no husband nor that her answer showed that she was morally good.

John 4:18

What you have said is true

Jesus said this to emphasize the words "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'" in verse 17. He wanted the woman to know that he knew she was telling the truth.

John 4:19

I see that you are a prophet

"I can understand that you are a prophet"

John 4:20

Our fathers

"Our forefathers" or "Our ancestors"

John 4:21

Believe me

To believe someone is to acknowledge what the person has said is true.

you will worship the Father

Eternal salvation from sin comes from God the Father, who is Yahweh, the God of the Jews.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 4:22

You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know

Jesus means that God revealed himself and his commands to the Jewish people, not to the Samaritans. Through the Scriptures the Jewish people know who God is better than the Samaritans.

salvation is from the Jews

Eternal salvation from sin comes from God the Father, who is Yahweh, the God of the Jews.

John 4:23

However, the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will

"However, it is now the right time for true worshipers to"

the Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

in spirit and truth

"with the Spirit's help in thinking correctly of what is true about God"

John 4:25

I know that the Messiah ... Christ

Both of these words mean "God's promised king."

he will explain everything to us

"he will tell us everything we need to know"

John 4:27

Now they were wondering why he was speaking with a woman

It was very unusual for a Jew to speak with a woman he did not know, especially if that woman was a Samaritan.

no one said, "What ... looking for?" or "Why ... her?"

Possible meanings are 1) "no one asked Jesus, 'What ... looking for?' or 'Why ... her?'" or 2) "no one asked the woman, 'What ... looking for?' or asked Jesus, 'Why ... her?'"

John 4:29

Come, see a man who told me everything that I have ever done

"Come see a man who knows very much about me, even though I have never met him before"

This could not be the Christ, could it?

The woman is not sure that Jesus is the Christ, so she asks a question that expects "no" for an answer, but she also asks a question instead of making a statement because she wants the people to decide for themselves.

John 4:31

In the meantime

"While the woman was going into town"

John 4:32

I have food to eat that you do not know about

Here Jesus is not talking about literal "food," but is preparing his disciples for a spiritual lesson in John 4:34.

John 4:33

No one has brought him anything to eat, have they?

"Surely no one brought him any food while we were in town!"

John 4:34

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work

"Just as food satisfies a hungry person, obeying God's will is what satisfies me"

John 4:35

Do you not say

"Is this not one of your popular sayings"

look up and see the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest

"look up and see the the people! They are ready to believe my message, like crops in the fields that are ready for people to harvest them"

John 4:36

and gathers fruit for everlasting life

"and the people who believe the message and receive eternal life are like the fruit that a harvester gathers"

John 4:37

One sows, and another reaps

"One person plants the seeds, and another person reaps the crops"

John 4:38

you have entered into their labor

"you are now joining in their work"

John 4:39

believed in him

To "believe in" someone means to "trust in" that person. Here this also means that they believed he was the Son of God.

He told me everything that I have done

"He told me many things about my life"

John 4:41

his word

"his message"

John 4:42

world

"all the believers in the world"

John 4:44

a prophet has no honor in his own country

"people do not show respect or honor to a prophet of their own country" or "a prophet is not respected by the people in his own community"

John 4:45

at the festival

Here the festival is the Passover.

John 4:46

Now

This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here the author starts a new part of the story. If you have a way of doing this in your language, you may consider using it.

royal official

someone who is in the service of the king

John 4:48

Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe

"You will believe only if you see a signs and wonders"

John 4:50

believed the word

"believed the message"

John 4:51

While

This word is used to mark two events that are happening at the same time. As the official was going home, his servants were coming to meet him on the road.

John 4:54

sign

Miracles can also be called "signs" because they are used as indicators or evidence that God is the all-powerful one who has complete authority over the universe.

John 5:1

there was a Jewish festival

"the Jews were celebrating a festival"

went up to Jerusalem

Jerusalem is located on the top of a hill. Roads to Jerusalem went up and down smaller hills. If your language has a different word for going up a hill than for walking on level ground, you may use it here.

John 5:2

pool

This was a hole in the ground that people filled with water. Sometimes they lined the pools with tiles or other stonework.

Bethesda

a place name

roofed porches

roofed structures with at least one wall missing and attached to buildings

John 5:6

he realized

"he understood" or "he found out"

he said to him

"Jesus said to the paralyzed man"

John 5:7

Sir, I do not have

Here the word "sir" is a polite form of address.

when the water is stirred up

"when the angel moves the water"

another steps down before me

"someone else always goes down the steps into the water before me"

John 5:8

Get up

"Stand up"

take up your bed, and walk

"pick up your sleeping mat, and walk"

John 5:9

the man was healed

"the man became healthy again"

John 5:10

So the Jews said to him

The Jews (especially the leaders of the Jews) became angry when they saw the man carrying his mat on the Sabbath because it is God's day of rest.

John 5:11

He who made me healthy

"The man who made me well"

John 5:12

They asked him

"The Jewish leaders asked the man who was healed"

John 5:14

Jesus found him

"Jesus found the man he had healed"

John 5:16

the Jews

"the Jewish leaders"

John 5:17

is working

This refers to doing labor, including anything that is done to serve other people.

My Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 5:18

making himself equal to God

"saying that he was like God" or "saying that he had as much authority as God"

John 5:19

Truly, truly

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true. See how you translated this in John 1:51.

whatever the Father is doing, the Son does in the same way

Jesus, as the Son of God, followed and obeyed his Father's leadership on earth, because Jesus knew the Father loved him.

Son ... Father

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

John 5:20

you will be amazed

"you will be surprised" or "you will be shocked"

loves

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves. God himself is love and is the source of true love.

John 5:21

Father ... Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus.

life

This refers to "spiritual life."

John 5:22

For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son

The word "for" marks a comparison. The Son of God carries out judgment for God the Father.

John 5:23

honor the Son just as ... the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father

God the Son must be honored and worshiped just like God the Father. If we fail to honor God the Son, then we also fail to honor God the Father.

John 5:24

he who hears my word

"anyone who hears my message"

will not be condemned

"he will not receive condemnation" or "God will not condemn him"

John 5:25

the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live

The voice of Jesus, the Son of God, will raise dead people from the grave.

Son of God

This refers to Jesus, the Son of God. It is best to translate “Son” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human son.

John 5:26

For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has also given to the Son so that he has life in himself

The word "For" marks a comparison. The Son of God has the power to give life, just as the Father does.

Father ... Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

life

This means spiritual life.

John 5:27

Father ... Son of Man

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

the Father has given the Son authority to carry out judgment

The Son of God has the authority of God the Father to judge.

John 5:28

Do not be amazed at this

"This" refers to the fact that Jesus, as the Son of Man, has the power to give eternal life and to carry out judgment.

hear his voice

"hear my voice"

John 5:29

to the resurrection of life

"will rise to live" or "will rise and live"

to the resurrection of judgment

"will rise to be judged" or "will rise and be judged"

John 5:30

the will of him who sent me

The word "him" refers to God the Father.

John 5:32

There is another who testifies about me

"There is someone else who tells people about me"

the testimony that he gives about me is true

"what he tells people about me is true"

John 5:34

the testimony that I receive is not from man

"I do not need people's testimony"

that you might be saved

"so God can save you"

John 5:35

John was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice in his light for a while

"John taught you about God and this was like a lamp shining its light. And for a while what John said made you happy"

John 5:36

the works that the Father has given me to accomplish ... that the Father has sent me

God the Father has sent God the Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus completes what the Father gives him to do.

the very works that I do, testify about me that the Father has sent me

"what I do, shows the people that God has sent me"

John 5:37

The Father who sent me has himself testified

This emphasizes that it is the Father, not someone less important, who has testified.

John 5:38

You do not have his word remaining in you

"You do not live according to his word" or "You do not obey his word"

John 5:39

in them you have eternal life

"you will find eternal life if you read them" or "the scriptures will tell you how you can have eternal life"

John 5:40

you are not willing to come to me

"you refuse to believe my message"

John 5:41

receive glory

"accept praise"

John 5:42

you do not have the love of God in yourselves

This can mean 1) "you really do not love God" or 2) "you have really not received God's love."

John 5:43

in my Father's name

"with my Father's authority"

receive

welcome as a friend

If another should come in his own name

"If another should come in his own authority"

John 5:44

How can you believe, you who accept glory ... God?

"There is no way you can believe because you accept glory ... God!"

believe

This means to trust in Jesus.

accept glory ... seeking the glory

"accept praise ... seeking the praise"

John 5:45

in whom you have hoped

"whom you expect to help you" or "whom you trust to defend you before the Father you"

John 5:47

If you do not believe his writings, how are you going to believe my words?

"You do not believe his writings, so you will never believe what I say"

John 6:1

After these things

The phrase "these things" refers to the events in John 5:1-46 and introduces the event that follows.

Jesus went away

"Jesus traveled by boat with his disciples"

John 6:2

signs

This refers to the miracles that are used as evidence that God is the all-powerful one who has complete authority over everything.

John 6:4

Now the Passover, the Jewish festival, was near

John briefly stops telling about the events in the story in order to give background information about when the events happened.

John 6:6

But Jesus said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do

John briefly stops telling about the events in the story in order to explain why Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread.

for he himself knew

Jesus knew what he would do.

John 6:7

Two hundred denarii worth of bread

"The amount of bread that costs two hundred days' wages"

John 6:9

what are these among so many?

"these few loaves and fishes are not enough to feed so many people!"

John 6:10

So the men sat down, about five thousand in number

While the crowd probably included women and children in John 6:4-5, here John is counting only the men.

John 6:11

giving thanks

Jesus prayed to God the Father and thanked him for the fish and the loaves.

he gave it

"Jesus and his disciples gave it"

John 6:13

they gathered

"the disciples gathered"

John 6:14

this sign

Jesus feeding the 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish

the prophet

the special prophet who Moses said would come into the world

John 6:19

they had rowed

Boats usually had two, four, or six people rowing with rowers on each side working together. Your culture may have different ways of making a boat go across a large body of water.

about twenty-five or thirty stadia

"about five or six kilometers"

John 6:21

they were willing to receive him into the boat

"they gladly received him into the boat"

John 6:22

the sea

"the Sea of Galilee"

there was no other boat there except the one

"there was only that one boat there"

John 6:23

boats that came from Tiberias

The next day, after Jesus fed the people, some boats with people from Tiberius came to see Jesus.

John 6:26

Truly, truly

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true.

John 6:27

eternal life which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has set his seal on him

God the Father has given his approval to Jesus, the Son of Man, to give eternal life to those who believe in him.

Son of Man ... God the Father

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

John 6:31

Our fathers

"Our forefathers" or "Our ancestors"

heaven

This refers to the place where God lives.

John 6:32

it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven

"the Father gives to you the Son as the true bread from heaven"

John 6:33

gives life to the world

"gives spiritual life to the world"

the world

Here, the "world" refers to all of the people in the world who trust in Jesus.

John 6:35

I am the bread of life

"Just as food keeps you alive physically, I can give you spiritual life"

believes in

This means to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, to trust him as Savior, and to live in a way that honors him.

John 6:37

Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me

God the Father and God the Son will save forever those who believe in Jesus.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

he who comes to me I will certainly not throw out

"I will keep everyone who comes to me"

John 6:38

him who sent me

"my Father, who sent me"

John 6:39

I would lose not one of all those

"I should keep all of them"

will raise them up

"will cause them to live again"

John 6:41

grumbled

talked unhappily

I am the bread

"I am the one who is like true bread"

John 6:42

Is not this Jesus son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?

"This is just Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know!

How then does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?

"He is lying when he says that he came from heaven!"

John 6:44

raise him up

"cause him to live again"

draws

This can mean 1) "pulls" or 2) "attracts."

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 6:45

It is written in the prophets

"The prophets wrote"

Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me

Those who truly learn from God the Father believe in Jesus, who is God the Son.

John 6:46

Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God—he has seen the Father

"I am not saying that anyone has seen the Father. Only he who is from God-he has seen the Father"

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 6:47

he who believes has eternal life

God gives "eternal life" to those who trust in Jesus, the Son of God.

John 6:48

I am the bread of life

"Just like food that keeps you alive physically, I can give you spiritual life that lasts forever"

John 6:49

Your fathers

"Your forefathers" or "Your ancestors"

died

This refers to physical death.

John 6:50

This is the bread

"I am like the true bread"

not die

"live forever." Here the word "die" refers to spiritual death.

John 6:51

living bread

This means "the bread that causes people to live"

for the life of the world

"that will give life to all the people in the world"

John 6:52

How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

"There is no way that this man can give us his flesh to eat!"

John 6:53

eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood

Here, the phrases "eat the flesh" and "drink his blood" shows how trusting in Jesus, the Son of Man, is like receiving spiritual food and drink. However, the Jews did not understand this.

you will not have life in yourselves

"you will not receive eternal life"

John 6:54

raise him up

"cause him to live again"

at the last day

"on the day when God judges everyone"

John 6:55

my flesh is true food ... my blood is true drink

The phrases "true food" and "true drink" means Jesus gives life to those who trust in him. However, the Jews did not understand this.

John 6:56

remains in me, and I in him

"has a close relationship with me"

John 6:57

so he who eats me

The phrase "eats me" means to trust Jesus. However, the Jews did not understand this.

living Father

Possible meanings are 1) "the Father who gives life" or 2) "the Father who is alive."

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 6:58

This is the bread that has come down from heaven

"I am the bread that has come down from heaven"

He who eats this bread will live forever

"He who eats me, the bread, will live forever"

He who eats this bread

Here "eats this bread" means to trust Jesus. However, the Jews did not understand this.

the fathers

"the forefathers" or "the ancestors"

John 6:59

Jesus said these things in the synagogue ... in Capernaum

Here John gives background information about when this event happened.

John 6:60

who can hear it?

"no one can understand it!" or "it is too hard to understand!"

John 6:61

Does this offend you?

"Does this shock you?" or "Does this upset you?"

John 6:62

Then what if you should see the Son of Man going up to where he was before?

"Then you will not know what to think when you see me, the Son of Man, going up into heaven!"

John 6:63

profits

The word "profit" means to cause good things to happen.

The words that I have spoken to you

"What I have told you"

are spirit, and they are life

Possible meanings are 1) "are about the Spirit and eternal life" or 2) "are from the Spirit and give eternal life" or 3) "are about spiritual things and life."

John 6:64

For Jesus knew from the beginning who were the ones ... who it was who would betray him

Here John gives background information about what Jesus knew would happen.

John 6:65

no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father

Whoever wants to believe must come to God through the Son. Only God the Father allows people to come to Jesus.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

come to me

"follow me and receive eternal life"

John 6:66

no longer walked with him

They no longer wanted to hear what he had to say.

his disciples

Here "his disciples" refers to the general group of people who followed Jesus.

John 6:67

the twelve

"the twelve disciples"

John 6:68

Lord, to whom would we go?

"Lord, we could never follow anyone but you!"

John 6:70

Did not I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?

"I chose you all myself, yet one of you is a servant of Satan!"

John 7:1

After these things

These words tell the reader that the writer will begin talking about a new event. "After he finished speaking with the disciples"

the Jews were seeking to kill him

"the Jewish leaders were making plans to kill him"

John 7:2

Now the Jewish Festival of Shelters was near

"Now the time for the festival of the Jews was near" or "Now it was almost time for the Jewish festival of Shelters"

John 7:3

brothers

This refers to the actual younger brothers of Jesus, the sons of Mary and Joseph.

the works that you do

The word "works" refers to the miracles that Jesus had performed.

John 7:4

the world

"all people" or "everyone"

John 7:5

his brothers

"his younger brothers"

John 7:6

My time has not yet come

"It is not the right time for me to end my work"

your time is always ready

"any time is good for you"

John 7:7

The world cannot hate you

"The people in the world cannot hate you"

I testify about it that its works are evil

"I tell them that what they are doing is evil"

John 7:8

my time has not yet been fulfilled

"It is not the right time for me to go to Jerusalem"

John 7:10

he also went up

Jerusalem is at a higher elevation than Galilee where Jesus and his brothers were previously.

John 7:11

The Jews were looking for him

"The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus"

John 7:12

he leads the crowds astray

"he deceives the people"

John 7:13

the Jews

"the Jewish leaders"

John 7:15

How does this man know so much?

"It is amazing how much he knows about the scriptures!"

John 7:16

but is of him who sent me

"but comes from God, the one who sent me"

John 7:18

but whoever seeks the glory of him who sent him, that person is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him

"when a person only seeks to honor the one who sent him, that person is speaking the truth. He does not lie"

John 7:19

Did not Moses give you the law?

"It was Moses who gave you the law"

keeps the law

"obeys the law"

Why do you seek to kill me?

"You break the Law yourselves and yet you want to kill me!"

John 7:20

You have a demon

"This shows that you are crazy, or maybe a demon is controlling you!"

Who seeks to kill you?

"No one is trying to kill you!"

John 7:21

one work

"one miracle" or "one sign"

you all marvel

"you all are shocked"

John 7:22

on the Sabbath you circumcise a man

"you circumcise a male baby on the on the Jewish Day of Rest. That is working too"

John 7:23

If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken

"If you circumcise a male baby on the Sabbath so that you do not break the law of Moses"

why are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?

"you should not be angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Jewish Day of Rest"

John 7:24

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteously

"Stop judging people according to what you see! Be more concerned with what is right according to God"

John 7:25

Is not this the one they seek to kill?

"This is Jesus whom they are seeking to kill!"

John 7:26

they say nothing to him

"they say nothing to oppose him"

It cannot be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ, can it?

"Maybe they have decided that he is truly the Messiah!"

John 7:28

cried out

"spoke in a loud voice"

in the temple

"in the temple courtyard"

You both know me and know where I come from

"You all know me and you think you know where I come from"

of myself

"on my own authority."

he who sent me is true

"God is the one who sent me and he is true"

John 7:30

his hour had not yet come

"it was not the right time to arrest him"

John 7:31

When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than what this one has done?

"When the Christ comes, surely he will not be able to do more signs than this man has done!"

signs

This refers to the miracles that prove that Jesus is the Christ.

John 7:33

I am still with you for a short amount of time

"I will remain with you for only a short period of time"

then I go to him who sent me

Here Jesus refers to God the Father, who sent him.

John 7:34

where I go, you will not be able to come

"you will not be able to come to the place where I am"

John 7:35

The Jews therefore said among themselves

"The Jewish leaders said among themselves"

the dispersion

This refers to the Jews that were spread all across the Greek world, outside of Palestine.

John 7:36

What is this word that he said

"What is he talking about when he said"

John 7:37

great day

It is "great" because it is the last, or most important, day of the festival.

If anyone is thirsty

"Anyone who desires the things of God like a thirsty man desires water"

let him come to me and drink

"let him come to me and quench his spiritual thirst"

John 7:38

He who believes in me, just as the scripture says

"As the scripture says about anyone who believes in me"

rivers of living water will flow

"spiritual life will flow like rivers of water"

living water

Possible meanings are 1) "water that gives life" or 2) "water that causes people to live."

from his belly

"from inside of him" or "from his heart"

John 7:39

But he

Here "he" refers to Jesus.

the Spirit had not yet been given

"the Spirit had not yet come to live in the believers"

because Jesus was not yet glorified

Here the word "glorified" refers to the time when God would honor the Son after his death and resurrection.

John 7:40

This is indeed the prophet

"This is indeed the prophet who is like Moses that we have been waiting for"

John 7:41

Does the Christ come from Galilee?

"The Christ cannot come from Galilee!"

John 7:42

Have the scriptures not said that the Christ will come from the descendants of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?

"The scriptures teach that Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived!"

Have the scriptures not said ... was?

"Did the prophets not write in the scriptures ... was?" or "The prophets wrote in the scriptures ... was."

John 7:43

So there arose a division in the crowds because of him

The crowds could not agree about who or what Jesus was.

John 7:44

but no one laid hands on him

"but no one grabbed him to arrest him"

John 7:45

the officers

"the temple guards"

John 7:46

Never has anyone spoken like this

"We have never heard anyone say such amazing things as this man!"

John 7:47

So the Pharisees answered them

"Because they said that, the Pharisees answered the officers"

Have you also been deceived?

"You have been deceived too!"

John 7:48

Have any of the rulers believed in him, or any of the Pharisees?

"None of the rulers or Pharisees have believed in him!"

John 7:49

the law

This is a reference to the law of the Pharisees and not the law of Moses.

But this crowd that does not know the law, they are cursed

"As for this crowd that does not know the law, God will cause them to perish!"

John 7:51

Does our law judge a man ... does?

"Do we judge a man ... does?" or "We do not judge a man ... does."

John 7:52

Are you also from Galilee?

"You must also be one of those inferior persons from Galilee!"

Search and see

"Search carefully and read what is written in the Scriptures"

no prophet comes from Galilee

This probably refers to the belief that Jesus was born in Galilee.

John 8:2

all the people

This is a general way of speaking. It means "many people."

John 8:3

General Information:

While some texts have 7:53-8:11, the best and earliest texts do not include them.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought

"Some scribes and Pharisees brought" or "Some men who taught the Jewish laws and some who were Pharisees brought"

a woman caught in the act of adultery

"a woman whom they had found committing adultery"

John 8:5

such people

"people like that" or "people who do that"

what do you say about her?

"so you tell us. What should we do about her?"

John 8:6

to trap him

This means to use a trick question.

so that they might have something to accuse him about

"so that they could accuse him of saying something wrong" or "so that they could accuse him of not obeying the law of Moses or the Roman law"

John 8:7

When they continued

The word "they" refers to the scribes and Pharisees.

The one among you who has no sin

"The one among you is has never sinned" or "If any one of you has never sinned"

let him

"let that person"

John 8:10

Woman, where are your accusers

When Jesus called her "woman," he was not trying to make her feel insignificant. If people in your language group would think that he was doing that, this can be translated without the word "Woman."

John 8:12

I am the light of the world

"I am the one who gives light to the world"

the world

"the people of the world"

he who follows me

"everyone who does what I teach" or "everyone who obeys me"

will not walk in the darkness

"will not live as if he were in the darkness of sin"

light of life

"truth that brings eternal life"

John 8:13

You testify about yourself

"You are just saying these things about yourself"

your testimony is not true

"you cannot be your own witness" or "what you say about yourself may not be true"

John 8:14

Even if I testify about myself

"Even if I say these things about myself"

John 8:15

the flesh

"human standards and the laws of men"

I judge no one

Possible meanings are 1) "I do not judge anyone yet" or 2) "I am not judging anyone now."

John 8:16

if I judge

Possible meanings are 1) "if I judge people" or 2) "whenever I judge people"

my judgment is true

Possible meanings are 1) "my judgment will be right" or 2) "my judgment is right."

I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me

Jesus, the Son of God, has authority because of his special relationship with his Father.

I am with the Father who sent me

"the Father who sent me also judges with me" or "the Father who sent me judges as I do"

the Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 8:17

Yes, and in your law

The word "Yes" shows that Jesus is adding to what he was saying before.

it is written

"Moses wrote"

the testimony of two men is true

"if two men say the same thing, then people know it is true"

John 8:18

I am he who testifies about myself

"I give evidence to you about myself"

the Father who sent me testifies about me

"my Father who sent me also brings evidence about me. So you should believe that what we tell you is true"

the Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 8:19

You know neither me nor my Father; if you had known me, you would have known my Father also

Jesus indicates that to know him is to also know the Father. Both Father and Son are God. "Father" and "Son" are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

John 8:20

his hour had not yet come

"it was not yet the right time for Jesus to die"

John 8:21

die in your sin

"die while you are still sinful" or "you will die while you are sinning"

you cannot come

"you are not able to come"

John 8:22

The Jews said

"The Jewish leaders said" or "The Jewish authorities said"

John 8:23

You are from below

"You were born in this world"

I am from above

"I came from heaven"

You are of this world

"You belong to this world"

I am not of this world

"I do not belong to this world"

John 8:24

you will die in your sins

"you will die without God's forgiving your sins"

that I AM

Possible meanings are 1) Jesus is identifying himself as Yahweh, who identified himself to Moses as "I AM," or 2) Jesus expects the people to understand that he is referring to what he already has already said about himself: "I am from above."

John 8:26

these things I say to the world

"these things I say to all the people"

John 8:27

the Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 8:28

When you have lifted up

This refers to placing Jesus on the cross to kill him.

lifted up the Son of Man

Jesus used the title "Son of Man" to refer to himself. Alternate translation: "lifted me, the Son of Man, up"

I AM

Possible meanings are 1) Jesus is identifying himself as Yahweh, who identified himself to Moses as "I AM," or 2) Jesus is saying, "I am the one I claim to be."

As the Father taught me, I speak these things

"I am only saying what my Father taught me to say."

John 8:29

He who sent me

The word "He" refers to God.

John 8:30

many believed in him

"many people trusted him"

John 8:31

remain in my word

"obey what I have said"

my disciples

"my followers"

John 8:32

the truth will set you free

"if you obey what is true about God, God will set you free"

John 8:33

how can you say, 'You will be set free'?

"We do not need to be set free!"

John 8:34

Truly, truly

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true.

is the slave of sin

"is like a slave to sin"

John 8:35

in the house forever

"as a permanent member of a family"

the son remains forever

"the son is a member of the family forever"

John 8:36

If I, the Son, set you free, you will be truly free

"if the Son sets you free, you will truly be able to refrain from sin"

John 8:37

my word has no place in you

"you do not accept my teachings" or "you do not allow my message to change your life"

John 8:38

I say what I have seen with my Father

"I am telling you about the things I saw when I was with my Father"

you also do what you heard from your father

"you also continue doing what your father has told you to do"

John 8:39

father

forefather

John 8:40

Abraham did not do this

"Abraham never tried to kill anyone who told him the true revelation from God"

John 8:41

You do the works of your father

"No! You are doing the things that your real father did"

We were not born in sexual immorality

"We do not know about you, but we are not illegitimate children" or "We were all born from proper marriages"

we have one Father: God

Here the Jewish leaders claim God as their spiritual Father. This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 8:42

love

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.

John 8:43

Why do you not understand my words?

"I will tell you why you do not understand what I say!"

It is because you cannot hear my words

"It is because you will not accept my teachings.

John 8:44

You are of your father, the devil

"You belong to your father, Satan"

the father of lies

"he is the one who created all lies in the beginning"

John 8:46

Which one of you convicts me of sin?

"None of you can show that I have ever sinned!"

If I speak the truth

"If I say things that are true"

why do you not believe me?

"you have no reason for not believing in me!"

John 8:47

the words of God

"the message of God" or "the truth that comes from God"

John 8:48

The Jews

"The Jewish leaders"

Do we not truly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?

"We are certainly right in saying that you are a Samaritan and that a demon lives in you!"

John 8:51

keeps my word

"obeys my teachings" or "does what I say"

see death

"die spiritually"

John 8:52

Jews

"Jewish leaders"

If anyone keeps my word

"If anyone obeys my teaching"

taste death

"die"

John 8:53

You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?

"You are certainly not greater than our father Abraham who indeed died!"

father

forefather

Who do you make yourself out to be?

"You should not think that you are so important!"

John 8:54

it is my Father who glorifies me—about whom you say that he is your God

"it is my Father who honors me, and you say that he is your God"

John 8:55

keep his word

"I obey what he says to do"

John 8:56

my day

"what I would do during my life"

he saw it and was glad

"he foresaw my coming through God's revelation and he rejoiced"

John 8:57

The Jews said to him

"The Jewish leaders said to him"

You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?

"You are less than fifty years old. You could not have seen Abraham!"

John 8:58

I AM

Possible meanings are 1) Jesus is identifying himself as Yahweh, who identified himself to Moses as "I AM," or 2) Jesus is saying, "before Abraham existed, I existed."

John 8:59

Then they picked up stones to throw at him

"Then they picked up stones to kill him because he claimed to be equal with God"

John 9:1

as Jesus passed by

"as Jesus and his disciples passed by"

John 9:2

who sinned, this man or his parents, so that he was born blind?

"Teacher, we know that sin causes a person to be blind. Whose sin caused this man to be born blind? Did this man himself sin, or was it his parents who sinned?"

John 9:5

in the world

"living among the people of this world"

the light of the world

"the one who shows what is true, just as light allows people to see what is in the darkness"

John 9:6

made mud with the saliva

"and used his fingers to mix the dirt and saliva to make mud"

John 9:7

which is translated "Sent"

"which means 'Sent'"

John 9:8

Is not this the man that used to sit and beg?

"This man is the one who used to sit and beg!"

John 9:14

Sabbath day

"Jewish Day of Rest"

John 9:16

he does not keep the Sabbath

This means Jesus does not obey the law about doing no work on the Jewish Day of Rest.

How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?

"A sinner can not do such signs!"

signs

This is another word for miracles. "Signs" give evidence that God is the all-powerful one who has complete authority over the universe.

John 9:18

Now the Jews still did not believe

"Now the Jewish leaders still did not believe"

John 9:22

they were afraid of the Jews

"they were afraid of what the Jewish leaders might do to them"

would confess him to be the Christ

"would say that Jesus is the Christ"

he would be thrown out of the synagogue

"he would not be allowed to go into the synagogue" or "he would no longer belong to the synagogue"

John 9:24

Give glory to God

"In the presence of God, tell the truth" or "Speak the truth before God"

this man

This refers to Jesus.

John 9:25

that man

This refers to the man who had been blind.

John 9:27

Why do you want to hear it again?

"I am surprised that you want to hear again what happened to me!"

You do not want to become his disciples too, do you?

"It sounds like you also want to become his disciples!"

John 9:28

You are his disciple

"You are following Jesus!"

but we are disciples of Moses

"but we are following Moses"

John 9:29

We know that God has spoken to Moses

"We are sure that God has spoken to Moses"

we do not know where this one is from

"we do not know where he comes from or where he gets his authority"

John 9:30

that you do not know where he is from

"that you do not know where he gets his authority"

John 9:31

does not listen to sinners ... he listens to him

"does not answer the prayers of sinners ... God answers his prayers"

John 9:32

Since the world began

"Since the beginning of time" or "As far back as anyone can remember"

it has never been heard that anyone opened

"no one has ever heard of anyone who healed a man who was blind from birth"

John 9:33

If this man were not from God, he could do nothing

"Only a man from God could do something like that"

John 9:34

You were completely born in sins, and you are teaching us?

"You were born as a result of your parents' sins. You are not qualified to teach us!"

they threw him out

"they threw him out of the synagogue"

John 9:35

believe in the Son of Man

This means to "believe in Jesus," to believe that he is the Son of God, to trust him as Savior, and live in a way that honors him.

the Son of Man

Here the reader needs to understand that Jesus was speaking as if "the Son of Man" were another person. The man who had been born blind did not realize that Jesus was speaking of himself when he spoke of "the Son of Man." You should translate so that the man does not learn that Jesus is the Son of Man until verse 37.

John 9:39

came into this world

"came to live among the people of this world"

so that those who do not see may see

"so that those who do not see spiritually may see spiritually"

so that those who see

"so that those who think that they see spiritually"

may become blind

"may never see spiritually"

John 9:40

and asked him, "Are we also blind?"

"and said to him, 'Are you saying that we are blind?'" or "and said to him, 'You seem to be saying that we, too, are blind.'"

John 9:41

If you were blind, you would have no sin

"If you truly were spiritually blind, you would not be guilty of your sin"

but now you say, 'We see,' so your sin remains

"but since you think that you understand spiritual truth, you remain guilty of your sin"

John 10:1

sheep pen

This is a fenced area where a shepherd keeps his sheep.

John 10:3

The gatekeeper opens for him

"The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd"

The gatekeeper

This is a hired man who watches the gate of the sheep pen at night while the shepherd is away.

The sheep hear his voice

"The sheep hear the shepherd's voice"

John 10:4

he goes ahead of them

"he walks in front of them"

for they know his voice

"because they recognize his voice"

John 10:6

they did not understand

Possible meanings: 1) "the disciples did not understand" or 2) "the crowd did not understand."

this parable

The "sheep" represent those who follow Jesus, and the "strangers" are the Jewish leaders, including the Pharisees, who try to deceive the people.

John 10:7

I am the gate of the sheep

"I am like the gate that the sheep use to enter into the sheepfold"

John 10:8

Everyone who came before me

"All of the teachers who came without my authority"

a thief and a robber

Jesus calls those teachers "a thief and a robber" because their teachings were false, and they were trying to lead God's people while not understanding the truth. As a result, they deceived the people.

John 10:9

I am the gate

"I myself am like that gate"

pasture

The word "pasture" means a grassy area where sheep eat.

John 10:10

does not come except to steal and kill and destroy

"comes only to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep"

so that they will have life

"so that they will really live, lacking nothing"

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd

"I am like a good shepherd"

lays down his life

"dies"

John 10:12

The hired servant

"The one who is like a hired servant"

abandons the sheep

Like a hired servant who abandons the sheep, Jesus says that the Jewish leaders and teachers do not care for God's people.

John 10:13

does not care for the sheep

Jesus says that the Jewish leaders and teachers are like a hired servant who abandons the sheep, and they do not care for God's people.

John 10:14

I am the good shepherd

"I am like a good shepherd"

John 10:15

The Father knows me, and I know the Father

God the Father and God the Son know each other unlike anyone else knows them. This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

I lay down my life for the sheep

"I die for the sheep"

John 10:16

I have other sheep

Here "other sheep" refers to followers of Jesus who are not Jews.

one flock and one shepherd

All of Jesus's followers, Jews and non-Jews, will be like one flock of sheep. He will be like a shepherd who cares for all of them.

John 10:17

This is why the Father loves me: I lay down my life

God's eternal plan was for God the Son to give his life to pay for the sins of humanity. Jesus's death on the cross reveals the intense love of the Son for the Father and of the Father for the Son.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

loves

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves. This kind of love cares for others, no matter what they do.

I lay down my life so that I may take it again

"I allow myself to die in order that I may bring myself back to life"

John 10:18

I lay it down of myself

"I myself lay it down"

I have received this command from my Father

"This is what my Father has commanded me to do." The word "Father" is an important title for God.

John 10:20

Why do you listen to him?

"Do not listen to him!"

John 10:21

Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

"Certainly a demon cannot cause a blind man to see!" or "Certainly a demon cannot give sight to blind people!"

John 10:22

It was winter

Winter is the coldest time of the year. You may use your language's term for the coldest season if your reader understands that in Israel this was in December, not in June.

Festival of the Dedication

This is an eight-day winter holiday Jews use to remember a miracle where God made a small amount of oil remain lit in a lampstand for eight days. They lit the lampstand to dedicate the Jewish temple to God. To dedicate something is to promise to use it for a special purpose.

John 10:23

Jesus was walking in the temple

"Jesus was walking in the temple courtyard"

porch

This is a structure attached to the entrance of a building; it has a roof and it may or may not have walls.

John 10:24

Then the Jews surrounded him

"Then the Jewish leaders surrounded him"

hold us doubting

"keep us wondering" or "keep us from knowing for sure"

John 10:25

in the name of my Father

"through my Father's power" or "with my Father's power"

these testify concerning me

"these offer proof concerning me"

John 10:26

not my sheep

"not my followers" or "not my disciples"

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice

"Just as sheep obey the voice of their true shepherd, my followers heed my voice"

John 10:28

no one will snatch them out of my hand

"no one will steal them away from me" or "they will remain secure forever in my care"

John 10:29

My Father, who has given them to me

The word "Father" is an important title for God.

snatch them out of the hand of the Father

"steal them from my Father"

John 10:30

I and the Father are one

"I and the Father are completely united" or "I and the Father are exactly alike"

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 10:31

Then the Jews took up stones again

"Then the Jewish leaders started picking up stones again"

John 10:32

Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father

Jesus performed the miracles by the power of God. The word "Father" is an important title for God.

For which of those works are you stoning me?

This question uses irony. Jesus knows the Jewish leaders do not want to stone him because he has done good works.

John 10:33

The Jews answered him

"The Jewish opponents replied" or "The Jewish leaders answered him"

making yourself God

"claiming to be God"

John 10:34

Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'?

"You should already know that it is written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods."'"

You are gods

Here Jesus quotes a scripture where God calls his followers "gods," perhaps because he has chosen them to represent him on earth.

John 10:35

the word of God came

"God spoke his message"

the scripture cannot be broken

Possible meanings are 1) "no one can change the scripture" or 2) "the scripture will always be true."

John 10:36

do you say to him whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

"you should not say to the very one whom the Father set apart to send into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' when I say that I am the Son of God!"

You are blaspheming

"You are insulting God." Jesus's opponents understood that when said that he is the Son of God, he was implying that he is equal with God.

Father ... Son of God

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

John 10:37

believe me

Here the word "believe" means to accept or trust what Jesus said is true.

John 10:38

believe in the works

Here "believe in" is to acknowledge that the works Jesus does are from the Father.

the Father is in me and that I am in the Father

"my Father and I are completely joined together as one"

John 10:39

went away out of their hand

"got away from them again"

John 10:40

beyond the Jordan

"to the east side of the Jordan River"

he stayed there

"Jesus stayed there for several days"

John 10:41

John indeed did no signs, but all the things that John has said about this man are true

"It is true that John did no signs, but he certainly did speak the truth about this man, who does signs."

signs

These are miracles that prove that something is true or that give someone credibility.

John 10:42

believed in

Here "believed in" means accepted or trusted what Jesus said was true.

John 11:3

sent for Jesus

"asked Jesus to come"

love

Here "love" refers to brotherly love, a natural, human love between friends or relatives.

John 11:4

This sickness is not to death

"Death will not be the final result of this sickness"

death

This refers to physical death.

but instead it is for the glory of God so that the Son of God may be glorified by it

"but the purpose is that the people might see how great God is because of what his power will allow me to do"

Son of God

This is an important title for Jesus.

John 11:8

Rabbi, right now the Jews are trying to stone you, and you are going back there again?

"Teacher, you surely do not want to go back there! The Jewish leaders were trying to stone you the last time you were there!"

John 11:9

Are there not twelve hours of light in a day?

"You know that the day has twelve hours of light!"

If someone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world

Jesus is implying that people who live according to truth will be able to successfully do the things that God wants them to do.

John 11:10

the light is not in him

Possible meanings are 1) "he cannot see" or "he does not have God's light."

John 11:11

Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep

Jesus meant that Lazarus had died, but the disciples did not understand this. So it is important to keep the idea of sleeping in the translation.

but I am going so that I may wake him out of sleep

"but I am going there to wake him up"

John 11:12

if he has fallen asleep

The disciples misunderstand Jesus to mean that Lazarus is resting and will recover.

John 11:14

Then Jesus said to them plainly

"So Jesus told them in words that they could understand"

John 11:15

for your sakes

"for your benefit"

that I was not there so that you may believe

"that I was not there. Because of this you will learn to trust me more"

John 11:16

who was called Didymus

"whom they called Didymus," which means 'twin."

John 11:17

he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days

"he learned that people had put Lazarus in a tomb four days before"

John 11:18

fifteen stadia away

"about three kilometers away."

John 11:19

about their brother

"about their younger brother"

John 11:21

my brother would not have died

"my younger brother would still be alive"

John 11:23

Your brother will rise again

"Your younger brother will become alive again"

John 11:24

he will rise again

"he will become alive again"

John 11:25

I am the resurrection and the life

"I am the one who raises those who die and causes them to live again"

he who believes in me, even if he dies, will live

"even a person who dies will live forever, if he believes in me"

John 11:26

whoever lives and believes in me will never die

"those who live and trust in me will never be separated eternally from God" or "those who live and trust in me will be spiritually alive with God forever"

John 11:27

She said to him

"Martha said to Jesus"

Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God ... coming into the world

Martha believes that Jesus is Lord, the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God.

Son of God

This is an important title for Jesus.

John 11:28

she went away and called her sister Mary

"she went away and called her younger sister Mary"

Teacher

This is a title referring to Jesus.

is calling for you

"is asking that you come"

John 11:32

fell down at his feet

Mary lay down or knelt at the feet of Jesus to show respect.

my brother would not have died

"my younger brother would still be alive"

John 11:33

he was deeply moved in his spirit and was troubled

"he was greatly upset"

John 11:34

Where have you laid him

"Where have you buried him?"

John 11:35

Jesus wept

"Jesus began to cry" or "Jesus started crying"

John 11:36

loved

This refers to brotherly love or human love for a friend or family member.

John 11:37

Could not this man, who opened the eyes of a blind man, also have made this man not die?

"He could heal a man who was blind, so he should have been able to heal this man so he would not have died!" or "Since he did not keep this man from dying, maybe he did not really heal the man who was born blind, as they say he did!"

John 11:39

Martha, the sister of Lazarus

"Martha, the older sister of Lazarus"

by this time the body will be decaying

"by this time there will be a bad smell" or "the body is already stinking"

John 11:40

Did I not say to you that, if you believed, you would see the glory of God?

"I told you that if you trusted me, you would see what God can do!"

John 11:41

Jesus lifted up his eyes

"Jesus looked up toward heaven"

Father, I thank you that you listened to me

"Father, I thank you that you have heard me" or "Father, I thank you that you have heard my prayer"

John 11:42

that you have sent me

"that I am here because you have sent me to them"

John 11:43

After he had said this

"After Jesus had prayed"

he cried out with a loud voice

"he shouted"

John 11:44

his feet and hands were bound with cloths, and his face was bound about with a cloth

"Someone had wrapped strips of cloth around his hands and feet. They had also tied a cloth around his face"

Jesus said to them

The word "them" refers to the people who were there and saw the miracle.

John 11:47

Then the chief priests

"Then the leaders among the priests"

What will we do?

"What are we going to do about Jesus?"

John 11:48

all will believe in him

"everyone will trust in him and rebel against Rome"

the Romans will come

"the Roman army will come"

take away both our place and our nation

"destroy both our temple and our nation"

John 11:49

a certain man among them

This is a way to introduce a new character to the story. If you have a way to do this in your language, you can use it here.

You know nothing

"You do not understand what is happening" or "You speak as though you know nothing"

John 11:50

than that the whole nation perishes

"than that the Romans kill all the people of our nation"

John 11:51

die for the nation

The word "nation" refers to the people of the nation of Israel.

John 11:52

and not only for the nation

"and that he should die not only for the nation"

would be gathered together into one

"would be gathered into one people"

children of God

This refers to people who belong to God through faith in Jesus and are spiritually God's children.

John 11:54

walk openly among the Jews

"live where all the Jews could see him" or "walk openly among the Jewish leaders who opposed him"

the country

the rural area outside cities where fewer people live

There he stayed with the disciples

"There he stayed with his disciples for a short period of time"

John 11:56

They were looking for Jesus

The word "they" refers to the Jewish people who had traveled to Jerusalem.

What do you think? That he will not come to the festival?

"Do you think that he will come to the festival?" or "I do not know what to think. He might come to the festival, or he might not." 2) The speakers were sure that Jesus would not come. Alternate translation: "We can be sure that he will not come to the festival."

John 12:1

Six days before the Passover

The author uses these words to mark the beginning of a new event.

had raised from the dead

"had made alive again"

John 12:3

a litra

You may convert this to a the measure system used in your area. The word "litra" was used for measures of about 300 milliliters of liquids or about 300 grams of solids. Because the perfume was a liquid, the word here probably refers to the liquid measure as guessed by those who saw the size of the container.

perfume

This is a good-smelling liquid made by using the oils of pleasant smelling plants and flowers.

nard

This is a perfume made from a pink, bell-shaped flower in the mountains of Nepal, China, and India.

The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume

"The scent of her perfume filled the house"

John 12:4

the one who would betray him

"the one who later enabled Jesus's enemies to seize him"

John 12:5

Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?

"This perfume could have been sold for three hundred denarii and the money could have been given to the poor!"

denarii

A denarius was the amount of silver that a common laborer could earn in one day of work.

John 12:6

he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief

"he said this because he was a thief. He did not care about the poor"

John 12:7

Allow her to keep what she has for the day of my burial

"Allow her to show how much she appreciates me! In this way she has prepared my body for burial"

John 12:8

You will always have the poor with you

"There will always be poor people among you, and you can help them whenever you want"

But you will not always have me

"But I will not always be here with you"

John 12:11

believed in Jesus

"were putting their trust in Jesus"

John 12:13

Hosanna

This means "May God save us now!"

Blessed

This expresses a desire for God to cause good things to happen to a person.

comes in the name of the Lord

"comes as the representative of the Lord" or "comes in the power of the Lord"

John 12:14

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it

"he found a young donkey and sat on it, riding into the city"

as it was written

"as the prophets wrote in the Scripture"

John 12:15

daughter of Zion

"you people of Jerusalem"

John 12:16

His disciples did not understand these things

Here the words "these things" refer to the words that the prophet had written about Jesus.

when Jesus was glorified

"when God glorified Jesus"

they had done these things to him

The words "these things" refer to what the people did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey

John 12:18

this sign

A "sign" is an event or occurrence that proves something is true. In this case, the "sign" of raising Lazarus proves that Jesus is the Messiah.

John 12:19

Look, you can do nothing good

"It seems like we can do nothing to stop him"

see, the world has gone after him

"It looks like everyone is becoming his disciple"

John 12:20

Now certain Greeks

The phrase "now certain" marks the introduction of new characters to the story.

Greeks ... to worship at the festival

"Greeks ... to worship God at the Passover festival"

John 12:21

Bethsaida

This was a town in the province of Galilee.

John 12:22

they told Jesus

"they told Jesus what the Greeks had said"

John 12:23

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified

"God will soon honor me when I die and rise again"

John 12:24

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies ... it will bear much fruit

Just as a seed is planted and grows again into a plant that will bear much fruit, so will many people trust in Jesus after he is killed, buried, and raised back to life.

John 12:25

He who loves his life will lose it

"Whoever values his own life more than the lives of others will not receive eternal life"

he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life

"whoever considers the lives of others as more important than his own life will live with God forever"

John 12:26

where I am, there will my servant also be

"when I am in heaven, my servant will also be there with me"

the Father will honor him

Here "Father" is an important title for God.

John 12:27

what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?

"I will not pray, 'Father, save me from this hour!'"

Father

TThis refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

this hour

Here "this hour" is a metonym that represents when Jesus would suffer and die on the cross.

John 12:28

glorify your name

"make your glory known" or "reveal your glory"

a voice came from heaven

"God spoke from the heavens"

John 12:31

Now is the judgment of this world

"Now is the time for God to judge all of the people"

Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out

"Now is the time when I will destroy the power of Satan, who rules this world"

John 12:32

When I am lifted up from the earth

"When people raise me high on a cross"

will draw everyone to myself

Through his crucifixion, Jesus will provide a way for everyone to trust in him.

John 12:33

He said this to indicate what kind of death he would die

"He said this to let the people know how he would die"

John 12:34

The Son of Man must be lifted up

"The Son of Man must be lifted up on a cross"

Who is this Son of Man?

Possible meanings are 1) "What is the identity of this Son of Man? or 2) "What kind of Son of Man are you talking about?"

John 12:35

The light will still be with you for a short amount of time. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going

"My words are like a light to you, to help you understand how to live as God wants you to. I will not be with you much longer. You need to follow my instructions while I am still with you. If you reject my words, it will be like walking in darkness and you cannot see where you are going"

John 12:36

While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may be sons of light

"While I am with you, believe what I teach so that God's truth will be in you"

John 12:38

so that the word of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled

"in order to fulfill the message of Isaiah the prophet"

Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

"Lord, hardly anyone has believed our message, even though they have seen that you are powerfully able to save them!"

the arm of the Lord

The arm of the Lord refers to the Lord's ability to rescue with power.

John 12:40

he has hardened their heart ... understand with their heart

"he has made them stubborn ... truly understand"

and turn

"and they would repent"

John 12:42

so that they would not be banned from the synagogue

"so people would not stop them from going to the synagogue"

John 12:43

They loved the glory that comes from people more than the glory that comes from God

"They wanted people to praise them more than they wanted God to praise them"

John 12:44

Jesus cried out and said

"Jesus shouted out to the crowd that had gathered"

John 12:45

the one who sees me sees him who sent me

"the one who sees me sees God, who sent me"

John 12:46

I have come as a light into the world

"I have come to give light to the people of the world"

may not remain in the darkness

"may not continue to be spiritually blind"

the world

Here "the world" represents all of the people in the world.

John 12:47

If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world

"If anyone hears my teaching and rejects it, I do not condemn him. I have not come to condemn people. Instead, I have come to save those who trust in me"

John 12:48

on the last day

"at the time when God judges people's sins"

John 12:49

Father

his refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 12:50

I know that his command is eternal life

"I know that the words that he commanded me to speak are the words that give life forever"

John 13:1

loved

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves. This kind of love cares for others, no matter what they do.

John 13:2

the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot son of Simon to betray Jesus

"the devil had already caused Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to think about betraying Jesus"

John 13:3

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

had given everything over into his hands

"had given him complete power and authority over everything"

he had come from God and was going back to God

Jesus had always been with the Father, and would return there after his work on earth was finished.

John 13:4

got up from dinner and took off his outer clothing

Because the region was very dusty, it was customary for the host of a dinner to provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests. Jesus took off his outer clothing so he would look like a servant.

John 13:5

began to wash the feet of the disciples

Because the region was very dusty, it was customary for the host of a dinner to provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests. Jesus did the work of the servant by washing the disciples' feet.

John 13:6

Lord, are you going to wash my feet?

"Lord, it is not right for you to wash the feet of me, a sinner!"

John 13:8

If I do not wash you

"If I do not wash your feet"

you have no share with me

"you will not be my disciple" or "you will not belong to me"

John 13:10

He who is bathed has no need, except to wash his feet, but he is completely clean

"He who is bathed has no need, except to wash his feet, because he is completely clean" or "He who is bathed has no need, except to wash his feet; he is completely clean"

John 13:12

Do you understand what I have done for you?

"You need to understand what I have done for you!"

John 13:13

You call me 'teacher' and 'Lord,'

"You show me great respect when you call me 'teacher' and 'Lord.'"

John 13:15

you should also do just as I did for you

"you should also humbly serve each other"

John 13:17

you are blessed

"God will bless you"

John 13:18

this is so that the scripture will be fulfilled

"this is in order to fulfill the scripture"

He who eats my bread lifted up his heel against me

"The one who has pretended to be my friend has turned out to be an enemy"

John 13:19

I tell you this now before it happens

"I am telling you now what is going to happen before it happens"

I AM

Possible meanings are 1) Jesus is identifying himself as Yahweh, who identified himself to Moses as "I AM," or 2) Jesus is saying, "I am the one I claim to be."

John 13:22

The disciples looked at each other, wondering of whom he was speaking.

"The disciples looked at each other and wondered: 'Who will betray Jesus?'"

John 13:23

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved

This refers to John.

lying down at the table

During the time of Christ, Jews would often dine together in the Greek style, in which they lay on their sides on low couches.

Jesus' side

Lying with one's head against the side of another diner in the Greek style was considered to be the place of greatest friendship with him.

loved

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.

John 13:26

Iscariot

This indicates that Judas was from the village of Kerioth.

John 13:27

Then after the bread

"Then after Judas took the bread"

Satan entered into him

"Satan took control of him" or "Satan started to command him"

so Jesus said to him

Here Jesus is speaking to Judas.

What you are doing, do it quickly

"Do quickly what you are planning to do"

John 13:29

that he should give something to the poor

"'Go and give some money to the poor'"

John 13:30

he went out immediately. It was night

"he went out immediately into the dark night"

John 13:31

Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him

"Now people are about to see how the Son of Man will receive honor and how God will receive honor through what the Son of Man is doing"

John 13:32

God will also glorify the Son in himself, and he will glorify him at once

"God himself will immediately give honor to the Son of Man"

John 13:33

Little children

Jesus uses the term "Little children" to communicate that he loves the disciples as though they were his children.

as I said to the Jews

"as I said to the Jewish leaders"

John 13:35

everyone

You may need to make explicit that this exaggeration refers only to those people who see how the disciples love each other.

John 13:37

lay down my life

"give up my life" or "die"

John 13:38

Will you lay down your life for me?

"You say that you will die for me, but the truth is that you will not!"

the rooster will not crow before you have denied me three times

"you will say that you do not know me three times before the rooster crows"

John 14:1

Do not let your heart be troubled

"Stop being so anxious and worried"

John 14:2

In my Father's house

This refers to heaven, where God lives.

many rooms

The word "room" can refer to a single room, or to a larger dwelling.

I am going to prepare a place for you

Jesus will prepare a place in heaven for every person who trusts in him. The "you" is plural and refers to all his disciples.

John 14:4

the way

Possible meanings of this metaphor are 1) "the way to God" or 2) "the one who takes people to God."

John 14:5

how can we know the way?

"how can we know how to get there?"

John 14:6

the truth

Possible meanings of this metaphor are 1) "the true person" or 2) "the one who speaks true words about God."

the life

"the one who can make people alive"

no one comes to the Father except through me

"everyone comes to the Father only through me" or "the only way anyone comes to the Father is through me"

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 14:9

I have been with you for such a long time and you still do not know me, Philip?

"Philip, I have been with you disciples already for a very long time. You should know me by now!"

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father

To see Jesus, who is God the Son, is to see God the Father. This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

"So you really should not be saying, 'Show us the Father!'"

John 14:10

Do you not believe ... in me?

"You really should believe ... in me."

The words that I say to you I do not speak from my own authority

"What I am telling you is not from me" or "The words I tell you are not from me"

The words that I say to you

Here "you" is plural. Jesus is now speaking to all of his disciples.

John 14:11

I am in the Father, and the Father is in me

"I am one with the Father, and the Father is one with me" or "my Father and I are just as though we were one"

John 14:12

believes in me

This means to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

John 14:13

Whatever you ask in my name

"Whatever you ask, using my authority"

so that the Father will be glorified in the Son

"so I can show everyone how great my Father is"

Father ... Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

John 14:14

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

"If you ask me anything as one of my followers, I will do it" or "Whatever you ask of me, I will do it because you belong to me"

John 14:16

another Comforter

This refers to the Holy Spirit.

John 14:17

Spirit of truth

This refers to the Holy Spirit who teaches people what is true about God.

The world cannot receive him because it does not

"The unbelieving people in this world will never welcome him because they do not" or "Those who oppose God will not accept him because they do not"

John 14:18

leave you as orphans

"leave you with no one to care for you"

John 14:19

the world

"the unbelievers"

John 14:20

you will know that I am in my Father

"you will know that my Father and I are just like one person"

you are in me, and that I am in you

"you and I are just like one person"

John 14:21

he who loves me will be loved by my Father

"my Father will love anyone who loves me"

my Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 14:22

Judas (not Iscariot)

This refers to another disciple whose name was Judas, not to the disciple who was from the village of Kerioth who betrayed Jesus.

why is it that you will show yourself to us

"why will you reveal yourself only to us" or "why will you only let us see how wonderful you are"

not to the world

"not to those who do not belong to God"

John 14:23

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word

"The one who loves me will do what I have told him to do"

we will come to him and we will make our home with him

"we will come to live with him, and will have a personal relationship with him"

John 14:24

The word that you hear is not from me but from the Father who sent me

"The things I have told you are not things that I have decided to say on my own"

The word

"The message"

that you hear

Here when Jesus says "you" he is speaking to all of his disciples.

John 14:27

world

The "world" refers to those people who do not love God.

Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid

"So stop being anxious, and do not be afraid"

John 14:28

I am going to the Father

"I am going back to the Father"

the Father is greater than I

"the Father has greater authority than I have here"

John 14:30

the ruler of this world is coming

"Satan, who rules this world, is coming to attack me"

John 14:31

in order that the world will know

"in order that the ones who do not belong to God may know"

John 15:1

I am the true vine

"I am like a vine that produces good fruit"

my Father is the gardener

"my Father is like a gardener"

my Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 15:2

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit

Here "every branch" represents people, and "bear fruit" represents living in a way that pleases God.

takes away

"cuts off and takes away"

prunes every branch

"trims every branch"

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the message that I have spoken to you

"It is as if you have already been pruned and are clean branches because you have obeyed what I have taught you"

you

The word "you" throughout this passage is plural and refers to the disciples of Jesus.

John 15:4

Remain in me, and I in you

"If you remain joined to me, I will remain joined to you" or "Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you"

unless you remain in me

"unless you stay joined to me and depend upon me for everything"

John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches

"I am like a vine, and you are like branches that are attached to the vine"

He who remains in me and I in him

"He who stays joined to me and I stay joined to him"

he bears much fruit

"you will bear much fruit"

John 15:6

he is thrown away like a branch and dries up

"the vinedresser throws him away like a branch and it dries up"

they are burned up

"the fire burns them"

John 15:7

ask whatever you wish

"ask God whatever you wish"

John 15:8

My Father is glorified in this, that

"It causes people to honor my Father when"

My Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

in this, that you bear much fruit

"when you live in a way that pleases him"

prove that you are my disciples

"show you are my disciples" or "demonstrate you are my disciples"

John 15:9

As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you

Jesus shares the love that God the Father has for him with those who trust in him. Father refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

Remain in my love

"Continue to accept my love"

John 15:10

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, as I have kept the commandments of my Father and remain in his love

"When you do the things I have told you to do, you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love"

John 15:11

I have spoken these things to you so that my joy will be in you

"I have told you these things so that you will have the same kind of joy that I have"

so that your joy will be made full

"so that you will be completely joyful" or "so that your joy may have nothing missing"

John 15:15

everything that I heard from my Father I have made known to you

"I have told you everything my Father told me"

John 15:16

You did not choose me

"You did not decide to become my disciples"

go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain

"live lives that please God so that the results of what you do last forever"

whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you

"Because you belong to me, whatever you ask of the Father, he will give it to you"

John 15:18

the world

the people who do not belong to God and are opposed to him

John 15:19

love

This refers to human, brotherly love or love for a friend or family member.

John 15:20

Remember the word that I said to you

"Remember the message that I spoke to you"

John 15:21

because of my name

"because you belong to me"

John 15:22

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin

"Because I have come and told them God's message, they have no excuse when God judges them for their sins"

John 15:23

He who hates me also hates my Father

To hate God the Son is to hate God the Father.

John 15:24

If I had not done the works ... they would have no sin, but

"Because I have done the works ... they have sin, and"

they would have no sin

"they would not be guilty of sin."

they have seen and hated both me and my Father

To hate God the Son is to hate God the Father.

John 15:25

to fulfill the word that is written in their law

"to fulfill the prophecy in their law"

law

This refers generally to the entire Old Testament, which contained all of God's instructions for his people.

John 15:26

will send ... from the Father ... the Spirit of truth ... he will testify about me

God the Father would soon send God the Spirit to show the world that Jesus is God the Son.

the Spirit of truth

"the Spirit who tells the truth about God and me"

John 15:27

You also must testify

You also must tell everyone what you know about me"

You also must

"You also will"

the beginning

"from the very first days when I began teaching the people and doing miracles"

John 16:1

you will not fall away

"you will not stop trusting" or "you will not stop believing in me because of the difficulties you must face"

John 16:2

the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is offering a service to God

"it will someday happen that people who kill you will think they are doing something good for God."

John 16:3

They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me

They will kill some believers because they do not know God the Father or Jesus.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 16:4

when their hour comes

"when they cause you to suffer"

in the beginning

"when you first started following me"

John 16:6

sorrow has filled your heart

"you are now very sad"

John 16:7

if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you

"the Comforter will come to you only if I go away"

Comforter

This is a title for the Holy Spirit, who will be with the disciples after Jesus goes away.

John 16:8

the Comforter will prove the world to be wrong about sin

When the Holy Spirit came, he began to show people that they were sinners.

Comforter

This refers to the Holy Spirit. See how you translated this in John 14:16.

world

This refers to the people in the world.

John 16:9

about sin, because they do not believe in me

"they are guilty of sin because they do not trust in me"

John 16:10

about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see me

"when I return to God, and they see me no more, they will know that I did the right things"

John 16:11

about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged

"God will hold them accountable and will punish them for their sins, just as he will punish Satan, the one who rules this world"

because the ruler of this world has

"because Satan, who rules this world, has"

John 16:12

you cannot bear them

"you cannot understand them" Or 2) being able to obey the words. Alternate translation: "you cannot obey them"

John 16:13

the Spirit of truth

This is the Holy Spirit, who will tell the people the truth about God.

he will guide you into all the truth

"he will teach you all the spiritual truth you need to know"

he will say whatever he hears

"he will say whatever God tells him to say"

John 16:14

he will take from what is mine and he will tell it to you

"he will reveal to you that what I have said and done are indeed true"

John 16:15

the Spirit will take from what is mine and he will tell it to you

"The Holy Spirit will tell everyone that my words and works are true"

John 16:17

A short amount of time you will no longer see me

The disciples did not understand that this refers to Jesus's death on the cross.

after another short amount of time you will see me

Possible meanings are 1) This could refer to Jesus's resurrection or 2) This could refer to Jesus's coming at the end of time.

John 16:19

Is this what you are asking each other, what I meant by saying, ... see me'?

"You are asking each other what I meant when I said, ... see me.'"

John 16:20

Truly, truly, I say to you

Translate this the way your language emphasizes that what follows is important and true.

but the world will be glad

"but the people who oppose God will be glad"

but your sorrow will be turned into joy

"but your sadness will become joy" or "but afterwards instead of being sad you will be very happy"

John 16:22

your heart will be glad

"you will be very happy" or "you will be very joyful"

John 16:23

if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you

"if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you because you belong to me"

in my name

"because you are my followers" or "on my authority"

John 16:24

your joy will be fulfilled

"you will become very joyful"

John 16:25

in figures of speech

"in language that is not clear"

the hour is coming

"it will soon happen"

tell you plainly about the Father

"tell you about the Father in a way that you will clearly understand"

John 16:26

you will ask in my name

"you will ask because you belong to me"

John 16:27

the Father himself loves you because you have loved me

When a person loves Jesus, the Son, they also love the Father, because the Father and the Son are one.

John 16:28

I came from the Father ... I am leaving the world and I am going to the Father

After his death and resurrection, Jesus would return to God the Father.

John 16:31

Do you believe now?

"So, now you finally place your trust in me!

John 16:32

you will be scattered

"others will scatter you"

John 16:33

so that you will have peace in me

"so that you may have inner peace because of your relationship with me"

I have conquered the world

"I have conquered the troubles of this world"

John 17:1

he lifted up his eyes to the heavens

"he looked up to the sky"

Father ... glorify your Son so that the Son will glorify you

Jesus asks God the Father to honor him so that he can give honor to God.

Father ... Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. It is best to translate “Father” and “Son” with the same words that your language uses to refer to a human father and a human son.

the hour has come

"it is time for me to suffer and die"

John 17:2

all flesh

This refers to all people.

John 17:3

This is eternal life ... know you, the only true God, and ... Jesus Christ

Eternal life is to know the only true God, God the Father, and also God the Son.

John 17:4

the work that you have given me to do

Here "work" refers to Jesus's entire earthly ministry.

John 17:5

Father, glorify me along with yourself with the glory that I had with you before the world was made

"Father, give me honor by bringing me into your presence as as I was before we made the world"

John 17:6

I revealed your name

"I taught who you really are and what you are like"

from the world

Here "world refers to the people of the world that oppose God. This means that God has separated the believers spiritually from the people who do not believe in him.

kept your word

"obeyed your teaching"

John 17:9

I do not pray for the world

"I am not praying for those who do not belong to you"

John 17:11

in the world

"among the people who do not belong to you"

Holy Father, keep them ... that they will be one ... as we are one

Jesus asks the Father to keep those who trust in him so they can have a close relationship with God.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

keep them in your name that you have given me

"keep them safe by your power and authority, which you have given me"

John 17:12

I kept them safe in your name

"I kept them safe with your protection"

not one of them was destroyed, except for the son of destruction

"the only one among them who was destroyed was the son of destruction"

the son of destruction

"the one whom you long ago decided you would destroy"

so that the scriptures would be fulfilled

"to fulfill the prophecy about him in the scriptures"

John 17:13

the world

These refers to the people who live in the world.

so that they will have my joy fulfilled in themselves

"so that you might give them great joy"

John 17:14

I have given them your word

"I have spoken your message to them"

the world ... because they are not of the world ... I am not of the world

"the people who oppose you ... because they do not belong to those who do not believe ... I do not belong to them"

John 17:15

keep them safe from the evil one

"protect them from Satan, the evil one"

John 17:17

Set them apart by the truth

"Make them your own people by teaching them the truth"

Your word is truth

"Your message is true" or "What you say is true"

John 17:18

into the world

"to the people of the world"

John 17:19

so that they themselves may also be set apart in truth

"so that they may also truly set themselves apart to you"

John 17:20

those who will believe in me through their word

"those who will believe in me because these teach about me"

John 17:21

they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us

Those who trust in Jesus become united with the Father and the Son when they believe.

the world

"the people who do not know God"

John 17:22

The glory that you gave me, I have given to them

"I have honored my followers just as you have honored me"

so that they will be one, just as we are one

"so that you can unite them just as you have united us"

John 17:23

that they may be brought to complete unity

"that they may be completely united"

that the world will know

"that all the people will know"

loved

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.

John 17:24

where I am

"with me in heaven"

to see my glory

"to see my greatness"

before the foundation of the world

"before the world was created" or "before you created the world"

John 17:25

Righteous Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

the world did not know you

"those who do not belong to you do not know what you are like"

John 17:26

I made your name known to them, and I will make it known

"I revealed to them what you are like, and I will continue to do that"

John 18:1

After Jesus spoke these words

The author uses these words to mark the beginning of a new event.

the Kidron Brook

This was a low place in Jerusalem separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. It has a small stream in it only after heavy rains. Many modern English translations read, "the Kidron Valley"

where there was a garden

"where there was a grove of olive trees"

John 18:4

Then Jesus, who knew all the things that were happening to him

"Then Jesus, who knew everything that was about to happen to him"

John 18:5

Jesus of Nazareth

"Jesus, the man from Nazareth"

I am

"I am he"

who betrayed him

"who handed him over"

John 18:6

I am

"I am he"

fell to the ground

"fell down because of Jesus's power"

John 18:7

Jesus of Nazareth

"Jesus, the man from Nazareth"

John 18:8

I am

"I am he"

John 18:9

This was in order to fulfill the word that he said

"This happened in order to fulfill the words that he had said when he was praying to his Father"

John 18:10

Malchus

a male servant of the high priest

John 18:11

sheath

the cover for a knife or sword that keeps the knife or sword from cutting the owner

Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?

"I must surely drink the cup that the Father has given to me!"

the cup

Here "cup" refers to the suffering that Jesus must endure.

Father

This refers to God the Father. It is best to translate “Father” with the same word that your language uses to refer to a human father.

John 18:12

the Jews

"the Jewish leaders"

seized Jesus and tied him up

"captured Jesus and tied him up to prevent him from escaping"

John 18:15

Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus

"Now the high priest knew that disciple so he was able to enter with Jesus"

John 18:16

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest

"So the other disciple, whom the high priest knew"

the doorkeeper

The doorkeeper was a woman.

and he brought Peter in

The word "he" refers to the other disciple.

John 18:17

Are you not also one of the disciples of this man?

"You are also one of the arrested man's disciples! Are you not?"

John 18:18

Now the servants and the officers were standing there, and they had made a charcoal fire, for it was cold, and they were warming themselves

"It was cold, so the high priest's servants and temple guards made a charcoal fire and were standing and warming themselves around it"

John 18:19

The high priest

This was Caiphas

about his disciples and his teaching

"about his disciples and what he had been teaching the people"

John 18:20

I have spoken openly to the world

Here "the world" emphasizes that Jesus has spoken openly.

where all the Jews come together

Here "all the Jews" emphasizes that Jesus spoke where anyone who wanted to hear him could hear him.

John 18:21

Why did you ask me?

"You should not be asking me these questions!"

John 18:22

Is that how you answer the high priest?

"That is not how you should answer the high priest!"

John 18:23

testify about the wrong

"tell me what I said that was wrong"

if rightly, why do you hit me?

"if I said only what was right, you should not be hitting me!"

John 18:25

Are you not also one of his disciples?

"You are also one of the arrested man's disciples, are you not?"

John 18:26

Did I not see you in the garden with him?

"I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?"

John 18:27

Then Peter denied it again

"Peter denied him again"

immediately the rooster crowed

"immediately the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had said would happen"

John 18:28

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas

"Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas' house"

they did not enter the government headquarters so that they would not be defiled

"they themselves remained outside Pilate's headquarters because Pilate was a Gentile. They did not want to become defiled"

John 18:30

If this man was not an evildoer, we would not have given him over to you

"This man is an evildoer, and we had to hand him over to you"

John 18:31

The Jews said to him

"The Jewish leaders said to him"

It is not lawful for us to put any man to death

"According to Roman law, we cannot put a person to death"

John 18:32

so that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled which he had spoken

"in order to fulfill what Jesus had said earlier"

to indicate by what kind of death he would die

"regarding how he would die"

John 18:35

I am not a Jew, am I?

"Well I am certainly not a Jew, and I have no interest in these matters!"

Your own people

"Your fellow Jews"

John 18:36

My kingdom is not of this world

Possible meanings are 1) "My kingdom is not part of this world" or 2) "I do not need this world's permission to rule as their king" or "It is not from this world that I have authority to be king."

so that I would not be given over to the Jews

"and would prevent the Jewish leaders from arresting me"

the Jews

This refers to the Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus.

John 18:37

Are you a king then?

“So, you are a king.”

testify to the truth

"tell people the truth about God"

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice

"Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to the things I say" or "me"

John 18:38

What is truth?

"No one can know what is true!"

the Jews

Here "Jews" refers to the Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus.

John 18:40

Not this man, but Barabbas

"No! Do not release this man! Release Barabbas instead"

Now Barabbas was a revolutionary

Here John provides background information about Barabbas.

revolutionary

person who wants to take over the government

John 19:1

Then Pilate took Jesus and whipped him

"Then Pilate's soldiers took Jesus out of the room and whipped him"

John 19:3

Hail, King of the Jews

The greeting "Hail" with a raised hand was only used to greet Caesar. As the soldiers use the crown of thorns and the purple robe to mock Jesus, it is ironic that they do not recognize that he is indeed a king.

John 19:4

I find no guilt in him

"I see no reason to punish him"

John 19:7

The Jews answered him

"The Jewish leaders answered Pilate"

he has to die because he claimed to be the Son of God

Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion because he claimed he was "the Son of God."

John 19:10

Are you not speaking to me?

"I cannot believe you are refusing to speak to me!" or "Answer me!"

Do you not know that I have authority to release you, and authority to crucify you?

"You should know that I have authority to release you or to order my soldiers to crucify you!"

John 19:11

You do not have any authority over me except for what has been given to you from above

"The authority you have over me is only what has been given to you by God"

he who gave me over

"he who handed me over"

John 19:12

At this answer

"When Pilate heard Jesus's answer"

Pilate tried to release him

"he tried hard to release Jesus" or "he tried again and again to release Jesus"

but the Jews cried out

"but the Jewish leaders kept shouting"

you are not a friend of Caesar

"you are opposing Caesar" or "you are opposing the emperor"

makes himself a king

"claims that he is a king"

John 19:13

he brought Jesus out

"Pilate ordered the soldiers to bring Jesus out"

in the judgment seat

This is the special chair that an important person like Pilate sat in when he was making an official judgment. If your language has a special way to describe this action, you can use it here.

in a place called "The Pavement," but

"in a place the people called The Pavement, but"

Aramaic

This was the language that the Jews in Judea spoke among themselves. Some translations say "Hebrew," following the form of the Greek word.

John 19:14

Pilate said to the Jews

“Pilate said to the Jewish leaders”

John 19:15

Should I crucify your King?

"Do you really want me to tell my soldiers to nail your king to a cross?"

John 19:16

Then Pilate gave Jesus over to them to be crucified

"So Pilate gave the Jews power over Jesus so they could crucify Jesus"

John 19:17

to the place called "The Place of a Skull,"

"to the place that the people called 'The Place of a Skull,'"

which in the Aramaic language is called "Golgotha."

"which in the Aramaic language they call 'Golgotha.'"

John 19:18

with him two other men

"they also nailed two other criminals to their crosses"

John 19:19

Pilate also wrote a sign and put it on the cross

"Pilate also commanded someone to write on a sign and to attach it to Jesus's cross"

There it was written: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS

"The sign said,'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'"

John 19:20

the place where Jesus was crucified

"the place where the soldiers crucified Jesus"

The sign was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek

"The one who prepared the sign wrote the words in 3 languages: Aramaic, Latin, and Greek"

Latin

This was the language of the Roman government.

John 19:21

Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate

"The chief priests went back to Pilate and said"

John 19:22

What I have written I have written

"I have written what I wanted to write, and I will not change it"

John 19:23

also the tunic

"they kept his tunic separate"

John 19:24

let us cast lots for it to decide whose it will be

"let us gamble for the tunic and the winner will get to keep it"

This happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled which said

"This fulfilled the scripture that said" or "This happened to make the scripture come true which said"

cast lots

"gamble"

John 19:26

the disciple whom he loved

This is John, the writer of this Gospel.

Woman, see, your son

"Woman, here is the man who will act like a son to you"

John 19:27

See, your mother

"Think of this woman as if she were your own mother"

From that hour

"From that very moment"

John 19:28

knowing that everything was now accomplished

"knowing that he had completed everything" or "he knew that he had done everything that God had sent him to do"

John 19:29

A container full of sour wine was placed there

"Someone had placed there a full container of sour wine"

they put

Here "they" refers to the Roman guards.

a sponge

a small object that can soak up and hold much liquid

on a hyssop staff

"on a branch of a plant called hyssop"

John 19:30

He bowed his head and gave up his spirit

"He bowed his head and gave God his spirit" or "He bowed his head and died"

John 19:31

the Jews

"the Jewish leaders"

day of preparation

This is the time before the Passover when people prepared food for the Passover.

to break their legs and to remove them

"to break their legs so they would die and to have the soldiers remove them"

John 19:32

who had been crucified with Jesus

"whom they had crucified near Jesus"

John 19:35

The one who saw this

This sentence gives background information to the story. John is telling readers that he was there and that we can trust what he has written.

has testified, and his testimony is true

"has told the truth about what he has seen"

so that you would also believe

"so that you will also put your trust in Jesus"

John 19:36

in order to fulfill scripture

"to fulfill the words that someone wrote in the scripture"

Not one of his bones will be broken

This is a quotation from Psalm 34. "No one will break any of his bones"

John 19:37

They will look at him whom they pierced

This is a quotation from Zechariah 12.

John 19:38

Joseph of Arimathea

"Joseph from the town of Arimathea"

for fear of the Jews

"for fear of the Jewish leaders"

if he could take away the body of Jesus

"for permission to take the body of Jesus down from the cross for burial"

John 19:39

Nicodemus

Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees who believed in Jesus. See how you translated this name in John 3:1.

myrrh and aloes

These are plant substances that smell nice and that people used to prepare a body for burial.

about one hundred litras

Because myrrh and aloes were more like solids than liquids, the measurement here is probably of weight, about 30 kilograms, rather than of volume, about 30 liters.

John 19:41

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden

"Now in the place where they crucified Jesus, there was a garden"

in which no person had yet been buried

"in which people had buried no one"

John 19:42

Because it was the day of preparation for the Jews

"Because the Passover was about to begin that evening"

John 20:1

first day of the week

"Sunday"

she saw the stone rolled away

"she saw that someone had rolled away the stone"

John 20:2

disciple whom Jesus loved

This phrase appears to be the way that John refers to himself throughout his book. Here the word "love" refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member.

They took away

The author uses the word "they" here to show that Mary Magdalene did not know who took the Lord away. She was probably thinking of the Jews or Romans, but it would be best to translate using your language's way of leaving the actor or actors unknown.

the Lord ... laid him

"the Lord's dead body ... laid it"

John 20:3

the other disciple

John is referring to himself here as "the other disciple," rather than including his name.

John 20:5

linen cloths

These were the burial cloths that people had used to wrap the body of Jesus.

John 20:7

cloth that had been on his head

"cloth that someone had used to cover Jesus's face"

but was folded up in a place by itself

"but someone had folded it and put it aside, separate from the linen cloths"

John 20:8

he saw and believed

"he saw these things and now believed that Jesus had risen from the dead"

John 20:9

they still did not know the scripture

These words refer to the disciples. Possible meanings are 1) they did not know that that scripture exists or 2) they did not understand that that scripture said that Jesus would come alive again.

rise

become alive again

the dead

All those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld.

John 20:10

went back home again

"went back to where they were staying in Jerusalem"

John 20:12

She saw two angels in white

"She saw two angels dressed in white clothing"

John 20:13

Because they took away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him

"Because they took away the body of my Lord, and I do not know where they have put it"

John 20:15

if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away

"if you have taken his dead body away, tell me where you have put it, and I will take it away"

John 20:16

Rabboni

The word "Rabboni" means "teacher" in Aramaic.

Aramaic

This was the language that the Jews in Judea spoke among themselves. Some translations say "Hebrew," following the form of the Greek word.

John 20:17

brothers

Jesus used the word "brothers" to refer to his disciples.

I will go up to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God

"I am about to return to heaven to be with my Father and your Father, to the one who is my God and your God"

John 20:18

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples

"Mary Magdalene went to where the disciples were and told them"

John 20:19

that day, the first day of the week

This refers to Sunday.

the doors being locked where the disciples were

"the disciples had locked the doors where they were"

for fear of the Jews

"because they were afraid that the Jewish leaders might arrest them"

Peace to you

This is a common greeting that means "May God give you peace" .

John 20:23

they are forgiven

"God will forgive them"

whoever's sins you keep back

"If you do not forgive another's sins"

they are kept back

"God will not forgive them"

John 20:24

Didymus

This is a male name that means "twin."

John 20:25

disciples later said to him

The word "him" refers to Thomas.

Unless I see ... his side, I will not believe

"I will believe only if I see ... his side"

in his hands ... into his side

The word "his" refers to Jesus.

John 20:26

his disciples

The word "his" refers to Jesus.

while the doors were closed

"when they had locked the doors"

John 20:27

Do not be unbelieving, but believe

"This is what is most important for you to do: you must believe"

believe

"put your trust in me"

John 20:29

you have believed

"you have believed that I am alive"

Blessed are those

This means "God gives great happiness to those."

who have not seen

"who have not seen me alive"

John 20:30

signs

The word "signs" refers to miracles that show that God is the all-powerful one who has complete authority over the universe.

signs that have not been written in this book

"signs that the author did not write about in this book"

John 20:31

but these have been written

"but the author wrote about these signs"

Son of God

This is an important title for Jesus.

life in his name

"you may have life because of Jesus"

life

This refers to spiritual life.

John 21:5

Young men

"My dear friends."

John 21:6

you will find some

"you will catch some fish in your net"

draw it in

"pull the net in"

John 21:7

loved

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves. This kind of love cares for others, no matter what they do.

he tied up his outer garment

"he secured his outer garment around him" or "he put on his tunic"

for he was undressed

"for he had taken off some of his clothes"

threw himself into the sea

"jumped into the sea and swam to shore"

John 21:8

two hundred cubits

"90 meters." A cubit was a little less than half a meter.

John 21:11

Simon Peter then went up

"So Simon Peter went back to the boat"

drew the net to land

"pulled the net to the shore"

full of large fish, 153

"full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three."

John 21:12

breakfast

the morning meal

John 21:14

the third time

You can translate this ordinal term as "time number 3."

John 21:15

do you love me

The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.

you know that I love you

When Peter answers, he uses the word for "love" that refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member.

Feed my lambs

"Feed the people I care for"

John 21:16

Shepherd my sheep

"Care for the people I care for"

John 21:17

do you love me

This time when Jesus asks this question he uses the word for "love" that refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member.

Feed my sheep

"Care for the people I care for"

John 21:18

you used to gird yourself ... someone else will gird you

"you used to dress yourself ... someone else will dress you"

John 21:19

to indicate with what kind of death Peter would glorify God

"to indicate that Peter would die on a cross to honor God"

Follow me

"Keep on being my disciple"

John 21:20

the disciple whom Jesus loved

John refers to himself in this way throughout the book, rather than mentioning his name.

loved

This is the kind of love that comes from God and always desires the good of others, even when it does not benefit oneself. This kind of love cares for others, no matter what they do.

at the dinner

This is a reference to the Last Supper

John 21:21

Peter saw him

Here "him" refers to "the disciple whom Jesus loved."

Lord, what will this man do?

"Lord, what will happen to this man?"

John 21:22

Jesus said to him

"Jesus said to Peter"

If I want him to stay

Here "him" refers to the "disciple whom Jesus loved"

I come

This refers to Jesus's second coming, his return to earth from heaven.

what is that to you?

"that is not your concern." or "you should not be concerned about that."

John 21:23

among the brothers

Here "the brothers" refers to all the followers of Jesus.

John 21:24

the disciple

"the disciple John"

who testifies about these things

"who has seen all these things"

we know

"we who trust in Jesus know"

John 21:25

If each one were written down

"If someone wrote down all of them"

even the world itself could not contain the books

John exaggerates to emphasize that Jesus did many more miracles than what people could write about in many books.

the books that would be written

"the books that people could write about what he did"