The three verses 55-57 form a transition to the following section. In this respect they are similar to 7.11,13.

The time … was near may be rendered in some languages “It was almost the day” or “It was only a few more days before the day” or “In a few days it would be the day.”

For the third time in John’s Gospel the Passover Festival is definitely mentioned (2.13; 6.14), though it may be that the festival mentioned in 5.1 is also a Passover (see there). Many people did go up to the Passover Festival. During the Passover season the population of Jerusalem, normally about 25,000 swelled to more than 100,000.

Went up is the same verb used in 2.13 (went to). It is the normal word used of a pilgrimage to the Holy City.

It was customary for persons coming from the countryside to purify themselves before a major festival. Especially was this true of persons who lived near Gentiles or who had business dealings with Gentiles. One may recall here Paul’s actions in Acts 31.24-26.

To perform the ritual of purification (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “they wanted to purify themselves before the feast according to the prescribed regulations”) is more literally “in order that they might purify themselves.” Ceremonial purification was necessary if a man were to keep the Passover correctly (Num 9.10); and this ritual of purification could last as long as an entire week, depending on the degree of pollution experienced by the worshipper. The verb “to purify” does not appear again in John’s Gospel; but it does appear in 1 John 3.3 as a reference to spiritual purification.

It may be difficult to translate perform the ritual of purification. In some languages it is rendered simply “to do what was necessary in order to be purified” or “… to be pure.” Other languages, however, ave no word which suggests purification in the ritual sense. Some employ such a phrase as “to be clean before God” or “to be clean in God’s eyes.” However, in some languages there is no relation at all between physical cleanliness and spiritual purity. It may be necessary to say “to do what was necessary in order to be free from sin.” But such an expression may suggest the concept of atonement. If so, one may say instead “to do what was necessary in order that God would look upon them as being good” or “… that God would accept them.”

There is no textual evidence to support the omission of the phrase before the festival, as in Jerusalem Bible.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .