Early the next morning (New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible “At daybreak”) translates one word in Greek, which is found elsewhere in the New Testament only in Luke 24.1 and Acts 5.21.

In Greek this verse is one sentence which Good News Translation makes into two. The Greek sentence structure reflects Semitic style with a series of three connectives: “but again … and … and…,” which should not be expressed in translation.

In some languages it may be necessary to be specific about the place to which Jesus went. If one translates literally “he went back to the Temple,” it may imply he went back only to the outside of the Temple. At the same time, one should not give the impression that Jesus went into the sanctuary. It may be necessary to say “Jesus went back into the Temple area” or “… into the courtyard around the Temple.”

He sat down is actually a participle in Greek. A number of translations have it as a finite verb, as Good News Translation does. Began to teach is the force that many translators see in this verb; some translate simply “taught,” while New English Bible has “was engaged in teaching.”

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 .