The Seventh Commandment (image)

Painting by Wang Suda 王肅達 (1910-1963),
Copyright by the Catholic University Peking, China

Text under painting translated from Literary Chinese into English:
The Seventh Commandment
The holy woman washes the Lord, a wicked disciple chastises her

Image taken from Chinese Christian Posters . For more information on the “Ars Sacra Pekinensis” school of art, see this article , for other artworks of that school in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (John 12:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:8:

  • Uma: “As for poor people, you will always have an opportunity to help them. But me, there is almost no more opportunity for you to help me, because I will not be with you long.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The poor (people) will not move away/leave you and you can help them. But I, I will not remain here with you.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The poor people, you can always help them, but as for me, I will not always be here with you.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the poor, they are always with you, but as for me, I will not always be with you.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For all time the poor will be your companions, but as for me I won’t be your companion for much longer.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There is a time to help the poor people since you live among them. But I am not going to be with you much longer.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 12:8

There is some weak manuscript evidence for the omission of this verse as an original part of the Greek text. It is possible that these words were added at an early date by a scribe who recalled the similar words of Jesus in Matthew 26.11 and Mark 14.7. However, in light of the overwhelming manuscript evidence in support of this verse, the UBS Committee on the Greek text felt justified in retaining it. They rate their decision a “C” choice, indicating a reasonable degree of doubt regarding its authenticity.

Although both were considered good works, the rabbis ranked the care of the dead superior to almsgiving. In this verse “the poor” and “me” are in emphatic positions in the Greek sentence, as is reflected in the rather literal rendering of New American Bible: “The poor you always have with you, but me you will not always have.”

A literal translation of You will always have poor people with you could be misunderstood to mean “You will always have about you poor people whom you retain as helpers” or “you will always be surrounded by poor people.” Obviously, such renderings should be avoided. A more satisfactory translation may be “There will always be poor people among you, but I will not always be among you” or “Poor people will always be with you, but I will not always be with you.”

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 .