orphaned

In Afar the phrase that is translated into English as “I will not leave you orphaned” is translated as abba akak rabe diidaale matakkaanay: “you will not become like bees whose father/leader has died.”

complete verse (John 14:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 14:18:

  • Uma: “‘I will not leave you orphaned. [lit., leave you become orphans.] I will come back to you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Even if I leave, I do not leave you alone/abandon you. I will come again to you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I am not going away from you like you were orphans, because I am coming back for you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘I will not leave you like orphans, because I will indeed also return.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I won’t leave/desert you like orphans. I will indeed return here to you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I am not going to leave you along. I will return to be in fellowship with you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on John 14:18

Alone is literally “orphans” (Jerusalem Bible), but the more general meaning of “one left without anyone to care for him” is perhaps better in the context. The disciples of Socrates were said to have been left “orphans” at his death, and this term was also used in reference to disciples whose rabbi had died. Most translators choose a generic meaning, rather than the specific meaning of “orphan.” Phillips renders “alone in the world”; New English Bible “bereft”; Moffatt “forlorn”; Goodspeed “friendless.” One might also translate “helpless” or “without anyone to help you.”

I will come back to you (New English Bible “I am coming back to you”) is literally “I am coming to you.” In 14.3 the same verb is used, but with the addition of the adverb “again” (= back). The time reference may be either the resurrection appearances or Jesus’ return in the person of the Holy Spirit, and both find support from the context. John has quite likely intentionally chosen vague language, and the translator should, if possible, avoid making the time reference explicit. However, in some languages one is forced to indicate a specific temporal reference by the selection of the verb tense. Under such circumstances it is probably best to use a tense applicable to the resurrection, since this would at least be the first fulfillment of Jesus’ promise.

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 .