world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (John 16:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 16:28:

  • Uma: “I am indeed from God, and I have come here into this world. Now I leave this world, I go back to my Father.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Yes, I have come from my Father God to the world. And now I am leaving this world and go back to my Father.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I came from my Father, and I came here to the earth, and now I am leaving the earth and I am returning to my Father.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My Father is the one I came-from to come to this world, and he also is the one to-whom-I-will-return, because now I am leaving this world.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I really have come from the Father and I descended and came here to this world. Well now/today, I will now leave here under the heavens for I will go home now to the Father.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I came from my Father when I came here to the earth. And now I am going to leave the earth and go to heaven where my Father is.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 16:28

This verse is a summary of John’s teaching regarding the Son: he came from the Father into the world, and he leaves the world to return to the Father. I did come from the Father is omitted from some Greek manuscripts, but the UBS Committee considers this omission accidental. All translations include this clause, although New American Bible places it in brackets, indicating some doubt regarding its authenticity.

In Greek the verb did come is in the aorist tense, pointing back to the particular moment of the Son’s coming into the world, while came is in the perfect tense, emphasizing the lasting effect of his coming. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the two verbs as one: “I have come from the Father into the world.” Most other translations maintain two distinct verbs.

And now (so also Jerusalem Bible; “now” of many translations) is literally “again” (so Revised Standard Version, Moffatt), a particle used to indicate what is next in sequence.

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 .