the Jews (the authorities in Jerusalem)

In the English Good News Bible (2nd edition of 1992), this occurrence of the Greek hoi Ioudaioi, traditionally “the Jews” in English, is translated with “the authorities (in Jerusalem)” in contexts that imply that the referred groups are hostile to Jesus For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.

complete verse (John 18:14)

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

  • Uma: “It was that Kayafas who said to the Yahudi rulers yesterday: ‘It is better that one man die in place of the people/crowd.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Kayapas hep was the one who had given thought/council to the Yahudi leaders when he said that it was for their good if one person died substituting for all the people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Caiphas is the one who advised the Jews that it was necessary that one person should die in the stead of all Jewry.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and it was also he who had said to the Jews that it would be better if one person died in order that his countrymen might live.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Caifas was that one who had said to the Judio that it would be good if only one person needed to die, like a replacement for the mass of people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Caiaphas had told the leaders of the Jews that it was better that one person be killed for all the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 18:14

This verse refers back to 11.50. It may be necessary to introduce a temporal adverb to indicate that Caiaphas’ advice to the other Jewish authorities had been given at an earlier time, for example, “It was Caiaphas who some time before had said to the Jewish authorities, ‘It is better that one man die….’ ” Obviously, the form of Caiaphas’ statement should be as close as possible to the rendering of 11.50.

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 .