complete verse (John 4:49)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 4:49:

  • Uma: “That leader said: ‘Lord, let us go quickly, my child is going to die!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The titled-one said to him, ‘Andý’ (exclamation of pity or wonder) Sir, come with me as long as my child has not yet died.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the person said, ‘Datu, come with me so that my child may not die.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “While the official said, ‘Sir, please let’s (du) go so that my child will not die.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But that person replied saying, ‘Just excuse me, before my son dies, let’s go there now.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The man said to Jesus, ‘Man, let’s go quickly—my son is going to die.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 4:49

The word translated Sir may also have the full Christian meaning of “Lord” (see verse 11). Most translations take the term here in the sense of Sir.

Because of the evident urgency of the situation and the nature of the official’s response to Jesus, it may be appropriate to use a strong expression to render Come with me, for example, “Do come with me” or “Come right now with me.”

In some languages it is difficult to express the temporal relation suggested by the clause before my child dies. The closest equivalent may be a conditional, for example, “if not, then my child will die.” Or the contrast may be made between such an expression as “now” and a future tense, for example, “Come with me now or my child will die.”

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 .