complete verse (John 5:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 5:7:

  • Uma: “The sick person said: ‘Lord, because there is no-one to carry me into the pool when the water is stirred-up. [The "because" here is normal Uma conversation style; it means the man is giving the reason/excuse why he is lying there and not getting well. See vs. 11; 7:46.] When I just start to go, someone else gets there before me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The sick person answered, he said, ‘Yes, Sir. But there is nobody who lifts me into the pool when the water has stirred. And while I am still moving there, somebody else gets in ahead of me.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the person answered, ‘Datu, I have no companion to throw me in the water when it is stirred up, and someone else always gets in there before I can get in.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The man answered-him and said, ‘I want-to, Sir, but there is no one to take me to the water when it is moved/rippled. I have repeatedly-tried to go, but before I arrive, there is someone who has already gone-ahead.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Master, oh, if wanting were enough,’ he answered, ‘however there’s no one to cause me to go down (into the water) when this water ripples. I try hard to get down (into the water) but I get preceeded.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The sick man said, ‘Man. There isn’t anyone to put me there in the water when it is disturbed. Every time I think that I will get into the water another gets there first.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 5:7

The sick man answered is literally “the sick man answered him,” but it is unnecessary to express the indirect object in English.

The word rendered Sir may also mean “Lord,” but here, as in some other passages, the meaning is simply “sir” (see 4.11,15,19,49). As used here, the word is merely a polite form of address, not a confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ.

The temporal expression when the water is stirred up must often be expressed as the first part of the sick man’s statement, since it provides the temporal setting for his predicament.

It also may be necessary to indicate more specifically the role of a person who might potentially help the sick man, for example, “I have no helper here to put me in the pool” or “there is no one here to help me, that is, to put me in the pool.”

While I am trying to get in is literally “while I am coming” (New English Bible “but while I am moving,” Jerusalem Bible “while I am still on the way”). Phillips is closer to Good News Translation, “While I’m trying to get there.”

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 .