Some said may be rendered “some people said.” He is the one may require more specific identification to make the reference perfectly clear. For example, one may say “he is the one who begged” or “… used to beg.”

In some languages a literal rendering of No, he isn’t would have a positive meaning “he is”; therefore it may be necessary to render this expression as “he is not that beggar.”

He just looks like him is equivalent to a reason for the first statement, and so may be rendered “it is only that he resembles the beggar.” In some languages it may be better to treat the two closely related expressions No, he isn’t and he just looks like him as two separate sentences.

The man himself (so also Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New English Bible) is literally “that one.” This translation correctly brings out the force of the Greek and avoids ambiguity.

I am the man is literally “I am,” the same expression by which Jesus sometimes identifies himself with God the Father. Here it is obviously no more than a simple statement of identity. I am the man may be expressed in some languages as “I am the man who used to beg.”

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 .