All this may need to be made more specific in some languages, for example, “this conversation” or “these questions and answers between the messengers and John” or even “the messengers and John said these things in Bethany.”

The exact site of the Bethany mentioned in this verse is not known. It was a town east of the Jordan River, not to be confused with the Bethany near Jerusalem.

The east side of the Jordan River is literally “on the other side of the Jordan,” but it is written from the viewpoint of one who is on the west side and so the equivalent is the east side. On the east side of the Jordan River may be rendered in some languages “on the sun rising side of the Jordan River.” In most languages “east” is most conveniently described in terms of the rising sun.

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 .