complete verse (John 11:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 11:29:

  • Uma: “Hearing that, Maria hurried going to meet with Yesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Mariyam heard this, she went quickly down and went to Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When Mary heard this she stood up suddenly and she went to meet Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When Maria heard that, she stood-right-up and went to meet-him,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Maria heard, she got up at once and set out to go to meet Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When Mary heard that she was summoned, she got up and went to see Jesus.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 11:29

In Greek the subject of this verse is “that one,” which Good News Translation renders Mary.

Hurried out is literally “went quickly.” However, most translations connect the adverb “quickly” with the verb got up rather than with “went.” This translation is more in keeping with the Greek sentence structure (New English Bible “she rose up quickly and went to him”).

To meet him is literally “to him” (so most translations).

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 .