complete verse (John 12:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:32:

  • Uma: “But as for me, if I am made-high on/over the earth, I will bring/lead all people to me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When I am lifted up on the post,’ said Isa, ‘I will carry/influence all people to follow me.’ (” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I, when I am lifted up by means of a post which is stood up, there will be those from all people that I will get to follow me.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because when I am raised-up, I will persuade all people to believe koma in me.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But as for me, when/if they put me up high on a cross, I will show mercy/grace to whichever nation so that they can now believe-in/obey me.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When I have been nailed to the cross and it is stood up, people everywhere will follow my word.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on John 12:32

When I am lifted up from the earth refers to Jesus’ crucifixion but includes his exaltation. (See comments on 3.14.)

Everyone (Greek masculine accusative plural, pantas, = “all men”) is the reading of most modern English translations, and it has the best manuscript support. However, in some manuscripts the Greek neuter plural (panta) appears. This neuter form in Greek is ambiguous and may have the meaning of “everyone,” “all things,” or “all.” The stronger manuscript evidence is in support of the masculine plural (“all men”). The idea of a cosmic redemption, suggested by the neuter plural, represents more closely the theology of such a passage as Colossians 1.16-17. The UBS Committee on the Greek text decided in favor of the reading “all men,” evaluating their decision as a “D” choice, which indicates a very high degree of doubt concerning the reading selected.

I will draw everyone to me may be rendered in some instances “I will cause everyone to come to me.” Unfortunately, some translators attempt to reproduce literally the meaning of draw, and produce expressions which literally mean “I will drag everyone to me.”

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 .