The crowd answered is more literally “therefore (oun) the crowd answered him.”

Our Law tells us translates a false passive construction in Greek (“we heard from the Law”). Good News Translation makes it an active construction and specifies that the reference is to the Jewish (Our) Law. Our Law in this context is best understood as a reference to the entire Jewish Bible, not just to the section traditionally known as “the Law.” If any specific passage is in the minds of the people, it is probably Psalm 89, which both the New Testament (Acts 13.22; Rev 1.5; 3.14) and Jewish rabbinical sources interpret Messianically. For example, Psalm 89.36 states “his seed (= David’s descendant) remains forever,” while in verse 51 of that same Psalm interprets the “seed” as the Lord’s “anointed” (= the Messiah). However, it is impossible to be this precise; more than likely this teaching is a general conclusion derived from the total Old Testament.

In a number of languages it is not possible to say “our Law tells us,” for one cannot speak of a collection of ordinances as doing any kind of talking. But it is possible to say “in our laws we read that” or “from our laws we learn that.”

It should be noted that it is not Jesus, but the people who introduce the mention of the Son of Man. For the crowd, at least in this context, the Messiah is identified with the Son of Man. If the Messiah will live forever, how then can Jesus say that he will be lifted up (that is, be put to death)? Who is this Son of Man? may be taken either as a question regarding the identity of the Son of Man, or as one regarding his relation to the Messiah.

For languages in which the Son of Man is made specific with a first person reference when Jesus himself is speaking, it may be appropriate here to identify the Son of Man with a second person singular pronoun, for example, “you as the Son of Man.” However, if one uses this expression, the question which follows may seem strange, for Who is this Son of Man? seems to be asking about the identity of that person. One possible interpretation of the phrase Son of Man may be “What do you mean by the expression Son of Man?” However, real dangers are involved in attempting to be too specific, either in identifying the referent of the Son of Man in the first of the two questions, or in trying to suggest too clearly the relation between the phrase Son of Man and Messiah. Since the crowd was not certain of what was meant or intended, there is nothing wrong in leaving the questions somewhat obscure. In fact, introducing some measure of obscurity would be completely in keeping with this context.

Perhaps it should be noted that, whereas most translations render with the meaning will live forever, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “will remain with us forever.” This translation represents a slight shift in emphasis, and it seems that the interpretation of Good News Translation and most other translations is more in accord with what is meant in this particular passage. Here again Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “Messiah” by “the promised Savior,” which is a definite improvement over most other translations. (See comments at 1.20.)

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 .