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Legacy Standard Bible Translation Notes
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The Tyndale Center for Bible Translation

NOTES

BIBLE

John 20

1

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἔρχεται πρωῒ σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου.

 
2

So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

τρέχει οὖν καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄλλον μαθητὴν ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἦραν τὸν κύριον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν.

 
3

So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.

ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητής, καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον.

 
4

And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;

ἔτρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ· καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς προέδραμεν τάχιον τοῦ Πέτρου καὶ ἦλθεν πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον,

 
5

and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.

καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει κείμενα τὰ ὀθόνια, οὐ μέντοι εἰσῆλθεν.

 
6

And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,

ἔρχεται οὖν καὶ Σίμων Πέτρος ἀκολουθῶν αὐτῷ, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον· καὶ θεωρεῖ τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα,

 
7

and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself.

καὶ τὸ σουδάριον, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μετὰ τῶν ὀθονίων κείμενον ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον·

 
8

So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.

τότε οὖν εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς ὁ ἐλθὼν πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ εἶδεν καὶ ἐπίστευσεν·

 
9

For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

οὐδέπω γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τὴν γραφὴν ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῆναι.

 
10

So the disciples went away again to where they were staying.

ἀπῆλθον οὖν πάλιν πρὸς αὑτοὺς οἱ μαθηταί.

to where they were staying
This phrase translates πρὸς αὐτοὺς (pros autous; lit. “to/toward them”), which is an idiom which refers to where people are staying without specifically specifying something like a home, guest home, etc. This phrase is also distinct from εἰς τὰ ἴδια (eis ta idia) in 19:27, which is an idiom for one’s own home. Thus, the best way to carry πρὸς αὐτοὺς (pros autous) into English in this context is to use a phrase like “to where they were staying.”

 
11

But Mary was standing outside the tomb crying; and so, as she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb;

Μαρία δὲ εἱστήκει πρὸς τῷ μνημείῳ ἔξω κλαίουσα. ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιεν παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον,

 
12

and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς καθεζομένους, ἕνα πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.

 
13

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς ὅτι Ἦραν τὸν κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν.

 
14

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν.

 
15

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρός ἐστιν λέγει αὐτῷ· Κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ ἔθηκας αὐτόν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ.

 
16

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· Μαριάμ. στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ Ἑβραϊστί· Ραββουνι (ὃ λέγεται Διδάσκαλε).

 
17

Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· Μή μου ἅπτου, οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν καὶ θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν.

Stop clinging
The translation “Stop clinging” accurately conveys the sense of the Greek verb used here, which is a present tense imperative (Μή…ἅπτου; haptou). Because the present tense indicates continual or ongoing action, the translation “stop clinging” is better than something like “do not cling,” because it rightly brings out the implication that Mary wanted to keep clinging to Jesus. Jesus forbade this since He would not remain on earth but rather would ascend to the Father, a vital step in the Father’s plan which confirmed Jesus’ own acceptance into heaven and thus that of His brothers as well through union with Him.

brothers
Though some versions retain the older English plural, “brethren,” the translation “brothers” here is more accurate to the Greek text (ἀδελφούς; adelphous) and is more natural to modern readers. That Jesus refers to His disciples as His brothers here holds beautiful significance. This is the first time the disciples are called such, as Jesus’ finished work on the cross, confirmed by His resurrection, makes possible this special familial union such that believers actually become children of God and fellow heirs with Jesus Himself as His brothers (Heb 2:11; cf. Rom 8:14–17; Gal 3:26, 27; Eph 1:5; 1 John 3:1–2). Translating ἀδελφούς (adelphous) as “brothers” also allows for “brethren” (ἀδελφότης; adelphotēs) to stand out when it does occur (cf. 1 Pet 2:17; 5:9).

 
18

Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

ἔρχεται Μαριὰμ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἀγγέλλουσα τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὅτι Ἑώρακα τὸν κύριον καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ.

 
19

So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Οὔσης οὖν ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν.

 
20

And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῖς. ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν κύριον.

 
21

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν· καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέν με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς.

 
22

And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε πνεῦμα ἅγιον·

 
23

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἀφέωνται αὐτοῖς· ἄν τινων κρατῆτε κεκράτηνται.

 
24

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς.

 
25

So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν κύριον. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω μου τὴν χεῖρα εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω.

 
26

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν.

 
27

Then He said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός.

 
28

Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.

 
29

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας; μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες.

those
Though some translations have “blessed are they” for the phrase μακάριοι οἱ (makarioi hoi), the rendering “blessed are those” provides a smoother and more natural reading in modern English. Jesus here pronounces a blessing on those who believed in His resurrection even though they did not see Him alive in the flesh, as their belief is a demonstration of true faith given by God. Though Thomas’ faith is portrayed here as genuine, Jesus emphasizes the significance of faith that comes from God even without sight. Such a blessing is a great encouragement to those who have not yet had the privilege of seeing Jesus in the flesh but genuinely believe in Him and the power of His resurrection (cf. 1 Pet 1:8).

 
30

Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ·

 
31

but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

 
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