Psalms 60:4

60:4 You have given your loyal followers ¹  a rallying flag,

so that they might seek safety from the bow. ²  (Selah)

John 1:17

1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but ³  grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6

14:6 Jesus replied, ⁴  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. ⁵  No one comes to the Father except through me.

[60:4]  ¹ tn Heb “those who fear you.”

[60:4]  ² tn There is a ray of hope in that God has allowed his loyal followers to rally under a battle flag. The translation assumes the verb is from the root נוּס (nus, “flee”) used here in the Hitpolel in the sense of “find safety for oneself” (HALOT 681 s.v. נוס) or “take flight for oneself” (BDB 630-31 s.v. נוּס). Another option is to take the verb as a denominative from נֵס (nes, “flag”) and translate “that it may be displayed” (BDB 651 s.v. II נסס) or “that they may assemble under the banner” (HALOT 704 s.v. II נסס). Here קֹשֶׁט (qoshet) is taken as an Aramaized form of קֶשֶׁת (qeshet, “bow”; BDB 905-6 s.v. קֶשֶׁת), though some understand the homonymic קֹשְׁטְ (qosht, “truth”) here (see Prov 22:21; cf. NASB). If one follows the latter interpretation, the line may be translated, “so that they might assemble under the banner for the sake of truth.”

[1:17]  ³ tn “But” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the implied contrast between the Mosaic law and grace through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 seems to indicate clearly that the Old Covenant (Sinai) was being contrasted with the New. In Jewish sources the Law was regarded as a gift from God (Josephus, Ant. 3.8.10 [3.223]; Pirqe Avot 1.1; Sifre Deut 31:4 §305). Further information can be found in T. F. Glasson, Moses in the Fourth Gospel (SBT).

[14:6]  ⁴ tn Grk “Jesus said to him.”

[14:6]  ⁵ tn Or “I am the way, even the truth and the life.”