3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 24
“Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! 25
1 tn The word “sheep” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
2 tn Grk “because they know.”
3 tn Grk “are” (present tense).
4 tn Or “the sheep did not hear them.”
5 tn Grk “And I have.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
6 tn Or “that do not belong to”; Grk “that are not of.”
7 sn The statement I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold almost certainly refers to Gentiles. Jesus has sheep in the fold who are Jewish; there are other sheep which, while not of the same fold, belong to him also. This recalls the mission of the Son in 3:16-17, which was to save the world – not just the nation of Israel. Such an emphasis would be particularly appropriate to the author if he were writing to a non-Palestinian and primarily non-Jewish audience.
8 tn Grk “they will hear my voice.”
9 tn Grk “voice, and.”
10 tn The word “and” is not in the Greek text, but must be supplied to conform to English style. In Greek it is an instance of asyndeton (omission of a connective), usually somewhat emphatic.
11 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
12 tn Grk “an hour.”
13 tn Grk “you cannot hear,” but this is not a reference to deafness, but rather hearing in the sense of listening to something and responding to it.
14 tn Grk “my word.”
15 tn Grk “behold, a.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated here or in the following clause because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
16 sn This cloud is the cloud of God’s presence and the voice is his as well.
17 tn Or “surrounded.”
18 tn Grk “behold, a voice from the cloud, saying.” This is an incomplete sentence in Greek which portrays intensity and emotion. The participle λέγουσα (legousa) was translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style.
19 tn Grk “my beloved Son,” or “my Son, the beloved [one].” The force of ἀγαπητός (agaphtos) is often “pertaining to one who is the only one of his or her class, but at the same time is particularly loved and cherished” (L&N 58.53; cf. also BDAG 7 s.v. 1).
20 sn The expression listen to him comes from Deut 18:15 and makes two points: 1) Jesus is a prophet like Moses, a leader-prophet, and 2) they have much yet to learn from him.
21 tn Grk “every soul” (here “soul” is an idiom for the whole person).
22 tn Or “will be completely destroyed.” In Acts 3:23 the verb ἐξολεθρεύω (exoleqreuw) is translated “destroy and remove” by L&N 20.35.
23 sn A quotation from Deut 18:19, also Lev 23:29. The OT context of Lev 23:29 discusses what happened when one failed to honor atonement. One ignored the required sacrifice of God at one’s peril.
24 sn The following quotation is from Ps 95:7b-11.
25 tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”
26 tn Grk “Behold.”
27 tn Grk “come in to him.”