Prunes and Wrinkles in Translating

One of the occasional joys of devotionally translating scripture is seeing connections English can't help but hide. A real treat for us came in John 15:2-3, "...He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you." On the surface it seems like Jesus abruptly switched topic. He didn't, and the visual he paints is very practical.


In verse three, the reader hits the word καθαροί  "clean" an adjective. It looks surprisingly similar to a word we just encountered. Lifting our eyes we find καθαίρει "prune" a verb right above it in verse two. Chapters away we might have missed the similarity. But right next to each other there is no coincidence. This connection is intended. How does God "prune" God's people? God "prunes" by teaching. Whenever and wherever God's word is spoken, it purges and expiates. But not always.


And then we have an inkling that we've seen this word in John before, a couple chapters ago. Back when Jesus was washing the disciples feet. Peter, in typical over the top fashion (which btw is devout discipleship practice in the ancient world), asks Jesus to wash his feet and whole body. Jesus answers, "The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely καθαρὸς (clean), and you disciples are καθαροί (clean), but not every one of you."


The next verse makes it clear that the not-clean one is Judas, which unlocks another practical visual. Jesus is visualizing Judas' betrayal when he describes a branch that isn't producing fruit and is removed, thrown away, dries up, is gathered up, and is burned. Jesus is not speaking of followers who feel insecure about the quality or quantity of their good deeds.


To make the connection clear in John 15 for English readers, my initial reaction was that both instances should be translated "prune".

He prunes every branch that bears fruit...

You are pruned already because of the word that I have spoken to you... 

But then on further reflection, I realized that this would hide the connection with the foot washing and being "clean" in John 13. So my current thought is that each instance in John should use some form of "clean" in English.

...the one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean, and you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.

He cleans every branch that bears fruit...

You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you... 

There can be a foot note on 15:2 that "clean" essentially means prune when describing gardening. If we were to go in the other direction and translate each instance as prune, it would make for some humorous but unintended bathroom language in English.

The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely pruned, and you are disciples are pruned ...

This little treat can't easily be found if we are dependent on Concordance searches and Strong's numbers. These are useful tools, but they can only take us so far. The word of God is meant to be read, heard, and pondered. Our ears and eyes can catch things that digital searches miss. Only in this way can God's word wash even the deepest wrinkle.