Translation of "Creyeran"

Question

In the NIV version of the Holy Bible, in John 1:7, it states."He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. In the NVI version, the same verse reads: como testigo para dar testimonio de la luz, a fin de que por medio de él todos creyeran. Could anyone give me some insight into why the English version would say "might believe," while the Spanish version uses "creyeran," which I understand is the 3rd person plural Subjunctive Imperfect, meaning "they believed."

Gracias por ayudarme,

Jim

maybe because they used the subjunctive, it is a wish that they "might believe." crees? - animo, Jun 20, 2012

The translation is 100% correct. Might believe. Subjunctive. - annierats, Jun 20, 2012

Answer 1

"He came so that they might believe" is saying that he did something, so they would do something. He was trying to get them to do something, he had a wish for them. That's why it needs to be the subjuntivo.

Animo has the right idea in her comment, but in this case I'm afraid Noetol is slightly off. It's not the subjuntivo because of doubt, but because of "his" desire for "them."

Here's an example:

Desire:
Canto para que escuches. I sing so that you will listen.
Canté para que escuchases. I sang so that you would listen.

Doubt:
Canto y espero que escuches. I sing and hope that you will listen.
Canté y esperé que escuchases. I sang and hoped that you would listen.

If you substitute "would" for "might", I would agree with you. I'm not dure that is really valid here. However, I will defer to your greater experience. Thanks for the explanation! - Noetol, Jun 20, 2012

I agree that it really is a very small difference, that's just how I see it. maybe someone will come along and fix all of us :P - unMica, Jun 20, 2012

btw, animo is a her, not him. =) esta bien, though. - animo, Jun 21, 2012

I fixed it! - unMica, Jun 21, 2012

Answer 2

You are correct in the conjugation, but by using the subjunctive, the implication is that there is some doubt. In other words, people may or may not believe, which is conveyed by the English "might". So, In this case, the best interpretation would be "they might believe".