^21:20Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.⁵² (This was the disciple⁵³ who had leaned back against Jesus’⁵⁴ chest at the meal and asked,⁵⁵ “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”)⁵⁶^21:21So when Peter saw him,⁵⁷ he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” ^21:22Jesus replied,⁵⁸ “If I want him to live⁵⁹ until I come back,⁶⁰ what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” ^21:23So the saying circulated⁶¹ among the brothers and sisters⁶² that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live⁶³ until I come back,⁶⁴ what concern is that of yours?”

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John 21:22: Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Footnotes

52 The word “them” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
53 The words “This was the disciple” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied for clarity.
54 Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
55 Grk “and said.”
56 This is a parenthetical note by the author.
57 Grk “saw this one.”
58 Grk “Jesus said to him.”
59 Grk “to stay” or “to remain”; but since longevity is the issue in the context, “to live” conveys the idea more clearly.
60 The word “back” is supplied to clarify the meaning.
61 Grk “went out.”
62 Grk “the brothers,” but here the term refers to more than just the immediate disciples of Jesus (as it does in 20:17). Here, as R. E. Brown notes (John [], 2:), it refers to Christians of the Johannine community (which would include both men and women).
63 Grk “to stay” or “to remain”; but since longevity is the issue in the context, “to live” conveys the idea more clearly.
64 The word “back” is supplied to clarify the meaning.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

“If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

So this rumor spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

NLTNew Living Translation

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them (who also leaned back on his chest at the dinner and said, “Lord, who is the one betraying you?”) So when he saw this one, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, but what about this one?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So this saying went out to the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

KJV 1900King James Version

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

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