John 12:6

(Now Judas ¹  said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, ²  he used to steal what was put into it.) ³ 

He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

Not that he cared for the poor––he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use.

He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.

(He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it.)

(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)

This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

(Now Judas ¹  said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, ²  he used to steal what was put into it.) ³ 

¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Grk “a thief, and having the money box.” Dividing the single Greek sentence improves the English style.

³ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. This is one of the indications in the gospels that Judas was of bad character before the betrayal of Jesus. John states that he was a thief and had responsibility for the finances of the group. More than being simply a derogatory note about Judas’ character, the inclusion of the note at this particular point in the narrative may be intended to link the frustrated greed of Judas here with his subsequent decision to betray Jesus for money. The parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark seem to indicate that after this incident Judas went away immediately and made his deal with the Jewish authorities to deliver up Jesus. Losing out on one source of sordid gain, he immediately went out and set up another.