John 2:20

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  said to him, “This temple has been under construction ²  for forty-six years, ³  and are you going to raise it up in three days?”

The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"

"What!" they exclaimed. "It took forty–six years to build this Temple, and you can do it in three days?"

They were indignant: "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?"

The Jews said, The building of this Temple took forty-six years; and you will put it up in three days!

The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"

Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty–six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  said to him, “This temple has been under construction ²  for forty-six years, ³  and are you going to raise it up in three days?”

¹ tn See the note on this phrase in v. 18.

² tn A close parallel to the aorist οἰκοδομήθη (oikodomhqh) can be found in Ezra 5:16 (LXX), where it is clear from the following verb that the construction had not yet been completed. Thus the phrase has been translated “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years.” Some, however, see the term ναός (naos) here as referring only to the sanctuary and the aorist verb as consummative, so that the meaning would be “this temple was built forty-six years ago” (so ExSyn 560-61). Ultimately in context the logic of the authorities’ reply appears to fit more naturally if it compares length of time for original construction with length of time to reconstruct it.

³ sn According to Josephus (Ant. 15.11.1 [15.380]), work on this temple was begun in the 18th year of Herod the Great’s reign, which would have been ca. 19 b.c. (The reference in the Ant. is probably more accurate than the date given in J. W. 1.21.1 [1.401]). Forty-six years later would be around the Passover of a.d. 27/28.