Berean Standard Bible
21Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
The Pioneer Translation RenderingRendered from the original Greek
John 20:21
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you."
The verb *apostellō* (ἀπέσταλκέν) is used for the Father's sending of Jesus, rendered "has sent" — this is the perfect tense, emphasising the ongoing reality of that commissioning. The sender/sent distinction is preserved clearly: the Father sends Jesus, and Jesus in turn sends the disciples. The second verb *pempō* (πέμπω) is a near-synonym also meaning "to send," used here in the present tense, rendered "send."
Compare the wording
The same verse across the licensed translations and the Greek
Compare two
King James Version
21Then said Jesus to them again,Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Goodspeed New Testament
21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! Just as my Father sent me forth so I now send you.”
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →21Jesus said to us again, “May God give you peace! Just like my Father sent me, now I am sending you to proclaim my message.”
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
21
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! Just as my Father sent me forth so I now send you.”
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
King James Version
21
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! Just as my Father sent me forth so I now send you.”
Then said Jesus to them again,Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
SBL
Greek, word by word
21
εἶπεν say λέγω légō a primary verb; properly, to lay forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; wh οὖν therefore οὖν oûn apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly and (so, truly), but, now (then), s αὐτοῖς he αὐτός autós from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of G109 (ἀήρ) through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive ⸂ ὁ the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, Ἰησοῦς Jesus Ἰησοῦς Iēsoûs of Hebrew origin (H03091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites Jesus πάλιν again πάλιν pálin probably from the same as G3823 (πάλη) (through the idea of oscillatory repetition); (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) · Εἰρήνη peace εἰρήνη eirḗnē probably from a primary verb (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity one, peace, quietn ὑμῖν you σύ sý the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou thou · καθὼς just as καθώς kathṓs from G2596 (κατά) and G5613 (ὡς); just (or inasmuch) as, that according to, (according, even) as, how, when ἀπέσταλκέν send forth ἀποστέλλω apostéllō from G575 (ἀπό) and G4724 (στέλλω); set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or f με I ἐγώ egṓ a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic) I, me ὁ the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, πατήρ father πατήρ patḗr apparently a primary word; a father (literally or figuratively, near or more remote) father, parent , κἀγὼ also κἀγώ kagṓ from G2532 (καί) and G1473 (ἐγώ); so also the dative case , and accusative case and (or also, even, etc.) I, (to) me (an πέμπω send πέμπω pémpō apparently a primary verb; to dispatch (from the subjective view or point of departure, whereas (as a stronger form of ) ὑμᾶς you σύ sý the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou thou .
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
Functional Faith Reading
The Greek verb here is apostellō — the same word used throughout John's Gospel for the Father's sending of the Pioneer. It carries the weight of authorized agency: to be sent with the sender's full authority and representing the sender's full purpose. This is ambassador language, not errand-runner language.
Most readings treat this moment as simple inspiration — a warm commissioning that energizes the disciples to go do good things. What gets lost is the structural logic of the sentence: the sending of the disciples is explicitly modeled on the Father's sending of the Pioneer, which means the nature of that original sending matters enormously.
The Father sent the Pioneer as his supreme agent — not as himself, but as his exact representation, his charakter pressed into human creaturely form. Now the Pioneer turns and applies the same architecture to his followers. They are not sent as him, but as those shaped by his Pattern, carrying his authority into the world the way he carried the Father's.
This means the Way is not a private spiritual exercise. It is a commissioned life — structured, purposeful, and outward-facing. You were not just forgiven; you were sent.
Sit with this
What would change in how you live this week if you took seriously that you have been sent, not merely saved?
Sources
- Berean Standard BibleLicense
- King James VersionLicense
- Goodspeed New TestamentLicense
- Translation for TranslatorsLicense
SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Copyright 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software.
Licensed CC BY 4.0.