So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
- KJV Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
- NKJV Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
- NASB The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
- NLT The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Jews press Jesus to tell them plainly whether He is the Christ. They demand a clear declaration of His identity.
Overview
Their request sounds sincere but reflects unbelief, for Jesus' words and works had already borne abundant witness. The phrase 'hold us in suspense' suggests impatience rather than genuine seeking. Their demand sets up Jesus' pointed reply about His sheep.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 22:67–70“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.
- John 1:19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
- 1 Kgs 18:21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
- John 8:25“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.
- John 8:53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
- Matt 11:3to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
- John 9:22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
- 2 Cor 3:12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
- John 16:25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
- Luke 3:15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.