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But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
John 11:49 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
  • KJV And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
  • BSB But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!
  • NKJV And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
  • NLT Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!

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

Caiaphas, the high priest, rebukes the council for their indecision. His blunt words introduce a fateful counsel.

Overview

Caiaphas, holding the highest religious office that year, dismisses the others' hesitation with contempt. His intervention shifts the council toward a decisive plan against Jesus. Though spoken cynically, his next words will be shown to carry a deeper, prophetic truth beyond his intent.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • John 11:51Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
  • John 18:13–14and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
  • Prov 26:12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • Matt 26:3Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
  • Acts 4:6Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.
  • Luke 3:2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
  • 1 Cor 1:20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
  • Isa 5:20–23Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
  • 1 Cor 3:18–19Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
  • John 7:48–49Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
  • 1 Cor 2:6We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 11:49YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 11:49 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.