nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.”
Parallel translations
- WEB nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
- KJV Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
- BSB You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
- NKJV nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
- NLT You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
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 argues it is better that one man die than that the whole nation perish. He speaks more truly than he knows.
Overview
Caiaphas proposes sacrificing Jesus as a political expedient to protect the nation. His cold calculation unwittingly states the heart of the gospel, that one would die in the place of many. John will clarify that God overruled his words to express the substitutionary death of Christ for his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- John 18:14Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.
- Luke 24:46He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
- Rom 3:8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
- John 19:12At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
- John 11:48If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
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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.
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Original language
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