Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
- KJV Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
- BSB “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
- NKJV Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
- NLT “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
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
Thomas objects that they do not know where Jesus is going, so how can they know the way? It voices honest confusion that draws out Jesus' answer.
Overview
Thomas's candid question reflects the disciples' limited understanding of Jesus' mission and destination. His honesty opens the door for Christ's pivotal self-disclosure. The verse reminds us that sincere questions can lead to deeper revelation of who Jesus is.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 11:16Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”
- Mark 9:19He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
- John 20:25–28The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
- Mark 8:17–18Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
- John 15:12“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.
- Luke 24:25He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
- Heb 5:11–12About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:5 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.