Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,”
- BSB “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
- NKJV Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,”
- NASB Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.”
- NLT “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”
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
Jesus identifies himself again and asks that his disciples be let go. He protects his followers even as he is arrested.
Overview
Jesus reaffirms 'I am he' and intercedes for his disciples' release, putting himself forward so they may go free. This act of self-sacrificing care embodies the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (10:11). It is a vivid picture of substitution: he is taken so that his own may be spared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- John 10:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
- John 13:1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
- 2 Cor 12:9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- John 16:32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
- Mark 14:50–52And they all forsook him, and fled.
- 1 Pet 5:7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
- Matt 26:56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
- 1 Cor 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- Eph 5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- John 13:36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
- Isa 53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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 18:8 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.