And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
Parallel translations
- WEB He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
- BSB and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.
- NKJV and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
- NASB and he entered the Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
- NLT He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer.
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
Pilate asks Jesus where he is from, but Jesus gives no answer. His silence fulfills Scripture and shows his sovereign composure.
Overview
Pilate's question probes Jesus' origin, perhaps fearing a heavenly source. Jesus' silence echoes Isaiah 53:7, where the Servant is led like a lamb and does not open his mouth. He has already testified to the truth (18:37); now his silence before an unjust judge displays both dignity and submission to the Father's plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- John 18:33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
- Isa 53:7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
- John 8:14Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
- John 9:29–30We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
- Mark 15:3–5And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
- Phil 1:28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
- Ps 38:13–15But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
- Matt 26:63But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
- Judg 13:6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
- Acts 8:32–33The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
- Matt 27:12–14And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
- John 18:37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
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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 19:9 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
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