The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Parallel translations
- WEB The 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.”
- BSB So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
- ESV So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
- NKJV The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
- NASB So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
- NLT They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 refuses to believe without seeing and touching Jesus' wounds. His demand voices honest, stubborn doubt.
Overview
Thomas insists on tangible proof, the nail marks and pierced side, before he will believe. His skepticism is not unique; the others also doubted until they saw. Far from embarrassing the church, Thomas's demand shows that the disciples were not gullible, and it sets up Jesus' gracious answer to honest doubt.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- John 6:30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
- Mark 16:11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
- Heb 3:18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
- Ps 78:32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
- Heb 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
- Ps 95:8–10Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
- Ps 78:11–22And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
- Ps 106:21–24They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
- John 20:14–20And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
- Acts 10:40–41Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
- Luke 24:34–41Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
- Job 9:16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
- Matt 16:1–4The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
- Heb 10:38–39Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
- John 21:7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
- Luke 24:25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
- Matt 27:42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
- John 1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
- Acts 5:30–32The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
- 1 Cor 15:5–8And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
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Original language
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