Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Parallel translations
- KJV This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
- BSB Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
- NKJV This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
- NASB Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
- NLT Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
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
John explains Jesus' words foretold the death by which Peter would glorify God, then Jesus says, 'Follow me.' It matters because it links Peter's death and discipleship to the glory of God.
Overview
John interprets the prophecy as pointing to the kind of death, traditionally crucifixion, by which Peter would honor God. The call to 'Follow me' renews Peter's original discipleship, now with full knowledge of where it leads. Following Christ may include suffering, yet it brings glory to God. The restored Peter is called back to the path of wholehearted obedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Pet 1:14knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
- John 21:22Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
- Matt 10:38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.
- Phil 1:20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
- Mark 8:33–38But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
- John 13:36–37Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”
- 1 Sam 12:20Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
- Matt 19:28Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- John 12:33But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
- John 12:26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
- Num 14:24But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will bring into the land into which he went. His offspring shall possess it.
- John 18:32that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
- 1 Pet 4:11–14If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- Matt 16:21–25From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
- Luke 9:22–26saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”
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 21:19 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.