This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- 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 shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
- John 21:22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
- Matt 10:38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
- Phil 1:20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
- Mark 8:33–38But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
- John 13:36–37Simon 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.
- 1 Sam 12:20And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
- Matt 19:28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- John 12:33This he said, signifying what death he should die.
- John 12:26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
- Num 14:24But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
- John 18:32That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
- 1 Pet 4:11–14If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- Matt 16:21–25From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
- Luke 9:22–26Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
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.