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He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 6:71 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.
  • BSB He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.
  • NKJV He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
  • NASB Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
  • NLT He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

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 that Jesus spoke of Judas Iscariot, who would betray Him though one of the Twelve. The note names the betrayer and underscores the gravity of his coming treachery.

Overview

John identifies Judas to clarify Jesus's words and to highlight the tragedy of betrayal from within. That the betrayer was one of the chosen Twelve magnifies the darkness of his act. Yet this too served God's redemptive plan, as Jesus moved knowingly toward the cross foretold in Scripture.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Matt 26:14–16Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
  • Jude 1:4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Acts 1:16–20Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
  • Ps 41:9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
  • Ps 55:13–14But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
  • John 18:2–6And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
  • Acts 2:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
  • John 13:26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
  • Ps 109:6–8Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
  • Matt 27:3–5Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 6:71YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 6:71 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.