Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, that he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”
- BSB So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
- NKJV So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”
- NASB So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
- NLT The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
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
The Jews wonder if Jesus means to kill Himself, since He says where He goes they cannot come. They again misread His words about returning to the Father.
Overview
Misunderstanding Jesus' reference to His departure, the leaders speculate He might be contemplating suicide. Their confusion, marked by irony, shows their inability to grasp spiritual realities. Far from taking His own life in despair, Jesus would lay it down willingly for the salvation of sinners and rise again to the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 8:52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
- John 8:48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
- Ps 22:6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
- Ps 123:4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
- John 10:20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
- John 7:20The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
- Heb 12:3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
- Heb 13:13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
- John 7:35Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
- Ps 31:18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
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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 8:22 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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