Then they asked him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
- BSB “Where is He?” they asked. “I do not know,” he answered.
- NKJV Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
- NASB And they said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.”
- NLT “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied.
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
Asked where Jesus is, the man honestly says he does not know. He testifies truthfully even about the limits of his knowledge.
Overview
The man admits he cannot say where Jesus has gone, having only encountered him briefly. His honesty marks his testimony throughout the chapter. The question also reflects the crowd's curiosity about the miracle-worker, even as the religious leaders prepare to interrogate the healed man.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- John 5:11–13He answered them, “He who made me well, the same said to me, ‘Take up your mat, and walk.’”
- Exod 2:18–20When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
- John 7:11The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?”
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 9:12 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.