John 11:50

John 11:50 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
• New International Version (NIV)You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."
• New King James Version (NKJV)nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

Context of John 11:50

48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.” 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year [the year of Christ’s crucifixion], said to them, “You know nothing at all! Nor do you understand that it is expedient and politically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51Now he did not say this [simply] on his own initiative; but being the high priest that year, he [was unknowingly used by God and] prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52and not only for the nation, but also for the purpose of gathering together into one body the children of God who have been scattered abroad.

John 11:50 word by word

οὐδὲ λογίζεσθε ὅτι συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ μὴ ὅλον τὸ ἔθνος ἀπόληται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Norοὐδέoude · norG3761
• considerδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it is expedientσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• for usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• should dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
• nationἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• perishἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• notμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for John 11:50

• John 11:48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.”
• John 18:14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
• John 19:12As a result of this, Pilate kept making efforts to release Him, but the Jews kept screaming, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who makes himself out [to be] a king opposes Caesar [and rebels against the emperor]!”
• Luke 24:46and said, “And so it is written, that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
• Romans 3:8And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Their condemnation [by God] is just.

Commentaries on John 11:50

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 50Nor consider - Ye talk more at random than according to reason, and the exigencies of the case. There is a various reading here in some MSS. that should be noticed. Instead of , which we translate, ye do not consider, and which properly conveys the idea of conferring, or talking together, , neither do ye reason or consider rightly, is the reading of ABDL, three others, and some of the primitive fathers. Griesbach, by placing it in his inner margin, shows…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 50It is expedient for us - It is better for us. Literally, “It is profitable for us.” That one man should die - Jesus they regarded as promoting sedition, and as exposing the nation, if he was successful, to the vengeance of the Romans, John 11:48. If he was put to death they supposed the people would be safe. This is all, doubtless, that he meant by his dying for the people. He did not himself intend to speak of his dying as an atonement or a sacrifice…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 47-53Verses 47-53 There can hardly be a more clear discovery of the madness that is in man's heart, and of its desperate enmity against God, than what is here recorded. Words of prophecy in the mouth, are not clear evidence of a principle of grace in the heart. The calamity we seek to escape by sin, we take the most effectual course to bring upon our own heads; as those do who think by opposing Christ's kingdom, to advance their own worldly interest. The fear…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 50-51it is better … that one man die: Caiaphas spoke with clear political intent. He argued that it was better for one man to die than for the whole nation to suffer. He meant that it was better for Jesus, whom he saw as a threat, to die than for Rome to destroy the Jewish people. Caiaphas viewed Jesus as a possible revolutionary. He feared that Rome would crush the nation if unrest grew. From his point of view, sacrificing one man would protect many. But his…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 47-5447-54. What do we? for this man doeth many miracles--"While we trifle, 'this man,' by His 'many miracles,' will carry all before Him; the popular enthusiasm will bring on a revolution, which will precipitate the Romans upon us, and our all will go down in one common ruin." What a testimony to the reality of our Lord's miracles, and their resistless effect, from His bitterest enemies!Read the comment

Topics related to John 11:50

• Atonement
• Caiaphas
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Prudence
• Suffering

In the dictionaries

• Awake
• Caiaphas
• Mourn
• Bethany
• Christ, Offices of
• Die
• Expedient
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings