John 13:37

John 13:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
• New International Version (NIV)Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

Context of John 13:37

35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” 36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will be able to follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!” 38Jesus answered, “Will you [really] lay down your life for Me? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before a rooster crows you will deny and completely disown Me three times.

John 13:37 word by word

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος· κύριε, διὰ τί οὐ δύναμαί σοι ἀκολουθῆσαι ἄρτι; τὴν ψυχήν μου ὑπὲρ σοῦ θήσω.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Peterὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• cannot Iοὐou · noG3756
• cannot Iδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• nowἄρτιarti · nowG737
• I will lay downτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• lifeψυχήpsuchē · soul: lifeG5590
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228

Cross-references for John 13:37

• John 21:15So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
• Matthew 26:31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night [disillusioned about Me, confused, and some even ashamed of Me], for it is written [in the Scriptures], ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
• Mark 14:27Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
• Luke 22:31“Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;
• Acts 20:24But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].
• Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be bound and imprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Commentaries on John 13:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Why cannot I follow thee now? - Peter probably thought that our Lord intended to go some long journey, which would necessarily subject him to many inconveniences and fatigue; and he felt quite disposed to follow him in this supposed journey, at all hazards. He saw no reason, because he did not see our Lord's meaning, why he could not follow him now. I will lay down my life for thy sake - Poor Peter! thou wast sincere, but thou didst not know thy own…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-38Verses 36-38 What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37Peter claimed to be ready to die for Jesus. But Peter is well known for denying Jesus (18:15–18, 25–27; see also Matthew 26:32–34; Mark 14:27–30; Luke 22:31–34). Although Peter's courage and loyalty failed, Jesus forgave and restored him (John 21:15–19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 36-3836-38. Peter said--seeing plainly in these directions how to behave themselves, that He was indeed going from them. Lord, whither guest thou?--having hardly a glimmer of the real truth. Jesus answered, ... thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards--How different from what He said to the Jews: "Whither I go ye cannot come" (Joh 8:21).Read the comment

Topics related to John 13:37

• Confidence
• False Confidence
• Jesus Continued
• Love
• Peter

In the dictionaries

• Peter
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Aside
• Clean
• Commandment
• Example
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Life
• Love

Commentaries on John 13

• 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