John 18:38

John 18:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
• New International Version (NIV)“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Context of John 18:38

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. 39But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

John 18:38 word by word

Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ οὐδεμίαν εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν.Read the interlinear

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
• askedλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·αὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• having saidεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• he went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• basis for a chargeαἰτίαaitia · cause/chargeG156
• againstἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for John 18:38

• Acts 17:19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
• Acts 24:25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
• John 19:4Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
• Matthew 27:18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
• Mark 15:14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
• Luke 23:4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
• 1 Peter 1:19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
• 1 Peter 2:22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

Commentaries on John 18:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38What is truth - Among the sages of that time there were many opinions concerning truth; and some had even supposed that it was a thing utterly out of the reach of men. Pilate perhaps might have asked the question in a mocking way; and his not staying to get an answer indicated that he either despaired of getting a satisfactory one, or that he was indifferent about it. This is the case with thousands: they appear desirous of knowing the truth, but have not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38What is truth? - This question was probably asked in contempt, and hence Jesus did not answer it. Had the question been sincere, and had Pilate really sought it as Nicodemus had done John 18:33, and as soon as Pilate had asked the question, without waiting for an answer, he went out. It is evident that he was satisfied, from the answer of Jesus John 18:36-37, that he was not a king in the sense in which the Jews accused him; that he would not endanger the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-40Verses 33-40 Art thou the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to him. Christ gave an account of the nature of his kingdom. Its…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38-39What is truth?: Truth was not a foreign idea to Pilate. But he did not wait for an answer because he did not believe there was one. Pilate returned to the council members waiting outside and delivered his verdict: not guilty. Although he referred to Jesus as “King of the Jews” (see also 19:19), the title was just an expression meant to mock Jesus. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. His offer showed that he did not want Jesus to be executed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3833-38. Pilate ... called Jesus, and said ... Art thou the King of the Jews?--In Lu 23:2 they charge our Lord before Pilate with "perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that He Himself is Christ a king." Perhaps this was what occasioned Pilate's question.Read the comment

Topics related to John 18:38

• Demagogism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Opinion, Public
• Pilate, Pontius
• Politics
• Prisoners
• Truth

In the dictionaries

• Pilate; Pontius
• Pilate
• Judge
• Resort
• Cohort
• Crime; Crimes
• Fault
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 18

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings