John 2:21

John 2:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he spake of the temple of his body.
• New International Version (NIV)But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

Context of John 2:21

19Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple building, and thou wilt raise it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from among [the] dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23And when he was in Jerusalem, at the passover, at the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he wrought.

John 2:21 word by word

ἐκεῖνος δὲ ἔλεγεν περὶ τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

• spokeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• templeναόςnaos · templeG3485
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983

Cross-references for John 2:21

• John 1:14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;
• Colossians 1:19for in him all the fulness [of the Godhead] was pleased to dwell,
• Colossians 2:9For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;
• Hebrews 8:2minister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord has pitched, [and] not man.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16Do ye not know that ye are [the] temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?
• 1 Corinthians 6:19Do ye not know that your body is [the] temple of the Holy Spirit which [is] in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?
• 2 Corinthians 6:16and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are [the] living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.
• Ephesians 2:20being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the corner-stone,
• 1 Peter 2:4To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious,

Commentaries on John 2:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Of the temple of his body - Rather, the temple, his body: his body had no particular temple: but it was the temple of his Divinity - the place in which, as in the ancient temple, his Godhead dwelt; See how the Jews perverted these words, Matthew 26:60; (note), and the notes there.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 The first public work in which we find Christ engaged, was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21Destroy this temple: Herod the Great started rebuilding the temple's grand structure in 20 BC. The work continued until AD 64. This is why Jesus amazed his audience when he claimed he could destroy and rebuild it in a few days. However, Jesus was speaking figuratively (using a word picture) about his own body. He described his body as the true temple, the place where God was present (see 1:14, 51). His body would be destroyed. Three days later, God would…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2218-22. What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?--Though the act and the words of Christ, taken together, were sign enough, they were unconvinced: yet they were awed, and though at His very next appearance at Jerusalem they "sought to kill Him" for speaking of "His Father" just as He did now (Joh 5:18), they, at this early stage, only ask a sign.Read the comment

Topics related to John 2:21

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Fill
• Hour
• Propitiation
• Resurrection of Christ
• Scourge
• Syriac
• Temple
• Testify
• Body
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 2

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings