English Standard Version
John 11:50
50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
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 place and our nation." 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 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." 51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Read all of John 11John 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 place and our nation."
- John 18:14It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
- John 19:12From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."
- Luke 24:46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
- Romans 3:8And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation 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
In the dictionaries
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
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