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 continue what he’s doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation.” 49One of them, Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year, told them, “You people don’t know anything. You haven’t even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” 51Caiaphas didn’t say this on his own. As chief priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation. 52He prophesied that Jesus wouldn’t die merely for this nation, but that Jesus would die to bring God’s scattered children together and make them one.

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 continue what he’s doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation.”
• John 18:14was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people.
• John 19:12When Pilate heard what Jesus said, he wanted to free him. But the Jews shouted, “If you free this man, you’re not a friend of the emperor. Anyone who claims to be a king is defying the emperor.”
• Luke 24:46He said to them, “Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day.
• Romans 3:8Or can we say, “Let’s do evil so that good will come from it”? Some slander us and claim that this is what we say. They are condemned, and that’s what they deserve.

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