John 21:19

John 21:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Context of John 21:19

17Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep. 18I can guarantee this truth: When you were young, you would get ready to go where you wanted. But when you’re old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will get you ready to take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me!” 20Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved. That disciple was following them. He was the one who leaned against Jesus’ chest at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” 21When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

John 21:19 word by word

τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ δοξάσει τὸν θεόν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• spake heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• signifyingσημαίνωsēmainō · to signifyG4591
• by whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• he should glorifyδοξάζωdoxazō · to glorifyG1392
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for John 21:19

• Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. I will speak very boldly and honor Christ in my body, now as always, whether I live or die.
• 1 Peter 4:11Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.
• 2 Peter 1:14I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me.
• John 21:22Jesus said to Peter, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!”
• John 12:26Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.
• John 13:36Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “You can’t follow me now to the place where I’m going. However, you will follow me later.”
• Numbers 14:24But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I’ll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it.
• 1 Samuel 12:20“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel told the people. “You did do all these evil things. But don’t turn away from the Lord. Instead, serve the Lord wholeheartedly.
• Matthew 10:38Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple.
• Matthew 16:21From that time on Jesus began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.
• Matthew 19:28Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Mark 8:33Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, “Get out of my way, Satan! You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”
• Luke 9:22Jesus said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.

Commentaries on John 21:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Should glorify God - Ancient writers state that, about thirty-four years after this, Peter was crucified; and that he deemed it so glorious a thing to die for Christ that he begged to be crucified with his head downwards, not considering himself worthy to die in the same posture in which his Lord did. So Eusebius, Prudentius, Chrysostom, and Augustin. See Calmet. Follow me - Whether our Lord meant by these words that Peter was to walk with him a little…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19By what death … - In these words two things are implied: 1.that Peter would die a violent death; and, 2.that his death would be such as to honor God. The ancients say that Peter was crucified at Rome, about 34 years after this, with his head downward. Clemens says that he was led to the crucifixion with his wife, and sustained her in her sufferings by exhorting her to remember the example of her Lord. He also adds that he died, not as the philosophers…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-19Verses 15-19 Our Lord addressed Peter by his original name, as if he had forfeited that of Peter through his denying him. He now answered, Thou knowest that I love thee; but without professing to love Jesus more than others. We must not be surprised to have our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done that which makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins, even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a true penitent. Conscious of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19The rest of Peter’s life was a ministry tending the flock of God, and his martyrdom was a kind of death that glorifies God. Follow me: This might require suffering and death (see 13:16; 15:18–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. When thou wast young--embracing the whole period of life to the verge of old age. thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest--wast thine own master. when ... old thou shalt stretch forth thine hands--to be bound for execution, though not necessarily meaning on a cross. There is no reason, however, to doubt the very early tradition that Peter's death was by crucifixion.Read the comment

Topics related to John 21:19

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Apostles
• Discipleship
• Glorifying God
• Jesus Continued
• Peter

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Dare
• Galilee, Sea of
• Peter
• Body, Spiritual
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Persecution
• Peter, Simon

Commentaries on John 21

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings