John 21:22

John 21:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Context of John 21:22

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?” Jesus said to Peter, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!” 23So a rumor that that disciple wouldn’t die spread among Jesus’ followers. But Jesus didn’t say that he wouldn’t die. What Jesus said was, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you?” 24This disciple was an eyewitness of these things and wrote them down. We know that what he says is true.

John 21:22 word by word

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν ἕως ἔρχομαι, τί πρὸς σέ; σύ μοι ἀκολούθει.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• I will thatθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• tarryμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• tillἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for John 21:22

• Matthew 16:27The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done.
• Matthew 24:3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?”
• Matthew 25:31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
• Mark 9:1He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see God’s kingdom arrive with power.”
• 1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore, don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal people’s motives. Then each person will receive praise from God.
• 1 Corinthians 11:26Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until he comes.
• Revelation 1:7Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Every tribe on earth will mourn because of him. This is true. Amen.
• Revelation 2:25Just hold on to what you have until I come.
• Revelation 3:11I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.
• Revelation 22:7I’m coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book.”
• John 21:19Jesus said this to show by what kind of death Peter would bring glory to God. After saying this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me!”

Commentaries on John 21:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22If I will that he tarry till I come - There are several opinions concerning this: the following are the principal. Some have concluded from these words that John should never die. Many eminent men, ancients and moderns, have been and are of this opinion. Others thought that our Lord intimated that John should live till Christ came to judge and destroy Jerusalem. On this opinion it is observed that Peter, who was the oldest of the apostles, died in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22That he tarry - That he live. The same word is used to express life in Philemon 1:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:6. Till I come - Some have supposed this to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem; others to the day of judgment; others to signify that he would not die a violent death; but the plain meaning is, “If I will that he should not die at all, it is nothing to thee.” In this way the apostles evidently understood it, and hence raised a report that he would…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-24Verses 20-24 Sufferings, pains, and death, will appear formidable even to the experienced Christian; but in the hope to glorify God, to leave a sinful world, and to be present with his Lord, he becomes ready to obey the Redeemer's call, and to follow Him through death to glory. It is the will of Christ that his disciples should mind their own duty, and not be curious about future events, either as to themselves or others. Many things we are apt to be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-22“Lord, what about him?”: Peter wanted to know if John would also face death for his faith. Jesus said it was not Peter’s concern to know how or when John would die. Peter’s job was to follow Jesus, just as John already was. This event shows John’s idea of being a disciple: What matters most for the disciple of Jesus is to follow him and do his will, no matter what happens.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. Jesus saith to him, If I will that he tarry fill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me--From the fact that John alone of the Twelve survived the destruction of Jerusalem, and so witnessed the commencement of that series of events which belongs to "the last days," many good interpreters think that this is a virtual prediction of fact, and not a mere supposition. But this is very doubtful, and it seems more natural to consider our Lord as…Read the comment

Topics related to John 21:22

• Curiosity
• Jesus Continued
• Peter
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Dare
• Galilee, Sea of
• Christ, the Exaltation of
• Chronology of the New Testament
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Peter, Simon
• John, Gospel of

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