John 8:59

John 8:59 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
• New International Version (NIV)At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Context of John 8:59

57The Jews said to Jesus, “You’re not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?” 58Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am.” Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.

John 8:59 word by word

ἦραν οὖν λίθους ἵνα βάλωσιν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν. Ἰησοῦς δὲ ἐκρύβη καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• took they upαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• stonesλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• castβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• atἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• butδέde · thenG1161
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• hid himselfκρύπτωkruptō · to hideG2928
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the templeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the templeἱερόνhieron · templeG2411
• goingδιέρχομαιdierchomai · to pass throughG1330
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• passed byπαράγωparagō · to passG3855

Cross-references for John 8:59

• John 8:5In his teachings, Moses ordered us to stone women like this to death. What do you say?”
• John 10:30The Father and I are one.”
• John 11:8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, not long ago the Jews wanted to stone you to death. Do you really want to go back there?”
• John 18:31Pilate told the Jews, “Take him, and try him by your law.” The Jews answered him, “We’re not allowed to execute anyone.”
• Leviticus 24:16But those who curse the Lord’s name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses the Lord’s name must die.
• Luke 4:29Their city was built on a hill with a cliff. So they got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the cliff. They intended to throw him off of it.
• Acts 7:57But the council members shouted and refused to listen. Then they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind,
• John 5:13But the man who had been healed didn’t know who Jesus was. (Jesus had withdrawn from the crowd.)
• John 10:39The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again, but he got away from them.
• John 11:54So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. Instead, he left Bethany and went to the countryside near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
• Genesis 19:11Then they struck all the men who were in the doorway of the house, young and old alike, with blindness so that they gave up trying to find the door.
• 2 Kings 6:18As the Arameans came down to get him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike these people with blindness.” The Lord struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
• Luke 4:30But Jesus walked right by them and went away.
• Luke 24:31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he vanished from their sight.
• Acts 8:39When they had stepped out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official joyfully continued on his way and didn’t see Philip again.

Commentaries on John 8:59

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 59Then took they up stones, etc. - It appears that the Jews understood him as asserting his Godhead; and, supposing him to be a blasphemer, they proceeded to stone him, according to the law. Leviticus 24:16. But Jesus hid himself - In all probability he rendered himself invisible - though some will have it that he conveyed himself away from those Jews who were his enemies, by mixing himself with the many who believed on him, ( John 8:30, John 8:31;), and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 59Then took they up stones - It seems they understood him as blaspheming, and proceeded, even without a form of trial, to stone him as such, because this was the punishment prescribed in the law for blasphemy, Leviticus 24:16. See John 10:31. The fact that the Jews understood him in this sense is strong proof that his words naturally conveyed the idea that he was divine. This was in the temple. Herod the Great had not yet completed its repairs, and Dr…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 54-59Verses 54-59 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, 2Th 1:8. All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. "Before Abraham was, I AM." This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 59Those listening to Jesus finally understood his claim to be God (8:58). Because of this, they became very angry. They believed they had heard blasphemy (words that dishonored God) and picked up stones to throw at him, which was the proper legal response (Leviticus 24:16). Jesus was hidden from them because God had chosen a different time for his death (see study note on John 12:23; see also 7:30, 44; Luke 4:29–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 57-5957-59. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old--"No inference can be drawn from this as to the age of our Lord at the time as man. Fifty years was with the Jews the completion of manhood" [Alford]. and hast thou seen Abraham?--He had said Abraham saw Him, as being his peculiar privilege. They give the opposite turn to it--"Hast Thou seen Abraham?" as an honor too great for Him to pretend to.Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:59

• Persecution
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift
• Treasury
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 8

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings