John 11:51

John 11:51 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
• New International Version (NIV)He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,
• English Standard Version (ESV)He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

Context of John 11:51

49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.” Now he did not say this on his own, but as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; 52and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.

John 11:51 word by word

τοῦτο δὲ ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ οὐκ εἶπεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀρχιερεὺς ὢν τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐκείνου ἐπροφήτευσεν ὅτι ἔμελλεν Ἰησοῦς ἀποθνῄσκειν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἔθνους,Read the interlinear

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• he did not sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• on his ownἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• as he was highἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• that yearἐνιαυτόςeniautos · yearG1763
• he prophesiedπροφητεύωprophēteuō · to prophesyG4395
• that JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• wasμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• for the nationἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484

Cross-references for John 11:51

• Exodus 28:30And you shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.
• Judges 20:27And the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
• 1 Samuel 23:9But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
• 1 Samuel 28:6So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, either in dreams, or by the Urim, or by the prophets.
• Numbers 22:28Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
• Numbers 24:2And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
• Matthew 7:22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
• 1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
• 2 Peter 2:15abandoning the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness;
• John 10:15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
• Isaiah 53:5But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.
• Daniel 9:26Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
• Matthew 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
• Romans 3:25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished;
• 2 Corinthians 5:21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Galatians 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”--

Commentaries on John 11:51

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 51This spake he not of himself - Wicked and worthless as he was, God so guided his tongue that, contrary to his intention, he pronounced a prophecy of the death of Jesus Christ. I have already remarked that the doctrine of a vicarious atonement had gained, long before this time, universal credit in the world. Words similar to these of Caiaphas are, by the prince of all the Roman poets, put in the mouth of Neptune, when promising Venus that the fleet of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 51Not of himself - Though he uttered what proved to be a true prophecy, yet it was accomplished in a way which he did not intend He had a wicked design. He was plotting murder and crime. Yet, wicked as he was, and little as he intended it, God so ordered it that he delivered a most precious truth respecting the atonement. Remark: 1.God may fulfill the words of the wicked in a manner which they do not wish or intend. 2.He may make even their malice and…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 11:51

• Atonement
• Caiaphas
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Prudence
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• High priest
• Awake
• Mourn
• Bethany
• Caiaphas
• Christ, Offices of
• Die
• Jesus Christ

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