John 18:38

John 18:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
• New International Version (NIV)“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Context of John 18:38

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And after saying this, he came out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no grounds at all for charges in His case. 39However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40So they shouted again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.

John 18:38 word by word

Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ οὐδεμίαν εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν.Read the interlinear

• PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to Him, “Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• is truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• cameἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• to the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• I findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• groundsαἰτίαaitia · cause/chargeG156

Cross-references for John 18:38

• Acts 17:19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?
• Acts 24:25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.”
• John 19:4And then Pilate came out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to you so that you will know that I find no grounds at all for charges in His case.”
• Matthew 27:18For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
• Mark 15:14But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”
• Luke 23:4But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man.”
• 1 Peter 1:19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
• 1 Peter 2:22He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

Commentaries on John 18:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38What is truth - Among the sages of that time there were many opinions concerning truth; and some had even supposed that it was a thing utterly out of the reach of men. Pilate perhaps might have asked the question in a mocking way; and his not staying to get an answer indicated that he either despaired of getting a satisfactory one, or that he was indifferent about it. This is the case with thousands: they appear desirous of knowing the truth, but have not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38What is truth? - This question was probably asked in contempt, and hence Jesus did not answer it. Had the question been sincere, and had Pilate really sought it as Nicodemus had done John 18:33, and as soon as Pilate had asked the question, without waiting for an answer, he went out. It is evident that he was satisfied, from the answer of Jesus John 18:36-37, that he was not a king in the sense in which the Jews accused him; that he would not endanger the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-40Verses 33-40 Art thou the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to him. Christ gave an account of the nature of his kingdom. Its…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38-39What is truth?: Truth was not a foreign idea to Pilate. But he did not wait for an answer because he did not believe there was one. Pilate returned to the council members waiting outside and delivered his verdict: not guilty. Although he referred to Jesus as “King of the Jews” (see also 19:19), the title was just an expression meant to mock Jesus. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. His offer showed that he did not want Jesus to be executed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3833-38. Pilate ... called Jesus, and said ... Art thou the King of the Jews?--In Lu 23:2 they charge our Lord before Pilate with "perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that He Himself is Christ a king." Perhaps this was what occasioned Pilate's question.Read the comment

Topics related to John 18:38

• Demagogism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Opinion, Public
• Pilate, Pontius
• Politics
• Prisoners
• Truth

In the dictionaries

• Pilate; Pontius
• Pilate
• Judge
• Resort
• Cohort
• Crime; Crimes
• Fault
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 18

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings