New English Translation
John 21:23
23So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?”
John 21:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
- New International Version (NIV)Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
Context of John 21:23
21So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?” 24This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Read all of John 21John 21:23 word by word
Ἐξῆλθεν οὖν οὗτος ὁ λόγος εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος οὐκ ἀποθνῄσκει· οὐκ εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι οὐκ ἀποθνῄσκει, ἀλλ᾽ ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν ἕως ἔρχομαι, τί πρὸς σέ;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- wentἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- sayingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- sayingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- amongεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- discipleμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- shouldἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
- notοὐou · noG3756
- yetκαίkai · andG2532
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- 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
Cross-references for John 21:23
- Deuteronomy 29:29Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we might obey all the words of this law.
- Job 28:28And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Job 33:13Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person’s words?
- Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth. No one slaps his hand and says to him, ‘What have you done?’
Commentaries on John 21:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Then went this saying - This mistake arose very naturally: 1.From the words of Jesus, which might be easily misunderstood to mean that he should not die; and, 2.It was probably confirmed when it was seen that John survived all the other apostles, had escaped all the dangers of persecution, and was leading a peaceful life at Ephesus. This mistake John deemed it proper to correct before he died, and has thus left on record what Jesus said and what he…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. 23What Jesus said to Peter spread, causing some to conclude that John would not die until Jesus returned in his second coming. What Jesus said when he rebuked Peter (21:22) is repeated to answer that rumor. Those among the community of believers who believed this rumor were thus instructed to abandon any guessing about what would happen to John. According to tradition, John died peacefully in Ephesus at an old age, surrounded by fellow believers.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 21:23
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries