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

57Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.

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 the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?”
• John 10:30The Father and I are one.”
• John 11:8The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death! Are you going there again?”
• John 18:31Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.”
• Leviticus 24:16and one who misuses the name of the Lord must surely be put to death. The whole congregation must surely stone him, whether he is a foreigner or a native citizen; when he misuses the Name he must be put to death.
• Luke 4:29They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.
• Acts 7:57But they covered their ears, shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent.
• John 5:13But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.
• John 10:39Then they attempted again to seize him, but he escaped their clutches.
• John 11:54Thus Jesus no longer went around publicly among the Judeans, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.
• Genesis 19:11Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, from the youngest to the oldest, with blindness. The men outside wore themselves out trying to find the door.
• 2 Kings 6:18As they approached him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people with blindness.” The Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.
• Luke 4:30But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.
• Luke 24:31At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight.
• Acts 8:39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but went on his way rejoicing.

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