John 18:3

John 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

Context of John 18:3

1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

John 18:3 word by word

Ὁ οὖν Ἰούδας λαβὼν τὴν σπεῖραν καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀρχιερέων καὶ ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων ὑπηρέτας ἔρχεται ἐκεῖ μετὰ φανῶν καὶ λαμπάδων καὶ ὅπλων.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JudasἸούδαςIoudas · JudasG2455
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• having receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• a bandσπεῖραspeira · bandG4686
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• officersὑπηρέτηςhupēretēs · servantG5257
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the chief priestsἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• thitherἐκεῖekei · thereG1563
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• lanternsφανόςphanos · torchG5322
• torchesλαμπάςlampas · windowG2985
• weaponsὅπλονhoplon · weaponG3696

Cross-references for John 18:3

• John 13:2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
• Matthew 26:47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
• Mark 14:43Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
• Luke 22:47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,
• Acts 1:16and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
• John 18:12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him
• Psalms 3:1Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
• Psalms 22:12Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Commentaries on John 18:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3A band - , The band or troop. Some think that the spira was the same as the Roman cohort, and was the tenth part of a legion, which consisted sometimes of 4200, and sometimes of 5000 foot. But Raphelius, on Matthew 27:27, has clearly proved, from Polybius, that the spira was no more than a tenth of the fourth part of a legion. And as the number of the legion was uncertain, and their divisions not at all equal, no person can tell how many the band or spira…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3A band - See the notes at Matthew 26:47; Matthew 27:27. John passes over the agony of Jesus in the garden, probably because it was so fully described by the other evangelists. Lanterns … - This was the time of the full moon, but it might have been cloudy, and their taking lights with them shows their determination to find him.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3John’s full account of the group that arrested him adds details not mentioned in the other Gospels. The temple authorities sent Roman soldiers and temple guards. While the temple guards arrested Jesus, the Roman soldiers stood by to prevent a riot. The Roman group was large enough to need a commander. They came with weapons and were expecting a struggle (18:10, 12). Many people claimed to be the Messiah. Often, they tried to force the Romans out of the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131-3. over the brook Kedron--a deep, dark ravine, to the northeast of Jerusalem, through which flowed this small storm brook or winter torrent, and which in summer is dried up. where was a garden--at the foot of the Mount of Olives, "called Gethsemane; that is, olive press (Mt 26:30, 36).Read the comment

Topics related to John 18:3

• Jesus, the Christ
• Judas (Jude)
• Lantern
• Prisoners
• Prophecy
• Traitor

In the dictionaries

• Judge
• Resort
• Torches
• Band
• Cohort
• Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• John, Gospel of
• Judas Iscariot
• Lantern

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