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 Living Translation (NLT)He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.

Context of John 11:51

49And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 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, 52and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• spake heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐou · noG3756
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• yearὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• yearἐνιαυτόςeniautos · yearG1763
• he prophesiedπροφητεύωprophēteuō · to prophesyG4395
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• shouldμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• that nationἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484

Cross-references for John 11:51

• Exodus 28:30And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.
• Judges 20:27So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
• 1 Samuel 23:9When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
• 1 Samuel 28:6And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by 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 encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
• Matthew 7:22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
• 1 Corinthians 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
• 2 Peter 2:15They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
• John 10:15As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
• Isaiah 53:5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
• Daniel 9:26“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the 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 a ransom for many.”
• Romans 3:25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
• 2 Corinthians 5:21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Galatians 3:13Christ has 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
• High priest
• Awake
• Mourn
• Bethany
• Caiaphas
• Christ, Offices of
• Die
• Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of
• Johannine Theology

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