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 an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 37Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• he went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• faultαἰτίαaitia · cause/chargeG156

Cross-references for John 18:38

• Acts 17:19Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.
• Acts 24:25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”
• John 19:4Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”
• Matthew 27:18(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
• Mark 15:14“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
• Luke 23:4Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
• 1 Peter 1:19It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
• 1 Peter 2:22He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

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