John 18:6

John 18:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
• New International Version (NIV)When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Context of John 18:6

4Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 5“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8“I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”

John 18:6 word by word

ὡς οὖν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ ἔπεσαν χαμαί.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• As soonὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• as he had saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• they wentἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• backwardὀπίσωopisō · afterG3694
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• fellπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
• to the groundχαμαίchamai · on the groundG5476

Cross-references for John 18:6

• 2 Kings 1:9Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
• Psalms 27:2When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
• Psalms 40:14May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
• Psalms 70:2May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
• Psalms 129:5May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat.
• Luke 9:54When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”
• Acts 4:29And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

Commentaries on John 18:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6They went backward, and fell to the ground - None of the other evangelists mentions this very important circumstance. Our Lord chose to give them this proof of his infinite power, that they might know that their power could not prevail against him if he chose to exert his might, seeing that the very breath of his mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth. Thus by the blast of God they might have perished, and by the breath of his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6They went backward … - The cause of their retiring in this manner is not mentioned. Various things might have produced it. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of his innocence, and deterred them from prosecuting their wicked attempt. His disclosure of himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that he would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at his open and bold…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6All the soldiers and guards fell back before the Lord (compare Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 10:9; Acts 9:4; Revelation 1:17). Even the Roman soldiers, who were trained to stand firm, fell to the ground before Christ. They did this to show submission, but they did not fully understand what had happened and went on with the arrest.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-94-9. Jesus ... knowing all things that should come--were coming. upon him, went forth--from the shade of the trees, probably, into open view, indicating His sublime preparedness to meet His captors. Whom seek ye?--partly to prevent a rush of the soldiery upon the disciples [Bengel]; and see Mr 14:51, 52, as showing a tendency to this: but still more as part of that courage and majesty which so overawed them. He would not wait to be taken.Read the comment

Topics related to John 18:6

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prisoners
• Prophecy
• Traitor

In the dictionaries

• Judge
• Resort
• Cohort
• 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