King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
Complete Jewish Bible:
so why are you questioning me? Question the ones who heard what I said to them; look, they know what I said.”
Berean Standard Bible:
Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”
American Standard Version:
Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Why{G5101} askest thou{G1905} me{G3165}? ask{G1905} them which heard me{G191}, what{G5101} I have said{G2980} unto them{G846}: behold{G2396}, they{G3778} know{G1492} what{G3739} I{G1473} said{G2036}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 22:67
- Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
Matthew 26:59
- Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Matthew 26:60
- But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Mark 14:55
- And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
Mark 14:59
- But neither so did their witness agree together.
Acts 24:12
- And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Acts 24:13
- Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for John 18:21
John 18:21 is a part of the narrative concerning the interrogation of Jesus by the high priest, Caiaphas, during the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. The verse captures a moment of tension and confrontation within the Jewish religious leadership's clandestine nocturnal trial of Jesus. In this verse, Jesus challenges the legitimacy of the proceedings by asserting that the high priest and the council should consult those who heard Him teach openly in the synagogues and temples.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the volatile political and religious climate of 1st-century Judea. The Jewish authorities were under Roman occupation and were keen on maintaining their own power and influence. Jesus' popularity and radical teachings threatened their authority, leading to a conspiracy to eliminate Him. The trial of Jesus was conducted in haste and without adherence to proper legal procedures, as the authorities sought to expedite His execution before the Passover festival.
The themes present in this verse include the injustice of the trial, Jesus' expectation that His teachings were well-known and should be attested to by His audience, and His implicit claim to having taught publicly and truthfully. This verse also underscores the contrast between Jesus' open ministry and the secretive, unjust actions of the religious leaders. It reflects Jesus' courage and integrity in the face of unfounded accusations, as well as His ultimate commitment to His mission, knowing that His words and actions were leading Him toward the fulfillment of His divine purpose, which included His sacrificial death and resurrection.
In essence, John 18:21 showcases Jesus' composure and divine wisdom in responding to an unjust legal process, while also highlighting the theological truth of His public ministry and the authority with which He spoke, which stood in stark contrast to the duplicity and fear of the religious establishment.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G5101
There are 483 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τίς
Transliteration: tís
Pronunciation: tis
Description: probably emphatic of τὶς; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why. - Strong's Number: G1905
There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπερωτάω
Transliteration: eperōtáō
Pronunciation: ep-er-o-tah'-o
Description: from ἐπί and ἐρωτάω; to ask for, i.e. inquire, seek:--ask (after, questions), demand, desire, question. - Strong's Number: G3165
There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μέ
Transliteration: mé
Pronunciation: meh
Description: a shorter (and probably original) form of ἐμέ; me:--I, me, my. - Strong's Number: G191
There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀκούω
Transliteration: akoúō
Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand. - Strong's Number: G2980
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λαλέω
Transliteration: laléō
Pronunciation: lal-eh'-o
Description: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G2396
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἴδε
Transliteration: íde
Pronunciation: id'-eh
Description: second person singular imperative active of εἴδω; used as an interjection to denote surprise; lo!:--behold, lo, see. - Strong's Number: G3778
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὗτος
Transliteration: hoûtos
Pronunciation: how'-tahee
Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who. - Strong's Number: G1492
There are 626 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἴδω
Transliteration: eídō
Pronunciation: i'-do
Description: a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent ὀπτάνομαι and ὁράω; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare ὀπτάνομαι. - Strong's Number: G3739
There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅς
Transliteration: hós
Pronunciation: ho
Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ. - Strong's Number: G1473
There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐγώ
Transliteration: egṓ
Pronunciation: eg-o'
Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc. - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.