John 13:19

Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].

Now {G575}{G737} I tell {G3004} you {G5213} before {G4253} it come {G1096}, that {G2443}, when {G3752} it is come to pass {G1096}, ye may believe {G4100} that {G3754} I {G1473} am {G1510} he.

I’m telling you now, before it happens; so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM [who I say I am].

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.

From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

Commentary

John 13:19 is a profound statement by Jesus to His disciples during the Last Supper, revealing His divine foreknowledge and affirming His identity. It serves as a cornerstone for strengthening the disciples' faith in the face of impending trials and betrayals.

Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus during the intimate setting of the Last Supper, just moments after He has predicted His betrayal by one of His own disciples, Judas Iscariot. The atmosphere is tense, and the disciples are perplexed and sorrowful. Jesus' words here are meant to prepare them for the shocking events that are about to unfold, particularly His arrest, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Prophecy

    Jesus reveals future events not to prevent them, but to demonstrate His sovereign control and perfect knowledge over all things, including the darkest acts of human treachery. His declaration "Now I tell you before it come" emphasizes His omniscience. This aligns with God's nature as one who declares the end from the beginning, as seen in passages like Isaiah 46:10.

  • Confirmation of Jesus' Deity ("I AM")

    The phrase "ye may believe that I am [he]" is a profound declaration. In the Greek, it is ego eimi (ἐγώ εἰμι), which translates literally to "I am." The KJV adds "[he]" in italics to clarify the implied meaning, but the direct "I AM" is a powerful echo of God's self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:14, where God identifies Himself as "I AM THAT I AM." This statement firmly asserts Jesus' divine nature and oneness with God the Father, a recurring theme in John's Gospel (e.g., John 8:58).

  • Purpose: Strengthening Faith

    Jesus' primary goal in revealing future events is to solidify the faith of His disciples. When they witness the fulfillment of His words—His betrayal, death, and resurrection—their belief in His true identity as the Son of God and the Messiah will be strengthened. This foreknowledge prevents their faith from collapsing when the difficult events occur, instead turning those events into proof of His divine authority and truthfulness.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 13:19 serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' divine authority and His ultimate control over all circumstances, even those that seem chaotic or painful. It encourages us to trust in His word, knowing that His prophecies are infallible and that He is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we face trials or uncertainties, we can find comfort and assurance in the knowledge that nothing takes God by surprise. His foreknowledge is a foundation for our enduring faith, confirming His identity and His steadfast love for us.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 43:10

    Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

  • John 14:29

    And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

  • Revelation 1:17

    And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

  • Revelation 1:18

    [I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • John 16:4

    But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

  • Isaiah 48:5

    I have even from the beginning declared [it] to thee; before it came to pass I shewed [it] thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

  • John 8:23

    And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
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