John 18:7

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Then ^{G3767} asked he ^{G1905} them ^{G846} again ^{G3825}, Whom ^{G5101} seek ye ^{G2212}? And ^{G1161} they said ^{G2036}, Jesus ^{G2424} of Nazareth ^{G3480}.

So he inquired of them once more, “Whom do you want?” and they said, “Yeshua from Natzeret.”

So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

John 18:7 KJV: "Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth."

Context

This verse occurs during the dramatic scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following Jesus' arrest. A large crowd, including soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, has come to apprehend him. When Jesus first asks, "Whom seek ye?" (John 18:4), they respond, "Jesus of Nazareth." His simple declaration, "I am he" (John 18:5), causes the entire group to draw back and fall to the ground (John 18:6). This verse shows Jesus repeating the question after they have recovered from that display of divine power, indicating his continued control over the situation, not submission out of weakness.

Key Themes

Jesus' Control: Despite facing arrest and imminent suffering, Jesus remains in charge. He initiates the conversation and repeats the question, demonstrating his willingness to go with them on his own terms, not theirs.
Clear Identity: Jesus does not hide who he is. He clearly identifies himself as "Jesus of Nazareth," the man they have come to find. This highlights his earthly reality and the fulfillment of prophecy concerning his origin.
Voluntary Sacrifice: By presenting himself willingly, Jesus underscores the voluntary nature of his impending suffering and death, which was part of his divine mission and authority to lay down his life and take it up again.

Linguistic Insights

The repetition of the question, "Whom seek ye?", after the crowd has just experienced the power of Jesus' "I am he" is significant. It serves to refocus the moment, bringing the attention back to their purpose for being there and Jesus' clear identification of himself. "Jesus of Nazareth" was the common way people identified him, distinguishing him geographically and fulfilling prophetic expectations (e.g., Matthew 2:23).

Reflection

This moment reveals Jesus' sovereignty even in his darkest hour before the cross. He doesn't evade capture but confronts it directly, ensuring there is no ambiguity about his identity or his willingness to fulfill his Father's will. For believers, this verse reminds us that Jesus is not a victim of circumstance but the deliberate agent of salvation, fully aware and in control even when it seems he is surrendering power. It challenges us to be equally clear about whom we seek – Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah and Son of God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

John 18:4

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?