John 2:19

KJV

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

KJV (with Strong's)

Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Destroy {G3089} this {G5126} temple {G3485}, and {G2532} in {G1722} three {G5140} days {G2250} I will raise {G1453} it {G846} up {G1453}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

American Standard Version

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus delivers a cryptic yet profoundly prophetic statement to the Jewish authorities who demand a sign of His authority after His dramatic cleansing of the Temple. His words, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," initially misunderstood as referring to the physical structure in Jerusalem, serve as a pivotal declaration of His divine identity, His impending death and resurrection, and the dawn of a new covenant where He Himself would be the ultimate dwelling place of God, superseding the old sacrificial system.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately following Jesus' forceful cleansing of the Temple courts, an event recorded uniquely by John at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. In [John 2:13-16](/john/2-13-16 "John 2:13-16 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"), Jesus overturns tables, drives out animals, and rebukes those who have turned His Father's house into a market. This audacious act challenges the established religious order and provokes the Jewish leaders, who then confront Him, demanding a "sign" to authenticate His authority for such actions, setting the stage for His enigmatic response in [John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection"). The disciples' later understanding of this prophecy, as noted in [John 2:22](/john/2-22 "John 2:22 - Disciples Remember Jesus' Words"), highlights the forward-looking nature of John's narrative, often revealing the deeper meaning of Jesus' words only after His resurrection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Temple in Jerusalem, particularly Herod's Temple, was an immense and ongoing construction project, having been under renovation and expansion for decades since Herod the Great began his work in 20/19 BC. It was the absolute center of Jewish religious, national, and cultural life, symbolizing God's presence among His people and serving as the sole legitimate place for sacrificial worship. The idea of its destruction, let alone its rebuilding in three days, would have been perceived as an absurd, blasphemous, or even treasonous statement to the Jewish authorities and the common people alike. Their literal interpretation of Jesus' words, as seen in [John 2:20](/john/2-20 "John 2:20 - The Jews Misunderstand Jesus"), underscores their inability to grasp the spiritual reality Jesus was presenting.
* **Key Themes:** [John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection") is rich with significant theological themes. It powerfully asserts **Jesus' Divine Authority**, demonstrating His unique prerogative to challenge and ultimately supersede the established religious institutions. The **Misunderstanding and Spiritual Blindness** of the Jewish leaders, who cling to a literal interpretation, contrasts sharply with the spiritual truth Jesus conveys, a recurring motif in John's Gospel (e.g., [John 3:3-4](/john/3-3-4 "John 3:3-4 - Nicodemus' Misunderstanding of Being Born Again")). Most critically, the verse introduces the profound theme of **Jesus as the New Temple**, signifying that He is the true locus of God's presence and the ultimate means of access to God, replacing the physical structure and its sacrificial system. This foreshadows the shift from temple-centric worship to worship "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worship")). Finally, it serves as a direct and unmistakable **Prophecy of Jesus' Resurrection**, the ultimate "sign" that would validate His messianic claims and divine identity, a truth central to the entire New Testament narrative (e.g., [John 20:1-10](/john/20-1-10 "John 20:1-10 - The Resurrection of Jesus")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Destroy (Greek, _lýō'_):** This verb means "to loosen," "break up," "dissolve," or "destroy." In the context of the Temple, it implies a complete dismantling or demolition. When Jesus says "Destroy this temple," He is not issuing a command but rather a conditional statement or a challenge, implying that if they (the Jewish authorities, by their rejection and actions) bring about the destruction of the "temple" (His body), He Himself will rebuild it. The choice of this word highlights the active role of humanity in rejecting Christ, leading to His death.
* **Temple (Greek, _naós'_):** This term specifically refers to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, where God's presence was believed to dwell. It is distinct from *hieron*, which denotes the entire temple complex, including the outer courts. By using *naós*, Jesus emphasizes that He is the very core and sacred dwelling place of God, the ultimate locus of divine presence, not merely a part of a larger religious system. This choice of word points directly to His divine nature and His role as the new and living way to God.
* **Raise it up (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb means "to waken," "rouse," "lift up," or "raise." Crucially, Jesus uses the active voice ("I will raise it up"), indicating that He Himself, by His own divine power, would accomplish His resurrection. This is not a passive event where He is merely raised by the Father, but an active demonstration of His inherent divine power over death. This active participation in His own resurrection is a profound claim to deity, distinguishing Him from all other prophets or martyrs.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus answered and said unto them,"**: This introductory phrase sets the scene, indicating that Jesus' statement is a direct response to the Jewish authorities' challenge regarding His authority after He cleansed the Temple. It underscores the confrontational nature of the exchange and highlights Jesus' willingness to engage with their demands, albeit on His own terms.
* **"Destroy this temple,"**: This is a conditional statement, not a command. Jesus is not instructing them to destroy the physical temple. Instead, He is prophetically anticipating their actions against Him, which would lead to His death. The "temple" here is a profound metaphor for His own body, as explicitly clarified in [John 2:21](/john/2-21 "John 2:21 - Jesus Explains His Temple Prophecy"). This clause highlights the human agency in the crucifixion, particularly the role of the Jewish leaders in seeking His demise.
* **"and in three days I will raise it up."**: This is the core of Jesus' prophecy. The "three days" refers to the specific timeframe of His resurrection, a detail consistently emphasized throughout the Gospels as a sign of His messianic identity and divine power. The active voice "I will raise it up" is critical, asserting Jesus' self-resurrection through His own divine power, a unique claim that distinguishes Him from anyone else who has ever lived. This statement is the "sign" He offers, one that would only be fully understood and believed after its fulfillment, validating all His claims.

#### Literary Devices
The profound statement in [John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection") employs several powerful literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the physical Temple, the center of Jewish worship, serves as a symbol for Jesus' own body. This metaphorical connection, clarified in [John 2:21](/john/2-21 "John 2:21 - Jesus Explains His Temple Prophecy"), reveals that Jesus Himself is the ultimate dwelling place of God, replacing the old covenant's physical structures. The statement is also a direct **Prophecy**, a clear prediction of His death and resurrection, a "sign" that would authenticate His divine authority retroactively for those who witnessed its fulfillment. Furthermore, there is profound **Irony** in the Jewish leaders' literal interpretation of Jesus' words, highlighting their spiritual blindness to the deeper, spiritual truths He was conveying. This ironic misunderstanding underscores the chasm between human perception and divine reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' declaration in [John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection") is a pivotal theological statement, asserting His divine identity and His role as the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence among humanity. By identifying His body as the "temple," Jesus signifies the obsolescence of the physical structure and its sacrificial system, ushering in a new era where access to God is found directly through Him. His self-resurrection, promised "in three days," is the ultimate vindication of His claims, demonstrating His power over sin and death and establishing the foundation for the new covenant. This prophecy not only foreshadows His own destiny but also redefines the very nature of worship and God's dwelling place, shifting it from a physical location to a spiritual reality centered in Christ.

* [John 2:21](/john/2-21 "John 2:21 - Jesus Explains His Temple Prophecy")
* [Matthew 26:61](/matthew/26-61 "Matthew 26:61 - False Witness Against Jesus")
* [1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' enigmatic statement in [John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection") challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to seek deeper spiritual truths in God's Word and in His work in the world. Just as the Jewish leaders initially misunderstood Jesus' words, we too can sometimes miss the profound spiritual realities because we are too focused on the literal or the material. This passage reminds us that Christ is the true center of all worship and the ultimate dwelling place of God. Our access to God is not through rituals or physical structures, but through a living relationship with Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The resurrection, promised here, is the cornerstone of our faith, offering us hope for new life, victory over sin, and the promise of our own future resurrection. It calls us to place our complete trust in Jesus' power and to live lives that reflect His resurrection power within us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prone to literal or superficial interpretations, missing deeper spiritual truths?**
* **How does understanding Jesus as the "new Temple" change my perspective on worship and my relationship with God?**
* **What does Jesus' active claim, "I will raise it up," reveal about His divine power, and how does that impact my faith?**
* **How does the promise of Jesus' resurrection, fulfilled in three days, offer me hope and strength in the face of my own challenges and mortality?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus use such enigmatic language when addressing the Jewish leaders?**

Answer: Jesus often used parables, metaphors, and enigmatic statements to convey profound spiritual truths, serving multiple purposes. Firstly, it concealed truth from those who were spiritually hardened or unwilling to believe, as prophesied in [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Spiritual Blindness"). For those with "ears to hear," it invited deeper reflection and spiritual understanding, especially after the Holy Spirit's enlightenment. Secondly, it served as a future validation of His claims; the full meaning of His words would only become clear after His resurrection, proving His divine foresight and authority. This specific statement also became a point of false accusation against Him during His trial ([Matthew 26:61](/matthew/26-61 "Matthew 26:61 - False Witness Against Jesus")), ironically fulfilling another layer of prophecy.

**What was the significance of "three days" in Jesus' prophecy?**

Answer: The "three days" is a specific and crucial timeframe that consistently appears in prophecies concerning Jesus' resurrection. It fulfills Old Testament types, such as Jonah being in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights ([Jonah 1:17](/jonah/1-17 "Jonah 1:17 - Jonah in the Fish")). More importantly, it served as the definitive sign Jesus offered to a "wicked and adulterous generation" seeking a sign ([Matthew 12:39-40](/matthew/12-39-40 "Matthew 12:39-40 - The Sign of Jonah")). The resurrection on the third day was the ultimate proof of His victory over death and sin, confirming His identity as the Son of God and the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Prophesies His Resurrection") stands as a foundational Christ-centered prophecy, revealing Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's dwelling place among humanity. The physical Temple, once the sacred locus of God's presence and sacrificial atonement, is now superseded by the living body of Christ. Jesus' declaration, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," points directly to His crucifixion, where His body, the true "temple," would be "destroyed," and His glorious resurrection, where He would "raise it up" by His own divine power ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Power to Lay Down and Take Up His Life")). This act fundamentally shifts the paradigm of worship and access to God from a geographical location and ritualistic system to a personal relationship with the resurrected Christ. As the true Temple, Jesus embodies the very presence of God, offering direct access to the Father through His atoning sacrifice ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access Through Christ's Blood")). Furthermore, this fulfillment extends to believers, who, through union with Christ, become "temples of the Holy Spirit" ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit")), indicating that God's presence now indwells His people, the Church, which is collectively the "body of Christ" ([Ephesians 1:22-23](/ephesians/1-22-23 "Ephesians 1:22-23 - The Church as Christ's Body")). Thus, Jesus' prophecy not only foretells His resurrection but also inaugurates the new covenant reality where God dwells among and within His redeemed people through Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 14:58

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Mark 15:29

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days,

Matthew 27:40

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Matthew 26:60

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Matthew 26:61

And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.