John 21:18

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not.

Verily {G281}, verily {G281}, I say {G3004} unto thee {G4671}, When {G3753} thou wast {G2258} young {G3501}, thou girdedst {G2224} thyself {G4572}, and {G2532} walkedst {G4043} whither {G3699} thou wouldest {G2309}: but {G1161} when {G3752} thou shalt be old {G1095}, thou shalt stretch forth {G1614} thy {G4675} hands {G5495}, and {G2532} another {G243} shall gird {G2224} thee {G4571}, and {G2532} carry {G5342} thee whither {G3699} thou wouldest {G2309} not {G3756}.

Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Context

This profound statement from Jesus to Simon Peter occurs after Peter's three-fold affirmation of love for Christ and his commissioning to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17). It follows the miraculous catch of fish and a breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, marking a significant moment of restoration for Peter after his earlier denial of Jesus (John 18:25). Here, Jesus shifts from Peter's past actions to his future destiny, revealing a solemn prophecy about his ultimate sacrifice.

Key Themes

  • Prophecy of Peter's Martyrdom: This verse is a direct prophetic utterance concerning the manner of Peter's death. The imagery of being "girded" and "carried whither thou wouldest not" strongly points towards a forced, unwilling movement, traditionally understood as crucifixion. The very next verse, John 21:19, explicitly confirms this interpretation, stating it signified "by what death he should glorify God."
  • Divine Foreknowledge: Jesus demonstrates His omniscience, revealing Peter's ultimate sacrifice long before it occurred, highlighting God's sovereign plan for His servants and the future of the church.
  • Cost of Discipleship: This prophecy underscores the demanding nature of true Christian discipleship, where following Christ may lead to suffering and even death, as Jesus Himself taught about taking up one's cross and following Him.
  • From Self-Will to Surrender: The contrast between Peter's youth ("thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest") and his old age ("another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not") symbolizes a journey from self-reliance and freedom to complete surrender to God's will, even unto death.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "Verily, verily" (Greek: Amen, amen) introduces a solemn and weighty statement, emphasizing the absolute truth and certainty of what Jesus is about to say to Peter.
  • "Girdedst thyself" refers to the ancient practice of tying up loose outer garments with a belt or sash, preparing for activity or travel. In youth, Peter had the freedom to prepare himself and go where he pleased.
  • "Stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not" vividly depicts a scenario where Peter would no longer be in control of his movements. The stretching forth of hands is widely interpreted as being stretched out on a cross, and being "girded" by another implies being bound or prepared for execution. The phrase "whither thou wouldest not" indicates a path of suffering chosen for him, not by him, yet one that would ultimately glorify God.

Practical Application

This verse reminds believers that God knows and ordains our paths, even the difficult ones. It challenges us to consider the cost of discipleship, encouraging a willingness to surrender our lives fully to Christ, trusting that His plan, even when it involves suffering, ultimately leads to glorifying Him. Peter's journey from denial to martyrdom serves as a powerful testament to God's grace, restoration, and the transformative power of a life fully committed to Jesus, embracing His will above our own desires.

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 13:36

    ¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

  • Acts 12:3

    And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

  • Acts 12:4

    And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

  • Acts 21:11

    And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.

  • John 12:27

    Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

  • John 12:28

    Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, [saying], I have both glorified [it], and will glorify [it] again.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:4

    For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

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