John 8:22

KJV

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} said {G3004} the Jews {G2453}, Will he kill {G3385}{G615} himself {G1438}? because {G3754} he saith {G3004}, Whither {G3699} I {G1473} go {G5217}, ye {G5210} cannot {G3756}{G1410} come {G2064}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The Judeans said, “Is he going to commit suicide? Is that what he means when he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Berean Standard Bible

So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

American Standard Version

The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 8:22, the Jewish religious leaders dramatically misunderstand Jesus's declaration about His impending departure to a place they cannot follow. Their cynical question, "Will he kill himself?", reveals the profound chasm between their earthly, carnal understanding and Jesus's spiritual, divine reality, highlighting their deep-seated rejection and inability to grasp His true identity and mission.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus's stark warning in [John 8:21](/john/8-21 "John 8:21 - Jesus's Warning of Spiritual Separation"), where He states, "I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." The dialogue in [John 8](/john/8 "John 8 - Jesus's Teachings on Light and Freedom") is characterized by escalating tension and misunderstanding between Jesus and His Jewish interlocutors, particularly the Pharisees and other religious authorities. Jesus has just presented Himself as the "light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), leading to a series of confrontations about His origin, authority, and ultimate destination. Their question in [John 8:22](/john/8-22 "John 8:22 - The Jews' Misunderstanding") is a direct, albeit distorted, response to His earlier statement, demonstrating their utter failure to comprehend His spiritual meaning.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The term "the Jews" in John's Gospel often refers specifically to the hostile religious authorities in Jerusalem who opposed Jesus, rather than the entire Jewish populace. In the first century, suicide was generally viewed as a shameful act, often associated with despair, demonic influence, or a rejection of God's sovereignty over life. It was considered a grave sin, and those who committed it were often denied proper burial or full mourning rites, and were thought to be excluded from the community and the afterlife. Therefore, the leaders' question, "Will he kill himself?", is not merely a misunderstanding but also a cynical, contemptuous accusation, implying that Jesus's mysterious departure could only be through such a dishonorable and damnable act, thereby further discrediting Him in the eyes of the people. This reflects their deep-seated animosity and their inability to conceive of a divine, supernatural departure.

* **Key Themes:** The passage in [John 8](/john/8 "John 8 - Jesus's Teachings on Light and Freedom") contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **profound misunderstanding** of Jesus's identity and mission by those who reject Him. They consistently interpret His spiritual declarations through a purely physical or earthly lens, demonstrating their spiritual blindness. Secondly, it highlights **Jesus's heavenly origin and ultimate destination**. His repeated statements about "going away" point to His return to the Father, a realm inaccessible to those who remain in their sins. This theme is foundational to understanding Jesus's unique divine nature and His purpose in coming to earth, as seen in His prayer in [John 17:5](/john/17-5 "John 17:5 - Jesus's Prayer for Glorification"). Thirdly, the phrase "whither I go, ye cannot come" emphasizes the **spiritual separation** between Jesus and His unbelieving audience, a separation rooted in their rejection of Him as the Messiah. This inability to follow Him is not a physical limitation but a spiritual one, leading to the dire consequence of "dying in your sins" ([John 8:21](/john/8-21 "John 8:21 - Jesus's Warning")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _légō'_):** This verb means to "lay forth" or relate in words, often implying a systematic or set discourse. Here, it describes the deliberate, collective utterance of the Jewish leaders, indicating a considered, albeit misguided, response to Jesus's words. Their "saying" is not a casual remark but a pointed, accusatory question.
* **kill (Greek, _apokteínō'_):** Derived from "apo" (from) and a word meaning "to slay," this verb means to kill outright or destroy. In this context, it refers to the act of taking one's own life. The leaders' use of this term reveals their cynical and earthly interpretation of Jesus's departure, reducing His divine journey to a shameful, self-inflicted death.
* **cannot (Greek, _ou dýnamai'_):** This phrase combines the absolute negative particle "ou" with "dýnamai," meaning "to be able" or "to be possible." The combination emphatically states an absolute inability or impossibility. Jesus's declaration "ye cannot come" signifies a fundamental, spiritual impossibility for those who remain in their unbelief to enter the divine realm He is returning to, highlighting the spiritual chasm between Him and His adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said the Jews,"**: This opening phrase establishes the speakers as "the Jews," which in John's Gospel often designates the hostile religious authorities who are continually challenging Jesus. Their collective response highlights their unity in opposition and their role as representatives of the established religious order.
* **"Will he kill himself?"**: This question is a profound misinterpretation of Jesus's statement about His destination. It reflects their carnal mindset, unable to conceive of a spiritual departure to the Father. Culturally, suicide was a deeply shameful act, and by suggesting it, they are attempting to discredit Jesus and imply His words are nonsensical or even blasphemous.
* **"because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come."**: This clause provides the reason for their absurd question. They link Jesus's mysterious declaration of going to an inaccessible place with the only earthly scenario they can imagine that would prevent others from following: suicide. This reveals their spiritual blindness and their inability to grasp the divine nature of Jesus's departure, which refers to His death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich with **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience (and the reader) understands Jesus's true meaning (His glorious return to the Father through death and resurrection), while the Jewish leaders remain tragically ignorant, interpreting His words through a purely earthly and cynical lens. This creates a stark **Contrast** between divine truth and human misunderstanding. The leaders' question itself is a form of **Misinterpretation**, born out of their spiritual blindness and hostility, serving to highlight the vast chasm between Jesus's heavenly reality and their carnal perceptions. Their accusation also functions as a form of **Sarcasm** or contempt, aiming to demean Jesus by associating His mysterious departure with a shameful act.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 8:22 powerfully illustrates the profound spiritual divide between those who accept Jesus and those who reject Him. Jesus speaks of a divine realm and a unique path to the Father, a path that is utterly incomprehensible and inaccessible to those who remain in their unbelief and sin. This passage underscores the exclusivity of Christ's claim as the sole mediator between God and humanity, emphasizing that true spiritual understanding and access to God's presence are only possible through Him. The inability of the Jewish leaders to "come where He goes" is a direct consequence of their spiritual blindness and their refusal to acknowledge His divine identity, leading them to remain separated from God in their sins.

* [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life"): Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This verse directly explains why the Jewish leaders "cannot come" where Jesus goes – they reject the only Way to the Father.
* [John 3:3](/john/3-3 "John 3:3 - Born Again"): Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This highlights the spiritual transformation necessary to comprehend and enter God's kingdom, which the Jewish leaders lacked.
* [1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - Natural Man Cannot Understand Spiritual Things"): "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." This Pauline verse perfectly encapsulates the spiritual inability of the Jewish leaders to understand Jesus's words.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 8:22 serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of spiritual discernment and humility in approaching God's truth. The Jewish leaders, despite their extensive knowledge of the Law and prophets, were utterly blind to the person and mission of Jesus because they viewed Him through a lens of earthly expectations, pride, and hostility. Their inability to comprehend Jesus's words about His departure led them to a cynical and baseless accusation. For us, this passage challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we open to receiving spiritual truth, even when it challenges our preconceived notions or worldly wisdom? Do we allow our own biases, cultural assumptions, or intellectual pride to hinder our understanding of Christ's divine nature and His claims? Our ability to truly "come where He goes"—that is, to share in His eternal life and fellowship with the Father—is entirely dependent on our faith in Him and our willingness to submit to His spiritual authority. Rejecting Jesus, as these leaders did, leads to spiritual separation and eternal consequences.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the Jewish leaders, be prone to interpreting spiritual truths through a purely carnal or worldly lens?**
* **What preconceived notions or biases might be hindering my deeper understanding of Jesus's words and identity?**
* **How does my willingness to trust and follow Jesus determine my ability to "come where He goes" spiritually?**

### FAQ

**Why did the Jewish leaders think Jesus would kill himself?**

Answer: The Jewish leaders' question, "Will he kill himself?", stemmed from their complete misunderstanding of Jesus's statement, "Whither I go, ye cannot come." They interpreted His words literally and physically, unable to grasp the spiritual reality of His impending departure to the Father through His death, resurrection, and ascension. In their earthly, cynical mindset, the only way someone could go to a place where others could not follow was if they committed suicide, which was considered a shameful and damnable act in their culture. This accusation was also a deliberate attempt to discredit Jesus and portray Him as a desperate, perhaps even demon-possessed, individual. Their question reveals their spiritual blindness and deep-seated animosity towards Him, as they could not conceive of a divine, supernatural departure.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 8:22, though highlighting the tragic misunderstanding of Jesus's adversaries, profoundly points to the unique Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus's "going away" is not an act of despair or self-destruction, but the very means by which He accomplishes salvation and opens the way for humanity to "come" to the Father. His journey culminates in His sacrificial death on the cross, His glorious resurrection, and His triumphant ascension to the Father's right hand ([Acts 1:9-11](/acts/1-9-11 "Acts 1:9-11 - Jesus's Ascension")). This "going" is the ultimate act of love and obedience, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of a suffering servant and a reigning king. Through His death, Jesus atones for sin, breaking the power of death and the spiritual separation that prevented humanity from reaching God. His resurrection demonstrates His victory over sin and death, and His ascension secures His place as our High Priest and Advocate in heaven ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest")). Believers, through faith in Him, are spiritually united with Christ, and though we do not physically "go" with Him to the Father's immediate presence until our own departure, we are already seated with Him in heavenly places ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")) and have access to the Father through Him ([Ephesians 3:12](/ephesians/3-12 "Ephesians 3:12 - Access to God through Christ")). Thus, Jesus's departure, far from being an act of despair, is the very foundation of our hope and the means by which we, who believe, can indeed "come" to the Father.

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

John 8:52

Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

John 8:48

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Psalms 22:6

But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

Hebrews 12:3

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

John 10:20

And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

Psalms 31:18

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.