Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
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}.
The Judeans said, “Is he going to commit suicide? Is that what he means when he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?
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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.
In John 8:22, the religious leaders, often referred to as "the Jews" in this Gospel, completely misinterpret Jesus's profound statement about His destination. This verse captures a moment of deep spiritual misunderstanding and hostility, highlighting the chasm between Jesus's divine reality and His listeners' earthly perceptions.
Context
This verse follows directly from Jesus's declaration in John 8:21, where He tells His audience, "I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." Jesus is speaking of His imminent departure to the Father through His death, resurrection, and ascension. The religious leaders, however, are so entrenched in their earthly thinking and opposition to Him that they cannot grasp the spiritual nature of His words. Their response, "Will he kill himself?", reveals their profound misunderstanding, suggesting suicide as the only way someone could go where others cannot follow, particularly in their cultural context where suicide was considered a shameful act leading to exclusion from community and afterlife.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek phrase for "Whither I go, ye cannot come" (ὅπου ἐγὼ ὑπάγω, ὑμεῖς οὐ δύνασθε ἐλθεῖν, hopou egō hypagō, hymeis ou dynasthe elthein) emphasizes a destination and an inability to arrive. Jesus is referring to His return to the Father's presence, His eventual ascension to heaven. The "Jews" here, as often in John's Gospel, refers specifically to the hostile religious authorities and their followers who opposed Jesus, rather than the Jewish people in general. Their question about suicide highlights their earthly, cynical mindset, completely missing the spiritual reality Jesus presented.
Practical Application
This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment. We must be careful not to interpret spiritual truths through a purely carnal or worldly lens, as the religious leaders did. Understanding Jesus's words requires an openness to His divine identity and mission. Our ability to "come where He goes" – that is, to enter into eternal life and fellowship with God – is entirely dependent on our faith in Him. Rejecting Jesus, as these leaders did, leads to spiritual separation and eternal consequences. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we truly seeking to understand Jesus, or are we allowing preconceived notions or worldly wisdom to blind us to His truth?