John 18:30
What does John 18:30 mean?
A plain-English look at John 18:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 18:30 means
The Jewish leaders respond to Pilate's direct question with an evasive and accusatory statement: \"If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.\" They offer no specific charge, instead relying on an assertion of Jesus' general guilt and their perceived moral authority. This vague accusation reflects their inability or unwillingness to bring a charge that would be sufficiently compelling under Roman law, hinting at their underlying political and religious motives.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They said to him in answer, If the man was not a wrongdoer we would not have given him up to you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862they answered and said to him, `If he were not an evil doer, we had not delivered him to thee.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They answered and said to him: If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They answered and said to him, If this [man] were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up to thee.
Context
This verse records the Jewish leaders' immediate, yet unspecific, response to Pilate's demand for an accusation. Their evasive answer reveals their strategy to pressure Pilate through implication rather than direct evidence. This sets up Pilate's subsequent challenge, where he pushes them to take responsibility for judgment themselves.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
- Luke 24:7
saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
- John 19:12
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.
- Luke 23:2
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.
- Mark 10:33
saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:
- Mark 15:3
And the chief priests accused him of many things.
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