John 18:34
What does John 18:34 mean?
A plain-English look at John 18:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 18:34 means
Jesus responds to Pilate's question, \"Art thou the King of the Jews?\" with a probing counter-question: \"Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?\" Jesus seeks to determine the source of Pilate's knowledge. Is Pilate genuinely asking due to his own inquiry, or merely echoing the accusations brought by the Jewish leaders? This question suggests that without the Jewish leaders' manipulation Pilate might not perceive Jesus as a political threat.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus made answer, Do you say this of yourself, or did others say it about me?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus answered him, `From thyself dost thou say this? or did others say it to thee about me?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus answered [him], Dost thou say this of thyself, or have others said it to thee concerning me?
Context
This verse records Jesus' insightful counter-question to Pilate, immediately following Pilate's direct inquiry about His kingship. This response forces Pilate to consider the origin of his question, setting the stage for a deeper discussion about truth and authority. It reveals Jesus' awareness of the political machinations surrounding His trial.
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