Devine Scripture

John 18:40

What does John 18:40 mean?

A plain-English look at John 18:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 18:40 means

The crowd, stirred by the chief priests, reacts by shouting, \"Not this man, but Barabbas.\" John explicitly identifies Barabbas as \"a robber.\" This choice is profoundly ironic: they rejected Jesus, the innocent King and Son of God, in favor of a violent criminal, a rebel against Roman authority. This decision dramatically seals Jesus' earthly fate, fulfilling God's plan through humanity's perverse choice, and foreshadows the substitutionary nature of His death.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then again they gave a loud cry, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was an outlaw.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

therefore they all cried out again, saying, `Not this one--but Barabbas;' and Barabbas was a robber.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

They cried therefore again all, saying, Not this [man], but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Context

This verse dramatically concludes the initial phase of Jesus' Roman trial, capturing the crowd's definitive, fateful decision. It directly follows Pilate's offer of release and sets the stage for the subsequent events in Jesus' passion, where Pilate will be forced to concede to their demands. This choice of a robber over the King highlights the profound spiritual blindness.

v.39But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

v.40This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 15:7

    And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

  • Luke 23:25

    And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.

  • Luke 23:18

    But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:—

  • 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.

  • Matthew 27:16

    And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

  • Matthew 27:26

    Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

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