Devine Scripture

John 19:4

What does John 19:4 mean?

A plain-English look at John 19:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 19:4 means

Pilate, still hoping to release Jesus, brings Him out again to the crowd, explicitly stating for the third time that he finds no crime in Him. He desires the Jewish leaders to acknowledge Jesus' innocence, seeking to shift responsibility back to them. Pilate's repeated declarations of Jesus' blamelessness highlight his internal conflict and the immense pressure he is under, revealing his desire to avoid condemning an innocent man while simultaneously fearing a riot.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Pilate went out again and said to them, See, I let him come out to you to make it clear to you that I see no wrong in him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Pilate, therefore, again went forth without, and saith to them, `Lo, I do bring him to you without, that ye may know that in him I find no fault;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Pilate therefore went forth again and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Pilate went out again and says to them, Lo, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find in him no fault whatever.

Context

This verse marks Pilate's renewed attempt to persuade the Jewish leaders, immediately after Jesus' scourging and mockery. He is presenting Jesus in His humiliated state, hoping to appeal to their pity or reason. This sets up the critical confrontation where Pilate tries to release Jesus, directly preceding the crowd's insistent demands for crucifixion, despite Pilate's clear judgment of

v.3and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.

v.4This passage

v.5Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man!

Cross references

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

  • Luke 23:4

    And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.

  • Matthew 27:4

    saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.

  • John 19:6

    When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.

  • Hebrews 7:26

    For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • Luke 23:47

    And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

  • Matthew 27:24

    So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.

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