John 19:8
What does John 19:8 mean?
A plain-English look at John 19:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 19:8 means
Pilate, upon hearing that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, becomes even more afraid. This new detail, touching upon the divine, would have deeply unsettled a Roman official familiar with various pagan deities and myths of gods interacting with mortals. His fear stems not necessarily from religious conviction, but from a superstitious dread of offending a powerful, possibly divine, being. This amplifies his hesitation to condemn Jesus, as he recognizes a spiritual dimension beyond mere political maneuvering.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid;
KJV
King James Version · 1611When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When this saying came to Pilate's ears his fear became greater;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862When, therefore, Pilate heard this word, he was the more afraid,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890When Pilate therefore heard this word, he was the rather afraid,
Context
This verse describes Pilate's emotional response to the Jewish leaders' revelation of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. His increased fear directly follows their explanation of this charge, setting the stage for his private interrogation of Jesus. This heightened apprehension underscores the gravity of the situation and explains his renewed attempt to understand Jesus' true identity and origin.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 19:13
When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
- Acts 14:11
And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
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