Devine Scripture

John 2:19

What does John 2:19 mean?

A plain-English look at John 2:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 2:19 means

Jesus' response, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," is a profound and intentionally cryptic prophecy. On the surface, it seems to refer to the physical Temple in Jerusalem. However, Jesus' words point to a deeper truth about His own body as the true temple. This statement foreshadows His crucifixion and resurrection, indicating that even His death will be an act of divine power, and that He, not human hands, will rebuild the ultimate place of worship and presence of God. This challenges their understanding of worship itself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus said to them, Send destruction on this Temple and I will put it up again in three days.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Jesus answered and said to them, `Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Context

This verse contains Jesus' pivotal, enigmatic response to the Jews' demand for a sign. His declaration about destroying and raising the temple in three days is central to the chapter's theological message and forms the core of the following interaction. This statement is crucial because it immediately introduces the theme of His death and resurrection, setting up the subsequent clarification and the disciples' later understanding, and fundamentally redefining the concept of the Temple.

v.18The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

v.19This passage

v.20The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 27:40

    and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

  • Mark 8:31

    And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

  • Acts 3:26

    Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

  • Romans 4:24

    but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

  • Romans 8:11

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

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