John 1 · Verse 42

John 1:42

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
John 1:42, King James Version

John 1:42 in other translations

BSBAndrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
WEBHe brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
ASVHe brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter).
YLTand he brought him unto Jesus: and having looked upon him, Jesus saith, ‘Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas, thou shalt be called Cephas,' (which is interpreted, A rock.)
DARBYAnd he led him to Jesus. Jesus looking at him said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which interpreted is stone).
BBEAnd he took him to Jesus. Looking at him fixedly Jesus said, You are Simon, the son of John; your name will be Cephas (which is to say, Peter).
WebsterAnd he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas; which is, by interpretation, a stone.

What does John 1:42 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
42. brought him to Jesus--Happy brothers that thus do to each other! beheld him--fixed his eyes on him, with significant gaze (as Joh 1:36). Cephas ... stone--(See on Mt 16:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 42. Cephas. This is a Syriac word, meaning the same as the Greek word Peter, a stone. Mt 16:17. The stone, or rock, is a symbol of firmness and steadiness of character--a trait in Peter's character after the ascension of Jesus that was very remarkable. Before the death of Jesus he was rash, headlong, variable; and it is one proof of the omniscience of Jesus that he saw that Peter would possess a character that would be expressed appropriately by the word stone or rock. The word Jonas is a Hebrew word, whose original signification is a dove. It may be that Jesus had respect to that when he gave Simon the name Peter. "You now bear a name emblematic of timidity and inconstancy. You shall be called by a name denoting firmness and constancy."

(k) "thou shalt be called Cephas" Mt 16:18 (7) "A Stone" or, "Peter"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 42 Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone - Πετρος signifies a stone, or fragment of a rock. The reason why this name was given to Simon, who was ever afterwards called Peter, may be seen in the notes on Mat 16:18, Mat 16:19, and particularly in Luke, at the end of chap. 9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 1:37-42

The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and…

Read the full comment on John 1:37-42 →

John 1:42 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἤγαγενēgagenHe ledG71
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνton<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦν.IēsounJesus.G2424
ἐμβλέψαςemblepsasHaving looked atG1689
αὐτῷautōhimG846
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
εἶπεν·eipensaid;G2036
σὺsuYou yourselfG4771
εἶeiareG1510
ΣίμωνSimōnSimonG4613
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
Ἰωάννου·Iōannouof John;G2491
σὺsuYou yourselfG4771
κληθήσῃklēthēsēwill be calledG2564
Κηφᾶς,KēphasCephasG2786
ὃhowhichG3739
ἑρμηνεύεταιhermēneuetaimeansG2059
Πέτρος.¶PetrosPeter.G4074

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 1:42

  • 1 Corinthians 3:22

    Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

  • John 21:15-17

    So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:5

    And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:12

    Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

  • Matthew 16:17-18

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • Matthew 10:2

    Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

  • 1 Corinthians 9:5

    Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

  • John 6:70-71

    Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

  • Luke 5:8

    When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

  • Mark 3:16

    And Simon he surnamed Peter;

  • John 1:47-48

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Thou art.
47,48; 2:24,25; 6:70,71; 13:18
the son.
21:15-17
Jonas.
Mt 16:17
Barjona. called.
1Co 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5; Ga 2:9
A stone. or, Peter.
21:2; Mt 10:2; 16:18; Mr 3:16; Lu 5:8; 6:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 1:41

    He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

  • John 1:42

    And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

  • John 1:43

    The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Read all of John 1

John 1:42 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y le trajo á Jesús. Y mirándole Jesús, dijo: Tú eres Simón, hijo de Jonás: tú serás llamado Cephas (que quiere decir, Piedra).
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il le mena à Jésus. Jésus, l’ayant regardé, dit: Tu es Simon, le fils de Jonas; tu seras appelé Céphas (qui est interprété Pierre).
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er führte ihn zu Jesu. Jesus blickte ihn an und sprach: Du bist Simon, der Sohn Jonas; du wirst Kephas heißen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et adduxit eum ad Jesum. Intuitus autem eum Jesus, dixit: Tu es Simon, filius Jona; tu vocaberis Cephas, quod interpretatur Petrus.