John 11:51
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
John 11:51 in other translations
| BSB | Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, |
|---|---|
| WEB | Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, |
| ASV | Now this he said not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; |
| YLT | And this he said not of himself, but being chief priest of that year, he did prophesy that Jesus was about to die for the nation, |
| DARBY | But this he did not say of himself; but, being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; |
| BBE | He did not say this of himself, but being the high priest that year he said, as a prophet, that Jesus would be put to death for the nation; |
| Webster | And this he spoke not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; |
What does John 11:51 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 11:47-54
47-54. What do we? for this man doeth many miracles--"While we trifle, 'this man,' by His 'many miracles,' will carry all before Him; the popular enthusiasm will bring on a revolution, which will precipitate the Romans upon us, and our all will go down in one common ruin." What a testimony to the reality of our Lord's miracles, and their resistless effect, from His bitterest enemies!
Barnes' Notes
1st. God may fulfil the words of the wicked in a manner which they do not wish or intend.
2nd. He may make even their malice and wicked plots the very means of accomplishing his purposes. What they regard as the fulfillment of their plans God may make the fulfillment of his, yet so as directly to overthrow their designs, and prostrate them in ruin.
3rd. Sinners should tremble and be afraid when they lay plans against God, or seek to do unjustly to others.
Being high-priest that year. It is not to be supposed that Caiaphas was a true prophet, or was conscious of the meaning which John has affixed to his words; but his words express the truth about the atonement of Jesus, and John records it as a remarkable circumstance that the high-priest of the nation should unwittingly deliver a sentiment which turned out to be the truth about the death of Jesus. Great importance was attached to the opinion of the high-priest by the Jews, because it was by him that the judgment by Urim and Thummim was formerly declared in cases of importance and difficulty, Nu 27:21. It is not certain or probable that the high-priest ever was endowed with the gift of prophecy; but he sustained a high office, the authority of his name was great, and it was thence remarkable that he uttered a declaration which the result showed to be true, though not in the sense that he intended.
He prophesied. He uttered words which proved to be prophetic; or he expressed at that time a sentiment which turned out to be true. It does not mean that he was inspired, or that he deserved to be ranked among the true prophets; but his words were such that they accurately expressed a future event. The word prophecy is to be taken here not in the strict sense, but in a sense which is not uncommon in the sacred writers. Acts 21:9: "And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy." Rev 12:6 1Cor 14:1, comp. Mt 26:68; Lk 22:64,
That Jesus should die. Die in the place of men, or as an atonement for sinners. This is evidently the meaning which John attaches to the words.
For that nation. For the Jews. As a sacrifice for their sins. In no other sense whatever could it be said that he died for them. His death, so far from saving them in the sense in which the high-priest understood it, was the very occasion of their destruction. They invoked the vengeance of God when they said, "His blood be on us and on our children" (Mt 27:25), and all these calamities came upon them because they would not come to him and be saved--that is, because they rejected him and put him to death, Mt 23:37-39
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 11:47-53
There can hardly be a more clear discovery of the madness that is in man's heart, and of its desperate enmity against God, than what is here recorded. Words of prophecy in the mouth, are not clear evidence of a principle of grace in the heart. The calamity we seek to escape by sin, we take the most effectual course to bring upon our own heads; as those do who think by opposing Christ's kingdom, to advance their own…
John 11:51 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 11:51
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- Daniel 9:26
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
- 1 Samuel 23:9
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
- Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- Exodus 28:30
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.
- Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- 1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
- Numbers 24:14-25
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. …
- 1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- Numbers 22:28
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
- Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
- Isaiah 53:5-8
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 11:50
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
- John 11:51
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
- John 11:52
And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
John 11:51 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas esto no lo dijo de sí mismo; sino que, como era el sumo pontífice de aquel año, profetizó que Jesús había de morir por la nación: |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Or il ne dit pas cela de lui-même; mais étant souverain sacrificateur cette année-là, il prophétisa que Jésus allait mourir pour la nation; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Dies aber sagte er nicht aus sich selbst, sondern da er jenes Jahr Hoherpriester war, weissagte er, daß Jesus für die Nation sterben sollte; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Hoc autem a semetipso non dixit: sed cum esset pontifex anni illius, prophetavit, quod Jesus moriturus erat pro gente, |