John 11 · Verse 52

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 11:52, King James Version

John 11:52 in other translations

BSBand not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.
WEBand not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
ASVand not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.
YLTand not for the nation only, but that also the children of God, who have been scattered abroad, he may gather together into one.
DARBYand not for the nation only, but that he should also gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
BBEAnd not for that nation only, but for the purpose of uniting in one body the children of God all over the world.
WebsterAnd not for that nation only, but that also he should assemble in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

What does John 11:52 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!

Read the full comment on John 11:47-54 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 52. Should gather together in one. All his chosen among the Jews and Gentiles. See Jn 10:16.

The children of God. This is spoken not of those who were then Christians, but of all whom God should bring to him; all who would be, in the mercy of God, called, chosen, sanctified among all nations, Jn 10:16.

(l) "not for that nation only" Isa 49:6, Rom 3:29, 1Jn 2:2 (m) "scattered abroad" Jn 10:16, Eph 2:14-17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 52 And not for that nation only, etc. - These, and the preceding words in Joh 11:51, are John's explication of what was prophetic in the words of Caiaphas: as if John had said, He is indeed to die for the sins of the Jewish nation, but not for theirs alone, but for the sins of the whole world: see his own words afterwards, 1Jn 2:1, 1Jn 2:2. Gather together in one - That he should collect into one body; - form one Church out of the Jewish and Gentile believers. Children of God that were scattered abroad - Probably John only meant the Jews who were dispersed among all nations since the conquest of Judea by the Romans; and these are called the dispersed, Joh 7:35, and Jam 1:1; and it is because he refers to these only, that he terms them here, the children of God, which was an ancient character of the Jewish people: see Deu 32:5; Isa 43:6; Isa 45:11; Jer 32:1. Taking his words in this sense, then his meaning is this: that Christ was to die, not only for the then inhabitants of Judea, but for all the Jewish race wheresoever scattered; and that the consequence would be, that they should be all collected from their various dispersions, and made one body. This comports with the predictions of St. Paul: Romans 11:1-32. This probably is the sense of the passage; and though, according to this interpretation, the apostle may seem to confine the benefits of Christ's death to the Jewish people only, yet we find from the passage already quoted from his first epistle, that his views of this subject were afterwards very much extended; and that he saw that Jesus Christ was not only a propitiation for their sins (the Jews) but for the sins of the whole world: see his 1st epistle, 1Jn 2:2. All the truths of the Gospel were not revealed at once, even to the apostles themselves.

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…

Read the full comment on John 11:47-53 →

John 11:52 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
οὐχouchnotG3756
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
τοῦtoutheG3588
ἔθνουςethnousnationG1484
μόνονmonononlyG3441
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἵναinathatG2443
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὰtatheG3588
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
τὰtathoseG3588
διεσκορπισμέναdieskorpismenascatteredG1287
συναγάγῃsunagagēHe may gather togetherG4863
εἰςeisintoG1519
ἕν.¶henone.G1520

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

Cross references for John 11:52

  • John 10:16

    And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

  • Isaiah 49:6

    And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

  • 1 John 2:2

    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

  • 1 Peter 1:1

    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

  • Ephesians 1:9-10

    Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

  • Ephesians 2:14-22

    For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. …

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

  • Romans 9:25-26

    As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

  • Colossians 1:20-23

    And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

  • Revelation 7:9-10

    After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

  • Romans 3:29

    Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

  • Luke 2:32

    A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
not.
1:29; 12:32; Ps 22:15,27; 72:19; Isa 49:6; Lu 2:32; Ro 3:29; 1Jo 2:2
Re 5:9; 7:9,10
gather.
10:16; Ge 49:10; Ps 102:22,23; Isa 11:10-12; 49:18; 55:5; 56:8; 60:4
Mt 25:31-34; Eph 1:9,10; 2:14-22; Col 1:20-23
the children.
Ho 1:10; Ac 18:10; Ro 4:17; 8:29,30; 9:25,26; Eph 1:5; 3:11
2Th 2:13,14
that were.
Eze 11:16,17; 34:12; Eph 2:14-17; Jas 1:1; 1Pe 1:1

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

Context

  • 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 11:53

    Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Read all of John 11

John 11:52 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y no solamente por aquella nación, mas también para que juntase en uno los hijos de Dios que estaban derramados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et non pas seulement pour la nation, mais aussi pour rassembler en un les enfants de Dieu dispersés.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und nicht für die Nation allein, sondern auf daß er auch die zerstreuten Kinder Gottes in eins versammelte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et non tantum pro gente, sed ut filios Dei, qui erant dispersi, congregaret in unum.