John 13 · Verse 37

John 13:37

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
John 13:37, King James Version

John 13:37 in other translations

BSB“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
WEBPeter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
ASVPeter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.
YLTPeter saith to him, ‘Sir, wherefore am I not able to follow thee now? my life for thee I will lay down;'
DARBYPeter says to him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.
BBEPeter said to him, Why may I not come with you even now? I will give up my life for you.
WebsterPeter said to him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

What does John 13:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 13:36-38

36-38. Peter said--seeing plainly in these directions how to behave themselves, that He was indeed going from them. Lord, whither guest thou?--having hardly a glimmer of the real truth. Jesus answered, ... thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards--How different from what He said to the Jews: "Whither I go ye cannot come" (Joh 8:21).

Read the full comment on John 13:36-38 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37.

(z) "I will lay down my life" Mt 26:33, Mk 14:29, Lk 22:33

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 Why cannot I follow thee now? - Peter probably thought that our Lord intended to go some long journey, which would necessarily subject him to many inconveniences and fatigue; and he felt quite disposed to follow him in this supposed journey, at all hazards. He saw no reason, because he did not see our Lord's meaning, why he could not follow him now. I will lay down my life for thy sake - Poor Peter! thou wast sincere, but thou didst not know thy own strength. Thou wast at this time willing to die, but when the time cams wast not able. Christ must first die for Peter, before Peter can die for him. Let no man think he can do any thing good, without the immediate assistance of God. Peter's denial should be an eternal warning to all self-confident persons: though there be sincerity and good will at the bottom, yet in the trial these cannot perform that office which belongs to the power of God. We should will, and then look to God for power to execute: without him we can do nothing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 13:36-38

What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get…

Read the full comment on John 13:36-38 →

John 13:37 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.

λέγειlegeiSaysG3004
αὐτῷautōto HimG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Πέτρος·PetrosPeter;G4074
κύριε,kurieLord,G2962
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
οὐounotG3756
δύναμαίdunamaiam I ableG1410
σοιsoiYouG4771
ἀκολουθῆσαιakolouthēsaito followG190
ἄρτι;artipresently?G737
τὴνtēnTheG3588
ψυχήνpsuchēnlifeG5590
μουmouof mineG3165
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
σοῦsouYouG4771
θήσω.thēsōI will lay down.G5087

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

Cross references for John 13:37

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Acts 21:13

    Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

  • John 21:15

    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.

  • Mark 14:27-31

    And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. …

  • Matthew 26:31-35

    Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. …

  • Luke 22:31-34

    And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
why.
21:15; Mt 26:31-35; Mr 14:27-31; Lu 22:31-34; Ac 20:24; 21:13

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

Context

  • John 13:36

    Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

  • John 13:37

    Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

  • John 13:38

    Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Read all of John 13

John 13:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Dícele Pedro: Señor, ¿por qué no te puedo seguir ahora? mi alma pondré por ti.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pierre lui dit: Seigneur, pourquoi ne puis-je pas te suivre maintenant? Je laisserai ma vie pour toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Petrus spricht zu ihm: Herr, warum kann ich dir jetzt nicht folgen? Mein Leben will ich für dich lassen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicit ei Petrus: Quare non possum te sequi modo? animam meam pro te ponam.