John 18 · Verse 6

John 18:6

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
John 18:6, King James Version

John 18:6 in other translations

BSBWhen Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
WEBWhen therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground.
ASVWhen therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
YLTwhen, therefore, he said to them--‘I am he,' they went away backward, and fell to the ground.
DARBYWhen therefore he said to them, I am he, they went away backward and fell to the ground.
BBEAnd when he said to them, I am he, they went back, falling to the earth.
WebsterAs soon then as he had said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

What does John 18:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 18:4-9

4-9. Jesus ... knowing all things that should come--were coming. upon him, went forth--from the shade of the trees, probably, into open view, indicating His sublime preparedness to meet His captors. Whom seek ye?--partly to prevent a rush of the soldiery upon the disciples [Bengel]; and see Mr 14:51, 52, as showing a tendency to this: but still more as part of that courage and majesty which so overawed them. He…

Read the full comment on John 18:4-9 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. They went backward, &c. The cause of their retiring in this manner is not mentioned. Various things might have produced it. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of his innocence, and deterred them from prosecuting their wicked attempt. His disclosure of himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that he would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at his open and bold profession. Their consciences reproved them for their crimes, and probably the firm, decided, and yet mild manner in which Jesus addressed them, the expression of his unequalled power in knowing how to find the way to the consciences of men, made them feel that they were in the presence of more than mortal man. There is no proof that there was here any miraculous power, any mere physical force, and to suppose that there was greatly detracts from the moral sublimity of the scene.

(e) "they went backward"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 They went backward, and fell to the ground - None of the other evangelists mentions this very important circumstance. Our Lord chose to give them this proof of his infinite power, that they might know that their power could not prevail against him if he chose to exert his might, seeing that the very breath of his mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth. Thus by the blast of God they might have perished, and by the breath of his nostrils they might have been consumed: Job 4:9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 18:1-12

Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion from thence to mediate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek…

Read the full comment on John 18:1-12 →

John 18:6 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.

ὡςhōsWhenG5613
οὖνounthereforeG3767
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ἐγώegōI myselfG1473
εἰμι,eimiam [He],G1510
ἀπῆλθονapēlthonthey drewG565
εἰςeistowardG1519
τὰtatheG3588
ὀπίσωopisōbackG3694
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔπεσανepesanfellG4098
χαμαί.¶chamaito [the] ground.G5476

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

Cross references for John 18:6

  • Psalms 27:2

    When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

  • Psalms 70:2-3

    Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

  • 2 Kings 1:9-15

    Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. …

  • Acts 4:29-30

    And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

  • Luke 9:54-56

    And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

  • Psalms 40:14

    Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

  • Psalms 129:5

    Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they went.Doubtless by the interposition of Divine power; and it was thus shown that Jesus voluntarily resigned himself into their hands.
2Ki 1:9-15; Ps 27:2; 40:14; 70:2,3; 129:5; Lu 9:54-56; Ac 4:29,30

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

Context

  • John 18:5

    They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

  • John 18:6

    As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

  • John 18:7

    Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Read all of John 18

John 18:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como les dijo, Yo soy, volvieron atrás, y cayeron en tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand donc il leur dit: C’est moi, ils reculèrent, et tombèrent par terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als er nun zu ihnen sagte: Ich bins, wichen sie zurück und fielen zu Boden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ut ergo dixit eis: Ego sum: abierunt retrorsum, et ceciderunt in terram.