John 19 · Verse 9

John 19:9

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:9, King James Version

John 19:9 in other translations

BSBand he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.
WEBHe entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
ASVand he entered into the Prætorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
YLTand entered again to the praetorium, and saith to Jesus, ‘Whence art thou?' and Jesus gave him no answer.
DARBYand went into the praetorium again and says to Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
BBEAnd he went again into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, Where do you come from? But Jesus gave him no answer.
WebsterAnd went again into the judgment-hall, and saith to Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

What does John 19:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 19:8-11

8-11. When Pilate ... heard this saying, he was the more afraid--the name "Son of God," the lofty sense evidently attached to it by His Jewish accusers, the dialogue he had already held with Him, and the dream of his wife (Mt 27:19), all working together in the breast of the wretched man.

Read the full comment on John 19:8-11 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. Whence art thou? Jn 7:27. Pilate knew that he was a Galilean, but this question was asked to ascertain whether he claimed to be the Son of God--whether a mere man, or whether divine.

Jesus gave him no answer. Probably for the following reasons:

1st. He had already told him his design, and the nature of his kingdom, Jn 18:36,37.

2nd. He had said enough to satisfy him of his innocence. Of that Pilate was convinced. His duty was clear, and if he had had firmness to do it, he would not have asked this. Jesus, by his silence, there- fore rebuked him for his want of firmness, and his unwillingness to do what his conscience told him was right.

3rd. It is not probable that Pilate would have understood him if he had declared to him the truth about his origin, and about his being the Son of God.

4th. After what had been done --after he had satisfied Pilate of his innocence, and then had been beaten and mocked by his permission--he had no reason to expect justice at his hands, and therefore properly declined to make any farther defence. By this the prophecy Isa 53:7 was remarkably fulfilled.

(f) "Jesus gave him no" Ps 33:13, Isa 53:7, Mt 27:12,14, Php 1:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Whence art thou? - This certainly does not mean, From what country art thou? for Pilate knew this well enough; but it appears he made this inquiry to know who were the parents of Christ; what were his pretensions, and whether he really were a demigod, such as the heathens believed in. To this question we find our Lord gave no answer. He had already told him that his kingdom was not of this world; and that he came to erect a spiritual kingdom, not a temporal one: Joh 18:36, Joh 18:37. This answer he deemed sufficient; and he did not choose to satisfy a criminal curiosity, nor to enter then into any debate concerning the absurdity of the heathen worship.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 19:1-18

Little did Pilate think with what holy regard these sufferings of Christ would, in after-ages, be thought upon and spoken of by the best and greatest of men. Our Lord Jesus came forth, willing to be exposed to their scorn. It is good for every one with faith, to behold Christ Jesus in his sufferings. Behold him, and love him; be still looking unto Jesus. Did their hatred sharpen their endeavours against him? and…

Read the full comment on John 19:1-18 →

John 19:9 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
εἰσῆλθενeisēlthenhe wentG1525
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸtotheG3588
πραιτώριονpraitōrionPraetoriumG4232
πάλινpalinagainG3825
καὶkaiandG2532
λέγειlegeihe saysG3004
τῷtō<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦ·Iēsouto Jesus;G2424
πόθενpothenFrom whereG4159
εἶeiareG1510
σύ;suYou yourself?G4771
ὁho<the>G3588
δὲdeButG1161
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ἀπόκρισινapokrisinan answerG612
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔδωκενedōkendid giveG1325
αὐτῷ.autōto him.G846

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

Cross references for John 19:9

  • John 18:33

    Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

  • Philippians 1:28

    And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

  • Judges 13:6

    Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

  • Mark 15:3-5

    And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

  • Psalms 38:13-15

    But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

  • Acts 8:32-33

    The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

  • Matthew 26:63

    But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

  • John 8:14

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

  • John 9:29-30

    We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

  • Matthew 27:12-14

    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

  • Isaiah 53:7

    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.

  • John 18:37

    Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Whence.
8:14; 9:29,30; Jud 13:6
But.
Ps 38:13-15; Isa 53:7; Mt 27:12-14; Mr 15:3-5; Ac 8:32,33; Php 1:28

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

Context

  • John 19:8

    When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

  • John 19:9

    And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

  • John 19:10

    Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Read all of John 19

John 19:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y entró otra vez en el pretorio, y dijo á Jesús: ¿De dónde eres tú? Mas Jesús no le dió respuesta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et il entra de nouveau dans le prétoire, et dit à Jésus: D’où es-tu? Et Jésus ne lui donna pas de réponse.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und er ging wieder hinein in das Prätorium und spricht zu Jesu: Wo bist du her? Jesus aber gab ihm keine Antwort.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et ingressus est prætorium iterum: et dixit ad Jesum: Unde es tu? Jesus autem responsum non dedit ei.