John 21 · Verse 12

John 21:12

Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:12, King James Version

John 21:12 in other translations

BSB“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.
WEBJesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
ASVJesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
YLTJesus saith to them, ‘Come ye, dine;' and none of the disciples was venturing to inquire of him, ‘Who art thou?' knowing that it is the Lord;
DARBYJesus says to them, Come and dine. But none of the disciples dared inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
BBEJesus said to them, Come and take some food. And all the disciples were in fear of putting the question, Who are you? being conscious that it was the Lord.
WebsterJesus saith to them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

What does John 21:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 21:12-14
12-14. none ... durst ask him, Who art thou, knowing it was the Lord--implying that they would have liked Him just to say, "It is I"; but having such convincing evidence they were afraid of being "upbraided for their unbelief and hardness of heart" if they ventured to put the question.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Come and dine. The word in the original means the meal which is taken in the morning, or breakfast.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Come and dine - Δευτε αριϚησατε. Though this is the literal translation of the word, yet it must be observed that it was not dinner time, being as yet early in the morning, Joh 21:4; but Kypke has largely shown that the original word is used by Homer, Xenophon, and Plutarch, to signify breakfast, or any early meal, as well as what we term dinner. It might perhaps appear singular, otherwise it would be as agreeable to the use of the Greek word, to have translated it, come and breakfast. Durst ask him - Ever since the confession of Thomas, a proper awe of the Deity of Christ had possessed their minds.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 21:1-14

Christ makes himself known to his people, usually in his ordinances; but sometimes by his Spirit he visits them when employed in their business. It is good for the disciples of Christ to be together in common conversation, and common business. The hour for their entering upon action was not come. They would help to maintain themselves, and not be burdensome to any. Christ's time of making himself known to his…

Read the full comment on John 21:1-14 →

John 21:12 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
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
δεῦτεdeuteComeG1205
ἀριστήσατε.aristēsatedo have breakfast.G709
οὐδεὶςoudeisNoneG3762
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐτόλμαetolmawas daringG5111
τῶνtōnof theG3588
μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101
ἐξετάσαιexetasaito askG1833
αὐτόν·autonHim;G846
σὺsuYou yourselfG4771
τίςtiswhoG5101
εἶ;eiare?G1510
εἰδότεςeidotesknowing
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ὁhotheG3588
κύριόςkuriosLordG2962
ἐστιν.¶estinit is.G1510

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

Cross references for John 21:12

  • Acts 10:41

    Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

  • John 16:19

    Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

  • Luke 9:45

    But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

  • 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.

  • Genesis 32:29-30

    And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

  • John 4:27

    And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

  • Mark 9:32

    But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Come.
Ac 10:41
dine.The word [ariston ,] like {prandere} was used for any meat taken before the {coena,} or supper.
durst.
4:27; 16:19; Ge 32:29,30; Mr 9:32; Lu 9:45

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

Context

  • John 21:11

    Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

  • John 21:12

    Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

  • John 21:13

    Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

Read all of John 21

John 21:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Díceles Jesús: Venid, comed. Y ninguno de los discípulos osaba preguntarle: ¿Tú, quién eres? sabiendo que era el Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus leur dit: Venez, dînez. Et aucun des disciples n’osait lui demander: Qui es-tu? sachant que c’était le Seigneur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus spricht zu ihnen: Kommt her, frühstücket. Keiner aber von den Jüngern wagte ihn zu fragen: Wer bist du? da sie wußten, daß es der Herr sei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicit eis Jesus: Venite, prandete. Et nemo audebat discumbentium interrogare eum: Tu quis es? scientes, quia Dominus est.