John 10:40 kjv
And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
John 10:40 nkjv
And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
John 10:40 niv
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed,
John 10:40 esv
He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.
John 10:40 nlt
He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.
John 10 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 1:28 | These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. | Identifies the specific location John baptized. |
| Mt 12:15 | ...Jesus knew this, he withdrew from there... | Jesus' common practice of withdrawing from danger. |
| Mk 3:7 | Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea... | Another instance of Jesus withdrawing. |
| Lk 5:16 | But he would often slip away to deserted places and pray. | Jesus seeking solitude and avoiding crowds/conflict. |
| Jn 6:15 | Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again... | Jesus withdraws from popular misinterpretation/force. |
| Jn 7:1 | After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews there were seeking to kill him. | Strategic withdrawal from Judean hostility. |
| Jn 8:59 | ...Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. | Escaping violent crowds in Jerusalem. |
| Jn 11:54 | So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. | Similar strategic retreat to avoid capture before His time. |
| Jn 10:39 | Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hand. | Immediate preceding context of Jesus escaping arrest. |
| Mt 3:11 | “I baptize you with water for repentance... | John's ministry of water baptism and repentance. |
| Lk 3:3 | And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. | Confirms John's widespread ministry near the Jordan. |
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord...” | Prophecy of John the Baptist preparing the Lord's way. |
| Mal 3:1 | “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” | Old Testament prophecy of John's role as forerunner. |
| Jn 5:33-35 | You sent to John, and he bore witness to the truth... | Jesus affirming John's prophetic witness. |
| Mt 11:10 | “This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face...’” | Jesus confirming John as the prophesied messenger. |
| Jos 3:16 | ...the waters coming down from upstream stood still... so the people passed over opposite Jericho. | Israel's historic crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land. |
| 2 Ki 2:8 | Then Elijah took his cloak... and struck the water, and the water was divided... | Elijah and Elisha crossing the Jordan, signifying prophetic succession. |
| Deut 3:20 | ...the Lord will give you rest, and you also shall possess the land beyond the Jordan... | "Beyond the Jordan" has significance as an ancient settlement/possession. |
| Gen 32:10 | ...with my staff I crossed over this Jordan... | Jacob's personal encounter and blessing associated with crossing the Jordan. |
| Ps 27:5 | For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent... | Divine protection for the righteous. |
| Prov 1:33 | but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” | Assurance of security for those who heed wisdom. |
John 10 verses
John 10 40 Meaning
John 10:40 records Jesus' strategic withdrawal from Jerusalem, where He had just faced intense hostility and attempted stoning after declaring His unity with the Father. He retreated across the Jordan River to the exact location where John the Baptist had first conducted his ministry. This action served as a calculated move to avoid immediate danger, allowing for continued teaching and validation of His own mission by linking it to John's well-established prophetic groundwork. It highlights both Jesus' divine authority and His human prudence in facing persecution.
John 10 40 Context
This verse follows a highly charged confrontation in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). Jesus has just engaged in a series of bold pronouncements about His relationship with the Father (Jn 10:22-38), culminating in "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30) and "the Father is in me and I in the Father" (Jn 10:38). These claims, perceived as blasphemy by the Jewish leaders, led them to pick up stones to kill Him (Jn 10:31, 39). Jesus miraculously escapes their grasp (Jn 10:39), and verse 40 describes His immediate and prudent action to retreat. This geographical move marks a deliberate period of respite from the direct threat in Jerusalem, allowing Jesus to continue His ministry in a less hostile environment and subtly affirm John the Baptist's preparatory work.
John 10 40 Word analysis
He went away again: (Greek: ἀπῆλθεν πάλιν, apēlthen palin). "Again" signifies a pattern of Jesus strategically withdrawing from danger or public pressure (e.g., Jn 6:15; 8:59). This wasn't His first time to retreat, showing divine wisdom combined with human prudence to protect His mission until His appointed "hour."
across the Jordan: (Greek: πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, peran tou Iordanou). This specifies a region generally regarded as outside Judean immediate jurisdiction, a place of greater safety. It also evokes historical and spiritual significance, as the Jordan River was a boundary marker in Israel's history (Joshua, Elijah).
to the place: (Greek: εἰς τὸν τόπον, eis ton topon). Indicates a known, specific location. It suggests a destination chosen for its previous association and strategic value.
where John had first been baptizing: (Greek: ὅπου ἦν Ἰωάννης τὸ πρῶτον βαπτίζων, hopou ēn Iōannēs to prōton baptizōn). This is critically significant. By returning to the site of John's inaugural ministry, Jesus is:
- Validating John: Affirming John as His divinely appointed forerunner.
- Emphasizing Continuity: Highlighting that His work fulfills and continues John's message of repentance and preparation.
- Strategic Evangelism: Drawing on the goodwill and spiritual expectation cultivated by John in that very region. Many there might have been more receptive.
and there he remained: (Greek: κἀκεῖ ἔμεινεν, kakei emeinen). "Remained" implies a period of sustained presence, not just a passing visit. It indicates a deliberate choice to settle for a duration, allowing for focused teaching, healing, and gathering of disciples away from the escalating tensions in Jerusalem. This was a season of ministry in relative peace.
He went away again across the Jordan: Jesus demonstrates a balance between divine power and practical wisdom. While He could escape violently (Jn 10:39), His choice to strategically withdraw aligns with His timing and mission, avoiding premature confrontation while not abandoning His purpose.
to the place where John had first been baptizing: This phrase functions as a deliberate legitimization of Jesus' messianic identity. John had attested to Jesus in this very place (Jn 1:29-34). Jesus' return echoes and reinforces John's testimony, confirming that He is the One whom John heralded. This re-establishes John's preparatory work as directly pointing to Jesus, strengthening His claim without initiating a new, potentially dangerous confrontation.
and there he remained: The verb suggests a settled, deliberate stay rather than a hurried flight. It implies an opportunity for a renewed and fruitful ministry in a setting associated with expectation and openness to prophetic revelation, contrasting sharply with the hostility encountered in Jerusalem. This region also provided an ideal environment for nurturing the faith of new believers.
John 10 40 Bonus section
This retreat beyond the Jordan marked a period of flourishing ministry, distinct from the controversies in Jerusalem. Many people came to Jesus in this region, remembering John's words about Him and concluding that everything John said about Jesus was true (Jn 10:41-42). This demonstrates the lasting impact of John's testimony and the fruitfulness of Jesus' strategic withdrawal. It was a time when faith deepened for many, leading to a significant increase in discipleship, highlighting the importance of strategic positioning for the Gospel message. This area also serves as a symbol of fresh beginnings, echoing Israel's entry into the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan.
John 10 40 Commentary
John 10:40 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Jesus' strategic response to persecution. Following a life-threatening encounter, Jesus does not retaliate with force but rather with wise withdrawal, underscoring His self-control and adherence to divine timing. His choice of destination – the precise location where John the Baptist had first baptized – is highly significant. It simultaneously honors John's foundational work, affirming the prophetic continuity between their ministries, and establishes a safe haven where many who had previously followed John would likely be receptive to Jesus' teachings. This retreat served as a deliberate phase for nurturing disciples, continuing evangelism, and demonstrating the harmonious flow of God's redemptive plan through two key figures. It shows Jesus as both the powerful Son of God, capable of escaping danger, and the prudent Messiah, whose actions are carefully calculated to advance the Kingdom of God according to divine schedule.