John 11:16 kjv
Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
John 11:16 nkjv
Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."
John 11:16 niv
Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
John 11:16 esv
So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
John 11:16 nlt
Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go, too ? and die with Jesus."
John 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 11:7-8 | Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, only recently the Jews were seeking..." | Immediate context of danger for returning to Judea. |
| Jn 10:31, 39 | The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him... No one laid a hand on Him. | Previous attempts to kill Jesus in Judea by stoning. |
| Jn 14:5 | Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" | Reveals Thomas's desire for concrete understanding. |
| Jn 20:24-25 | Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were telling him, "We have seen the Lord!"... | "Doubting Thomas" post-resurrection, showing his personality. |
| Mt 10:38-39 | And whoever does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it... | The call to self-sacrifice in following Jesus. |
| Mt 16:24-25 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me..." | Bearing one's cross, losing life for Christ's sake. |
| Lk 14:27 | Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. | Strong call for complete devotion and readiness to suffer. |
| Phil 3:10 | That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; | Paul's desire to share in Christ's sufferings. |
| 2 Tim 2:11-12 | It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him... | The promise of co-reigning with Christ for those who suffer with Him. |
| Rom 8:17 | And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified... | Suffering with Christ to be glorified with Him. |
| 1 Pet 4:13 | But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice... | Rejoicing in sharing Christ's sufferings. |
| Jn 12:25 | He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. | The paradoxical nature of finding life through losing it for Christ. |
| Acts 21:13 | Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem..." | Paul's resolute willingness to die for Christ's name. |
| Rev 12:11 | And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even... | Victory through readiness to die as martyrs. |
| Mk 14:27, 50 | And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'"... | Disciples abandoning Jesus during His arrest. |
| Lk 22:33 | But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" | Peter's pledge of loyalty, similar to Thomas's resolve. |
| 1 Jn 3:16 | We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. | Laying down one's life for fellow believers. |
| Jn 10:11, 15 | I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep... even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay... | Jesus' sacrificial example of laying down His life. |
| Heb 11:36-38 | Others experienced mockings and scourging, yes, also chains and imprisonment... were tempted, they were put to death with the sword... | The testimony of martyrs throughout history. |
| 1 Thes 5:10 | who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. | Christ died for us, that we might live with Him. |
| Rom 6:8 | Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. | Spiritual identification with Christ's death and resurrection. |
| Col 2:12 | having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him... | Believers are raised with Christ through faith. |
John 11 verses
John 11 16 Meaning
John 11:16 captures a moment of solemn resolution and courageous, albeit perhaps pessimistic, loyalty from the Apostle Thomas. Following Jesus' decision to return to Bethany in Judea to address Lazarus's death, despite the recent attempt on His life there, Thomas urges his fellow disciples to join him in accompanying Jesus, fully expecting to face death alongside their Lord. It reveals a deep commitment to Jesus, willing to suffer the ultimate consequence for discipleship.
John 11 16 Context
This verse is situated in John chapter 11, which details the profound account of Lazarus's death and resurrection. Jesus, being in Perea, receives word that His beloved friend Lazarus in Bethany, Judea, is ill. After two days, Jesus announces His intention to return to Judea, alarming His disciples. They remind Him that recently, in Judea, the Jewish authorities sought to stone Him (Jn 10:31-39; 11:8). The disciples correctly perceive a significant danger in returning to that hostile territory. Jesus, however, knowing He must accomplish the Father's will and glorify God through this event (Jn 11:4), insists on going. It is at this moment, sensing the impending danger and a likely martyrdom, that Thomas makes his striking declaration, reflecting the disciples' fear but also a deep, if somber, loyalty to their master. They don't yet fully grasp Jesus' power over death or the true purpose of His journey—to give life, not simply to face death.
John 11 16 Word analysis
- Then (οὖν - oun): A conjunction that marks a transition, indicating a consequence or continuation. Here, it signifies the narrative moving forward, presenting Thomas's response directly following Jesus' decision to return to Judea despite the risks.
- Thomas (Θωμᾶς - Thōmas): An Aramaic name meaning "twin." He is consistently identified this way in the Gospel of John (Jn 20:24, 21:2), setting him apart.
- who was called Didymus (ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος - ho legomenos Didymos): "Didymus" is the Greek equivalent for "twin." John's consistent use of both the Aramaic and Greek forms suggests he is writing for a broader audience that may not understand Aramaic, providing clarity and emphasizing this distinctive characteristic of the disciple. This reinforces his identity for the readership.
- said (εἶπεν - eipen): A standard past tense verb for "to say" or "to speak." It introduces a direct quote, presenting Thomas's impactful statement.
- to his fellow disciples (τοῖς συμμαθηταῖς - tois symmathētais): A unique term in the New Testament (occurring only here in John 11:16), it directly translates as "fellow disciples." Sym- (σύν) means "with" or "fellow," combined with mathētēs (μαθητής) meaning "disciple." This highlights Thomas speaking within the collective of disciples, appealing to their shared loyalty and predicament.
- "Let us also go (Ἄγωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς - Agōmen kai hēmeis): A hortatory subjunctive, conveying a strong exhortation or invitation. "Let us go" expresses a collective decision or desire to follow. The "also" (kai hēmeis) emphasizes that if Jesus is going to face death, they, the disciples, should go with Him, not abandon Him. It underscores their solidarity.
- that we may die with Him." (ἵνα ἀποθάνωμεν μετ’ αὐτοῦ - hina apothanōmen met' autou): Hina (ἵνα) introduces a purpose clause: "in order that" or "so that." Apothanōmen (ἀποθάνωμεν) is the hortatory subjunctive of "to die," again reflecting a collective, determined choice. "With Him" (met' autou) powerfully articulates the shared fate Thomas anticipates. It is a stark recognition of the danger, anticipating Jesus' martyrdom and an admirable, if fatalistic, readiness to share that same fate.
Words-group analysis:
- "Thomas, who was called Didymus": This specific identification of Thomas is a recurring literary feature in John's Gospel (Jn 20:24, 21:2). It provides both an Aramaic and Greek name, serving to inform a diverse readership and emphasizing the particular character of this disciple, who, despite often being remembered for his doubts, here demonstrates remarkable resolve.
- "Let us also go, that we may die with Him": This core statement reveals Thomas's somber yet resolute courage. He understands the peril involved in returning to Judea but opts to face it alongside Jesus rather than abandoning their Lord to what he perceives as certain death. It encapsulates both a misunderstanding of Jesus' immediate purpose (to raise Lazarus, not to die yet) and a profound, costly commitment to Him. This articulation reflects a true, albeit fatalistic, form of discipleship and foreshadows the eventual call to take up one's cross.
John 11 16 Bonus section
- A "Twin" of Contradictions: Thomas, the twin, is often viewed as a multifaceted figure: a pragmatic realist, even a pessimist, who consistently seeks concrete proof, but simultaneously a person of immense courage and loyalty. This verse prominently displays the latter, a deep and unswerving commitment, even if expressed with a grim outlook. His journey of faith illustrates that true devotion can coexist with struggles of understanding.
- Foreshadowing Jesus' Sacrificial Love: While Thomas is articulating the disciples' readiness to die, his words inadvertently echo and anticipate Jesus' own later declaration in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Thomas's willingness to die with Jesus, in a human demonstration of loyalty, reflects a mirroring of the ultimate divine self-sacrifice that Jesus would soon make.
- Leadership in Resolve: Despite not being one of the inner circle (Peter, James, John), Thomas steps forward here, articulating a collective sentiment and urging shared resolve. This hints at his distinct personality and role among the disciples, often challenging them but also leading by example in conviction, albeit with a pessimistic tinge.
John 11 16 Commentary
John 11:16 presents a pivotal moment, shedding light on the nuanced character of Thomas. While other disciples likely harbored fears about returning to Judea where Jesus' life had been threatened, it is Thomas who boldly vocalizes their shared dread and loyalty. His statement, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him," is a profound declaration of unwavering commitment. It is a grim, yet courageous, resolve to share Jesus' perceived fate, despite misunderstanding Jesus' immediate mission to bring life to Lazarus. This act precedes his well-known skepticism after the resurrection, underscoring that faith journeys are complex and can feature both moments of profound loyalty and later struggles with belief. This verse is a powerful testament to the sacrificial cost of discipleship and reminds believers of the depth of devotion that followers of Christ are called to, even when facing significant adversity.