John 11 51

John 11:51 kjv

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

John 11:51 nkjv

Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

John 11:51 niv

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

John 11:51 esv

He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

John 11:51 nlt

He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.

John 11 verses

John 11 51 Meaning

John 11:51 explains that Caiaphas, the high priest, though speaking from a purely political and human perspective regarding Jesus' death, unwittingly uttered a profound prophecy by divine inspiration. His words, intended to advocate for Jesus' elimination to preserve the Jewish nation's political stability under Roman rule, were, in God's eternal plan, a declaration of Jesus' imminent death as a sacrificial atonement for the Jewish people. God used the very office of the high priest, appointed for national representation, to declare His ultimate purpose for His Son.

John 11 51 Context

John 11:51 immediately follows a pivotal meeting of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high council). Jesus had just miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead, an event that significantly increased His public following but simultaneously heightened the alarm among the religious leaders. They feared that Jesus' growing popularity would provoke a strong Roman reaction, potentially leading to the destruction of their nation and their temple. It was in this atmosphere of political apprehension and self-preservation that Caiaphas, the high priest, presented a "solution": it was politically "expedient" (convenient and necessary) for "one man to die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not" (Jn 11:50). John's interpretive comment in verse 51, drawing upon his divine insight, reveals the profound theological truth hidden within Caiaphas's pragmatic, self-serving counsel. It underscores the divine sovereignty at play even amidst human political maneuvering.

John 11 51 Word analysis

• Now this: This transitional phrase indicates that the evangelist, John, is about to offer a theological interpretation of Caiaphas's preceding statement. It sets apart the divine understanding from the human one.
• he said: Refers specifically to Caiaphas, the High Priest, whose words were recorded in John 11:50.
• not of himself: (Greek: apho heautou - ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ). This is a crucial distinction. It signifies that Caiaphas's statement did not originate from his own human reasoning, political calculations, or personal malicious intent alone. His words were not merely his private opinion but carried a deeper, divinely inspired meaning beyond his comprehension.
• but being high priest: (Greek: alla archiereus on - ἀλλὰ ἀρχιερεὺς ὤν). This phrase introduces the divine instrument. Caiaphas's office as High Priest, an institution established by God under the Mosaic Covenant (Ex 28; Lev 8), served as the conduit for this unwitting prophecy. Even a compromised or politically appointed high priest could, by virtue of his office, act as a medium for divine pronouncement in a moment of crisis or ultimate significance, representing the nation before God. This emphasizes God's sovereign use of institutions and individuals for His purposes, regardless of their personal character or understanding.
• that year: (Greek: tou eniautou ekeinou - τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐκεῖνου). This temporal specification points to the precise, unique year when Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would be sacrificed. It highlights the pivotal and unrepeatable nature of the Atonement. The designation emphasizes the uniqueness of Christ's sacrifice, surpassing the annual, symbolic sacrifices offered by earthly high priests, and that this particular year marked the culmination of God's redemptive plan.
• he prophesied: (Greek: eprohphteusen - ἐπροφήτευσεν). This does not mean Caiaphas was consciously a prophet or understood the divine significance of his words. Rather, it signifies that the Holy Spirit used his office and his very words to declare a divine truth about Jesus. This is an instance of objective prophecy—truth spoken, regardless of the speaker's subjective awareness or intention, similar to how Balaam prophesied about Israel's destiny (Num 22-24). It reveals God's sovereignty over human speech and events.
• that Jesus should die: (Greek: hina apothane ho Iēsous - ἵνα ἀποθάνῃ ὁ Ἰησοῦς). This clause specifies the content of the prophecy: the death of Jesus. The use of hina (in order that) expresses divine purpose. This wasn't just a political execution; it was part of God's sovereign plan for redemption. Caiaphas meant political death; God meant redemptive, atoning death.
• for that nation: (Greek: hyper tou ethnous - ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἔθνους). The word hyper (ὑπὲρ) signifies "on behalf of," "for the sake of," or "instead of," carrying a strong sense of substitutionary or representative action. The "nation" refers primarily to the Jewish people. From Caiaphas's perspective, this meant preventing the destruction of the Jewish political entity. From God's perspective, it signified Jesus' sacrificial death to atone for the sins of the Jewish people, His covenant nation (compare with Isa 53:8 for a broader scope). This points to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for Israel.

John 11 51 Bonus section

The phrase "that year" is significant. It underscores the once-for-all nature of Christ's sacrifice, distinguishing it from the repeated annual sacrifices performed by earthly high priests on the Day of Atonement. This singular, decisive year marked the culmination of salvation history, the pivot upon which all ages turned. Furthermore, the role of Caiaphas highlights the profound theological irony inherent in John's narrative. Caiaphas, meant to mediate forgiveness, condemned the very source of it. His office, a shadow, now points directly to Christ, the substance, the true and eternal High Priest, whose one sacrifice superseded all others. God used an office steeped in corruption to reveal the purest truth.

John 11 51 Commentary

John 11:51 stands as a powerful testament to divine sovereignty, irony, and the prophetic nature of scripture. Caiaphas, the appointed High Priest of the nation Israel, intending to make a shrewd political calculation to preserve his own power and prevent Roman intervention, instead became an unwitting mouthpiece for God's eternal purpose. His declaration that "one man should die for the people" was intended as a pragmatic solution to a human problem, but it contained the profound theological truth of substitutionary atonement.

The evangelist John, with retrospective divine insight, reveals that Caiaphas’s words were a prophecy from God Himself, conveyed through the very office designed to mediate between God and Israel. It was God’s plan, not human machination, that Jesus would die as the ultimate sacrifice. This passage highlights the incredible depth of God's ability to use all things, even the ignorance and malicious intentions of His adversaries, to accomplish His redemptive will. The Jewish leadership sealed their own judgment by participating in what they thought was a political necessity, yet unwittingly fulfilled the divine will for their salvation and that of the world.