John 18:1 kjv
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
John 18:1 nkjv
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
John 18:1 niv
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
John 18:1 esv
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
John 18:1 nlt
After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.
John 18 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 18:1 | Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley... entered a garden. | Commitment to Suffering |
| John 12:27 | Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. | Jesus' anticipation of his passion |
| Matthew 26:36 | Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane... | Synoptic parallel location |
| Mark 14:32 | And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane... | Synoptic parallel location |
| Luke 22:39 | And he came out, and went, as he was wont, unto the mount of Olives. | Synoptic parallel practice |
| 2 Samuel 15:23 | And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron... | King David's flight |
| 1 Kings 15:13 | And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah... | Asa's purge |
| Jeremiah 31:40 | And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD... | Prophecy of Kidron’s holiness |
| Isaiah 34:5-6 | For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood... | Judgment imagery |
| Psalm 110:7 | He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up his head. | Messianic psalm |
| John 1:29 | The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. | Jesus as Lamb of God |
| John 11:50 | Nor yet consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. | Caiaphas' prophecy |
| Genesis 3:21 | Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. | Need for covering |
| Isaiah 53:5 | But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. | Atonement |
| Hebrews 9:22 | And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. | Blood and atonement |
| Revelation 5:6-7 | And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain... | Lamb in worship |
| Romans 5:19 | For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. | Adam's disobedience vs. Christ's obedience |
| Philippians 2:8 | And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | Christ's obedience |
| Acts 4:27-28 | For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. | Predetermined divine plan |
| John 10:17-18 | Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. | Voluntary sacrifice |
John 18 verses
John 18 1 Meaning
Jesus, having completed his discourse with his disciples, crossed the Kidron Valley to enter the Garden of Gethsemane. This movement signifies a transition from the intimate setting of the Last Supper and Jesus' final teachings to the place of his ultimate betrayal and arrest.
John 18 1 Context
The events of John 18:1 follow immediately after the Upper Room discourse and Jesus' prayer in John 17. Having comforted and instructed his disciples, Jesus prepares to face his impending passion. The Passover feast has just concluded, a solemn event rich with symbolism of liberation and sacrifice. Geographically, the Kidron Valley lies to the east of Jerusalem, separating the city from the Mount of Olives, a frequent place of prayer and teaching for Jesus. This outward movement signifies Jesus stepping away from the familiarity and security of Jerusalem towards a place of great trial and suffering. Culturally, crossing a valley or stream could have symbolic weight, perhaps representing a passage into a different spiritual realm or a boundary being crossed into divine judgment and submission.
John 18 1 Word Analysis
- "When Jesus had spoken these words": This phrase marks a clear transition in John's narrative, signaling the conclusion of a significant teaching session.
- "he went forth": A common phrase indicating movement, in this context signifying purposeful departure.
- "with his disciples": Underscores that even in this dire moment, Jesus is not alone but with his followers, though their understanding is limited.
- "over the brook Kidron": The Kidron Brook (Hebrew: נַחַל קִדְרוֹן, Nachal Kidron) is a dry ravine for most of the year, but a seasonal stream.
- It serves as a geographical marker, separating the Mount of Olives from the eastern part of Jerusalem.
- It has historical significance, mentioned in the Old Testament in connection with David's flight from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:23) and subsequent royal events.
- Its dry state most of the year might also carry symbolic weight of a path prepared or a less-traveled way.
- "to the other side": Indicates crossing a boundary, moving from one place to another.
- "into a garden": The Garden of Gethsemane is a specific location on the Mount of Olives.
- "Garden" (Greek: κῆπος, kēpos) implies a place of tranquility, cultivation, and often intimacy or privacy.
- However, here it becomes a place of intense spiritual struggle and ultimate betrayal.
- Its identification with "Gethsemane" (Hebrew/Aramaic: גַּת שְׁמָנִים, Gat Shmanim, "olive press") is significant, suggesting the crushing or pressing out of oil, a metaphor for Jesus' suffering and the outpouring of his life.
- "where was a garden, the place called Gethsemane": This clarifies the specific location, providing both the generic term "garden" and the proper noun.
John 18 1 Bonus Section
The act of crossing the Kidron Valley and entering Gethsemane aligns with prophetic symbolism. The valley itself was sometimes a place where idolatrous objects were removed and defiled, signifying a separation from sin and an embrace of obedience to God. By entering this symbolic place before His ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, was about to endure the crushing weight of sin for humanity, preparing for the ultimate "pressing out" of His life in atonement. This moment bridges Jesus’ celestial intercession (John 17) and His earthly humiliation, showcasing His voluntary submission to the Father's will for salvation.
John 18 1 Commentary
Jesus, after His final earthly instructions and prayers with His disciples, purposefully moved toward His appointed suffering. His path led Him across the Kidron Valley, a geographical boundary often associated with judgment and solemn passages in Israel's history. He entered a garden on the Mount of Olives, the place known as Gethsemane. The "olive press" name of Gethsemane symbolically foreshadows the intense pressure and crushing of Jesus as He faces the ordeal of betrayal and death for humanity. Despite the difficult road ahead, Jesus walked it with His disciples, albeit they did not fully grasp the spiritual significance of their journey.