John 18 12

John 18:12 kjv

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

John 18:12 nkjv

Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.

John 18:12 niv

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him

John 18:12 esv

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

John 18:12 nlt

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up.

John 18 verses

John 18 12 Meaning

The verse details the immediate actions of the arresting party: the Roman military, along with Jewish temple authorities, seized Jesus and bound Him. This marked the formal initiation of Jesus's capture and His journey into the legal processes that would lead to His crucifixion, fulfilling divine prophecies through human action.

John 18 12 Context

John 18:12 directly follows Jesus's powerful self-identification ("I Am He") which caused His apprehenders to fall backward (John 18:6). Despite this display of divine authority, Jesus willingly submits to their will. The chapter opens with Jesus and His disciples in Gethsemane, and Judas's betrayal, leading a formidable group to arrest Jesus. This verse marks the physical capture of Jesus, transitioning from His serene, sovereign disclosure to the brutal reality of human indignity. Historically, this occurred during the Passover feast in Jerusalem, a period of heightened tension and Roman vigilance. The involvement of both Roman and Jewish forces signals the extreme political and religious concern regarding Jesus.

John 18 12 Word analysis

• Then (οὖν, oun): A particle indicating consequence or continuation. It highlights that the arrest proceeds immediately following Jesus's divine declaration and the dramatic reaction of the soldiers.

• the band (ἡ σπεῖρα, hē speira): Refers to a Roman cohort, a significant military detachment (potentially 600 soldiers, or a substantial fraction). Its presence signifies direct Roman official involvement, underlining the perceived serious nature of Jesus's supposed offense against public order or Roman rule.

• and the commander (ὁ χιλίαρχος, ho chiliarchos): A Roman tribune, an officer of high rank, usually in charge of a cohort. His presence underscores the official Roman backing for the arrest and its political implications.

• and the officers (οἱ ὑπηρέται, hoi hyperetai): These were the temple police or servants, acting under the authority of the Jewish Sanhedrin, particularly the high priest. Their inclusion signifies the direct involvement and approval of Jewish religious authorities in the arrest.

• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων, tōn Ioudaiōn): Specifies that the officers were agents of the Jewish leadership, which in John's Gospel often represents those opposing Jesus.

• seized (συνέλαβον, synelabon): To apprehend, take hold of, or arrest forcefully. This describes the physical act of capture, initiating His imprisonment.

• Jesus (τὸν Ἰησοῦν, ton Iēsoun): The specific individual being apprehended and targeted.

• and bound (ἔδησαν, edesan): To tie or fasten with ropes. This act of binding was common for dangerous criminals, symbolizing humiliation and restricting movement, marking Him as a captive before legal proceedings.

• the band and the commander and the officers of the Jews: This phrase reveals the formidable and officially sanctioned nature of the arresting party. It was a joint operation, demonstrating cooperation between Roman military power and Jewish religious authority against Jesus. This alliance signifies the immense and unified opposition Jesus faced.

• seized Jesus and bound Him: These two actions highlight the thoroughness and indignity of the arrest. Despite Jesus's previous display of divine power and His non-resistance, He was treated as a dangerous prisoner needing physical restraint. This sequence marks the transition from verbal confrontation to physical subjugation.

John 18 12 Bonus section

• The efficiency and immediate nature of the "seizing" and "binding" despite the earlier dramatic reversal of the crowd's initial advance further underscore Jesus's deliberate self-surrender rather than a forceful capture against His will.
• The detail of binding indicates that even after falling back due to Jesus's divine presence, the human captors still considered Him a potential flight risk or dangerous individual, illustrating their misperception of His mission and identity.
• This act foreshadows Pilate delivering Jesus over to be crucified, already bound, underscoring the legal formalities that began with this initial restraint.

John 18 12 Commentary

John 18:12 serves as a pivotal point, transitioning from Jesus's divine self-disclosure to His human arrest and suffering. It highlights the full force of human authority—both Roman and Jewish—marshaled against Him. The action of "seizing" and "binding" Jesus is highly symbolic: it represents humanity's perceived victory over Jesus, yet paradoxically, it sets in motion the events leading to God's ultimate victory through the cross. Despite having just shown His power by causing them to fall, Jesus permits Himself to be bound, signifying His willing submission to the Father's plan for redemption. This moment establishes His position as the innocent lamb led to slaughter, submitting to the indignity and constraint of His captors to fulfill prophecy and accomplish the work of salvation. His binding for human justice paves the way for the unbound freedom for those He redeems.