John 18 32

John 18:32 kjv

That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

John 18:32 nkjv

that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

John 18:32 niv

This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

John 18:32 esv

This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

John 18:32 nlt

(This fulfilled Jesus' prediction about the way he would die. )

John 18 verses

John 18 32 Meaning

John 18:32 clarifies that the reason the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate and insisted on Roman execution was so that Jesus' own prophecies about His death might be fulfilled. Specifically, it points to His prior statements about being "lifted up," which indicated a crucifixion—a Roman method of execution—rather than stoning, which was the Jewish method for blasphemy. This verse emphasizes divine sovereignty, illustrating how human actions, even those rooted in malice, ultimately serve to bring about God's preordained plan for Christ's suffering and glorification. It highlights that the manner of His death was divinely orchestrated.

John 18 32 Context

John 18:32 appears in the pivotal scene of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Immediately prior, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate, asserting that they had found Jesus guilty and thus merited death. However, they tell Pilate, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death" (Jn 18:31). This statement is crucial because it indicates that while Jewish law prescribed stoning as the penalty for blasphemy (which they accused Jesus of, implicitly), they lacked the authority under Roman occupation to carry out capital punishment. Their inability to execute Him themselves directly forced them to hand Jesus over to the Roman authority, thereby ensuring a Roman form of execution—crucifixion. The historical context confirms that while Jewish courts (the Sanhedrin) could condemn, they generally needed Roman approval or execution for capital offenses, particularly during the time of Roman provincial rule. This verse underscores the precise fulfillment of prophecy, highlighting the intricate divine plan even amidst human actions.

John 18 32 Word analysis

• τοῦτο (touto): "This" or "This was." Refers back to the Jewish leaders' declaration in verse 31 that they lacked the authority to execute Jesus, implying their turning Him over to Pilate.
  • Significance: Highlights a pivotal point in the narrative where the path shifts from Jewish legal judgment to Roman intervention, which in turn leads to the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about His death. It frames the preceding exchange as directly contributing to the divine plan.
• ἵνα (hina): "in order that," "so that." Introduces a purpose clause.
  • Significance: Explicitly states the divine purpose or intention behind the sequence of events. It is not merely a coincidental outcome but an orchestrated one, showing God's sovereign control over even hostile human decisions. This 'purpose clause' reflects the teleological nature of divine prophecy in John.
• ὁ λόγος (ho logos): "the word," "the saying." Refers to Jesus' previous utterances.
  • Significance: In John's Gospel, "logos" (Word) often carries profound theological weight (Jn 1:1, 1:14). Here, it specifically denotes Jesus' spoken predictions. It highlights the divine veracity and authority of Jesus' own words, confirming that His predictions are part of the larger divine "Word" or plan.
• τοῦ Ἰησοῦ (tou Iēsou): "of Jesus." Identifies the author of the 'word'.
  • Significance: Specifies that the prophecy came directly from Jesus Himself, not solely from Old Testament scripture, though His words often echoed or fulfilled those prophecies. This emphasizes His prophetic authority and self-awareness of His mission.
• πληρωθῇ (plērōthē): "might be fulfilled" (Aorist Passive Subjunctive). From `pleroo`, meaning "to make full," "to complete," "to bring to pass."
  • Significance: This verb is a cornerstone in Johannine theology, appearing frequently to denote the realization of divine intention or Old Testament prophecy (e.g., Jn 12:38, 13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 19:36). The passive voice emphasizes that the fulfillment is divinely brought about. It suggests necessity and predestination.
• ὃν (hon): "which" or "that." Relative pronoun referring to `ton logon`.
  • Significance: Connects the fulfillment to the specific words previously spoken by Jesus.
• εἶπεν (eipen): "He had spoken" (Aorist Active Indicative). From `lego`, meaning "to say," "to speak."
  • Significance: Reinforces that the "word" came directly from Jesus, confirming its origin.
• σημαίνων (sēmainōn): "indicating," "signifying" (Present Active Participle). From `semaino`, meaning "to show by a sign," "to make known," "to signify." Also used in Jn 12:33, 21:19.
  • Significance: This word implies a revelation, making known a specific type or manner of something. It underscores that Jesus' earlier statements were not just vague prophecies but precise indicators of His fate. In John, this term is used repeatedly when describing Jesus' predictions about the manner of death.
• ποἵῳ (poiō): "what kind of," "by what manner of" (Dative Masculine Singular). From `poios`, interrogative pronoun, here indicating quality or nature.
  • Significance: The key word emphasizing the type or manner of death, not merely the fact that He would die. This distinguishes crucifixion from stoning or other forms of execution. This is crucial because it shows the extreme precision of Jesus' prophecies.
• θανάτῳ (thanatō): "death" (Dative Masculine Singular). From `thanatos`.
  • Significance: Specifies the subject of the inquiry into its "kind." In this context, it contrasts with the common Jewish method of execution.
• ἔμελλεν (emellen): "He was going," "He was about" (Imperfect Active Indicative). From `mello`, meaning "to be about to," "to be destined."
  • Significance: Expresses the impending nature and inevitability of the event. It speaks of a definite future, indicating a divine appointment rather than a mere possibility.
• ἀποθνήσκειν (apothnēskein): "to die" (Present Active Infinitive). From `apothnesko`.
  • Significance: The infinitive describes the act itself. Combined with `emellen`, it paints a picture of Jesus being divinely destined to die.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• τοῦτο ἵνα πληρωθῇ (touto hina plērōthē): "This was in order that it might be fulfilled."
  • Analysis: This phrase clearly articulates the divine intentionality behind the events unfolding. It’s not just reporting what happened, but why it happened. It highlights God's sovereign plan ensuring the prophecies of Jesus Himself came to fruition, even using the unwitting actions of His accusers.
• ὁ λόγος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὃν εἶπεν (ho logos tou Iēsou hon eipen): "the word of Jesus which He had spoken."
  • Analysis: This emphasizes that the prophecies being fulfilled were Jesus' own predictions, not just vague Old Testament texts. While implicitly connected to OT types (like the lifted serpent), the immediate reference is to Jesus' specific foresight, which further validates His identity and divine authority.
• σημαίνων ποἵῳ θανάτῳ ἔμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν (sēmainōn poiō thanatō emellen apothnēskein): "indicating what kind of death He was going to die."
  • Analysis: This phrase is key to understanding the verse's specific message. It specifies that the fulfilled prophecy concerned the manner (crucifixion by Roman authority) and not just the fact of His death. The contrast is sharp between Jewish stoning and Roman crucifixion, highlighting the precision of divine providence that necessitated Pilate's involvement. It ties directly back to Jesus' "lifted up" sayings (John 3:14, 8:28, 12:32), which referred to crucifixion both literally and metaphorically as a glorifying exaltation.

John 18 32 Bonus section

• Divine Passive Voice: The passive form of plērōthē ("might be fulfilled") implicitly points to God as the agent behind the fulfillment. This concept, known as the "divine passive," is a common grammatical feature in biblical Greek used to describe God's actions without explicitly naming Him. It further reinforces the idea of divine orchestrating.
• Irony: There is a profound irony in the Jewish leaders, by strictly adhering to their current legal limitations imposed by Rome, inadvertently fulfilling the very prophecies they vehemently rejected. Their efforts to control the narrative and condemn Jesus only pushed events toward His destined "lifting up" on the cross, which Jesus Himself described as both an act of sacrifice and a path to glorification (Jn 12:23-24, 12:32).
• "Lifted Up" as a Double Meaning: In John's Gospel, the term "lifted up" (ὕψωθῆναι, hypsōthēnai), especially from Jn 12:32, carries a dual meaning: the physical act of being raised on a cross and the spiritual exultation or glorification of Christ as King and Savior. This verse in John 18:32 specifically grounds the "what kind of death" to the cross, while earlier references like 3:14 (Moses lifting the serpent) imply its redemptive purpose.

John 18 32 Commentary

John 18:32 acts as a crucial explanatory bridge within the Passion narrative. Following the Jewish leaders' declaration that they lacked the authority for capital punishment, John inserts this interpretive statement. Its purpose is multifaceted: it underscores the theme of divine sovereignty throughout Jesus' passion, demonstrating that even the machinations of His enemies serve to fulfill God's preordained plan. The verse highlights the specific manner of death—crucifixion—which was peculiar to Roman jurisdiction and aligns perfectly with Jesus' earlier, enigmatic "lifted up" sayings (e.g., John 3:14, 12:32-33). Had the Jews retained the power of execution, Jesus might have been stoned for blasphemy. By being compelled to deliver Him to Pilate, they unwittingly guaranteed the precise form of death Jesus had prophesied, validating His words and revealing His foreknowledge. This moment is not about fate but about God's purposeful plan unfolding precisely as revealed. It reveals that the divine agenda takes precedence over human desires or legal limitations.