John 18 34

John 18:34 kjv

Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

John 18:34 nkjv

Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?"

John 18:34 niv

"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

John 18:34 esv

Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"

John 18:34 nlt

Jesus replied, "Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?"

John 18 verses

John 18 34 Meaning

Jesus's response to Pilate's direct question, "Are you the King of the Jews?", immediately challenges the basis of Pilate's inquiry. Rather than simply confirming or denying, Jesus asks if this accusation comes from Pilate's own conviction, knowledge, or if it is merely an echo of charges brought by others, specifically the Jewish leaders. This pivotal question shifts the focus from Jesus's claim to kingship to the source and understanding behind Pilate's own query, pressing him to evaluate the foundation of his interrogation.

John 18 34 Context

John 18 records Jesus's arrest, preliminary interrogations, and His appearance before Pilate, the Roman governor. The Jewish authorities, having condemned Jesus for blasphemy (claiming to be God's Son), could not execute Him under Roman law for this religious charge. They thus brought Jesus to Pilate with political accusations, primarily that Jesus claimed to be a king, thus inciting sedition against Caesar. Pilate's initial question in John 18:33, "Are you the King of the Jews?", is directly in response to these politically charged allegations. Jesus's counter-question in verse 34 skillfully deflects the Roman court's agenda by questioning Pilate's personal engagement and the actual source of the charge, implying the Jewish leaders are pushing a narrative for their own reasons rather than for Roman justice. The scene is set in the Roman praetorium, symbolizing the clash between earthly power and divine authority.

John 18 34 Word analysis

• Jesus answered him: (ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, apekrithe auto ho Iesous). Jesus is not merely a passive prisoner; He actively engages. His response demonstrates authority even in trial. He is not defensive but probing.

• Do you say this of your own accord?: (Ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ σὺ τοῦτο λέγεις, Aph’ heautou sy touto legeis).

  • Ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ (Aph' heautou): "From yourself," "by your own initiative," "on your own conviction." This phrase emphasizes the source or origin of the statement. Jesus probes Pilate's personal sincerity and belief regarding the accusation of kingship. Does Pilate have an independent reason to believe Jesus is a political king, or is he merely echoing external voices?
  • σὺ (sy): Emphatic "you." The personal pronoun highlights that the question is directed specifically at Pilate's personal stance.
  • τοῦτο λέγεις (touto legeis): "Are you saying this?" Refers back to the "King of the Jews" accusation. Jesus challenges Pilate to reflect on the basis of his inquiry. Is it an accusation rooted in genuine concern for Roman order, or simply an unexamined parroting of others' charges?

• or did others tell you about Me?: (ἢ ἄλλοι σοι περὶ ἐμοῦ εἶπον, ē alloi soi peri emou eipon).

  • ἢ (ē): "Or." Presents the alternative source for Pilate's question.
  • ἄλλοι (alloi): "Others," implying the Jewish leaders who delivered Jesus to Pilate (Jn 18:29-32). This direct challenge exposes the political maneuverings and biases behind the accusation.
  • περὶ ἐμοῦ (peri emou): "Concerning Me." This underscores that the charges relate to Jesus's identity, which His question forces Pilate to consider more deeply.
  • εἶπον (eipon): "They told." Points to an external, secondhand source of information, contrasting sharply with Pilate forming his own independent judgment or having divine revelation.

John 18 34 Bonus section

• Pilate's Dilemma: Pilate, as a Roman governor, was legally obliged to investigate charges of treason. However, Jesus's counter-question forces him to confront the actual, possibly malicious, intent of the accusers and the nature of the alleged "kingship." This moment marks the beginning of Pilate's struggle to find any actual political offense in Jesus, often leaning towards releasing Him.
• Juxtaposition of Kingships: The very next verses (Jn 18:36-37) immediately explain that Jesus's kingdom is "not of this world." Jesus's question in v. 34 prepares for this, distinguishing between a worldly understanding of kingship (as accused by the Jews) and His true, spiritual kingship, founded on bearing witness to the truth.
• The Johannine Theme of Truth: Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus is repeatedly presented as the Truth (Jn 1:17; 14:6; 17:17). This verse initiates the climactic confrontation between ultimate Truth embodied in Christ and the world's false or uninformed accusations. Jesus demands a pursuit of truth even from His judge.

John 18 34 Commentary

John 18:34 is a profound moment in Jesus's trial, highlighting Jesus's sovereignty and wisdom even while being unjustly accused. Instead of directly answering a question that framed Him as an earthly rebel, Jesus turns the table on Pilate, forcing the governor to confront the origin and validity of his own line of questioning. This serves multiple purposes: it immediately exposes the accusers as the true source of the "kingship" charge as a political weapon, clarifies that Jesus's concern is with truth and the heart rather than simple political maneuvering, and challenges Pilate's capacity for independent discernment. Jesus invites Pilate beyond the superficial, politically charged accusations to consider a deeper truth that Pilate is seemingly unwilling or unable to grasp at this stage. It is a critical example of Jesus's power to confront and expose the motives behind human inquiries.