John 18 5

John 18:5 kjv

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

John 18:5 nkjv

They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.

John 18:5 niv

"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

John 18:5 esv

They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

John 18:5 nlt

"Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. "I AM he," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.)

John 18 verses

John 18 5 Meaning

Jesus identified Himself to the arresting party, causing them to fall backward. His assertion of "I am he" signifies His divine authority and sovereign control over the situation, even as He is betrayed.

John 18 5 Context

This verse occurs during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is voluntarily surrendering Himself to the authorities. The arresting party, led by Judas Iscariot and including Roman soldiers and Temple guards, comes to seize Jesus. Jesus’ simple yet powerful declaration of “I am he” disorients and incapacitates them, demonstrating His divine authority even in His moment of perceived weakness. This event highlights Jesus' control over His own passion and death.

John 18 5 Word Analysis

• And (και, kai)
  • A conjunctive particle connecting phrases and clauses.
  • Here, it connects Jesus’ question to His subsequent declaration.
• Jesus therefore asked them, (εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, eîpen oun autois ho Iēsous)
  • Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous): The name of the Messiah.
  • therefore (οὖν, oun): A particle indicating a consequence or result. Jesus acts based on what has happened (their arrival).
  • said (εἶπεν, eîpen): Aorist indicative active verb, "spoke" or "said."
  • to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Dative pronoun, "to them." Refers to the arresting party.
• “Whom do you seek?” (Τίνα ζητεῖτε, Tíon zēteite)
  • Whom (Τίνα, Tíon): Accusative interrogative pronoun, asking "whom."
  • do you seek (ζητεῖτε, zēteite): Present indicative active verb, "you are seeking" or "you seek." The present tense implies an ongoing action of searching.
• They answered him, (Απεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ, Apekrithēsan autō)
  • They answered (Απεκρίθησαν, Apekrithēsan): Aorist indicative passive verb. "They responded."
  • him (αὐτῷ, autō): Dative pronoun, "to him."
• “Jesus of Nazareth.” (τὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον, ton Iēsoun ton Nazōraion)
  • Jesus of Nazareth (Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον, Iēsoun ton Nazōraion): Accusative noun and adjective phrase. Specifies the object of their search. The inclusion of "Nazarene" often carried a derogatory connotation, associating Him with an insignificant town and a perceived inferior origin.
• Jesus said to them, (Εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Eîpen autois ho Iēsous)
  • Repetition of Jesus asking a question, emphasizing His engagement and control.
• “I am he.” (Ἐγώ εἰμι, Egō eimi)
  • I (Ἐγώ, Egō): First-person singular pronoun, emphatic.
  • am (εἰμι, eimi): Present indicative active verb, "I am."
  • This simple statement, "I am," directly echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 (Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν, Egō eimi ho ōn - "I am the Being" or "I AM WHO I AM"). It asserts His absolute identity and divine authority.
• And (καί, kai)
  • Conjunction.
• when he had said these things to them, (καὶ ὅτε εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ταῦτα, kai hote eîpen autois tauta)
  • when (ὅτε, hote): Temporal conjunction.
  • he had said (εἶπεν, eîpen): Aorist indicative active verb.
  • these things (ταῦτα, tauta): Demonstrative pronoun, "these."
• they drew back (ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, apēlithon eis ta opisō)
  • they went (ἀπῆλθον, apēlithon): Aorist indicative active verb.
  • into back (εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, eis ta opisō): Prepositional phrase, "to the back" or "backward." They physically recoiled.
• and fell to the ground. (καὶ ἔπεσον χαμαί, kai epeson chamai)
  • and (καὶ, kai): Conjunction.
  • fell (ἔπεσον, epeson): Aorist indicative active verb, "fell."
  • to the ground (χαμαί, chamaí): Adverb, "on the ground" or "to the earth." This indicates a significant physical reaction, likely due to fear, awe, or a supernatural force emanating from Jesus.

Words Group Analysis:

The phrase "I am he" (Ἐγώ εἰμι, Egō eimi) is pivotal. It is a declaration of His divine identity and self-sufficiency, drawing a direct parallel to God's self-revelation to Moses. This utterance is not merely an identification but an assertion of power. Coupled with the ensuing physical reaction of the arresting party falling to the ground, it underscores Jesus' sovereign control even as He is captured.

The response of the arresting party "they drew back and fell to the ground" (ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ ἔπεσον χαμαί, apēlithon eis ta opisō kai epeson chamai) demonstrates the palpable spiritual authority Jesus wielded. They came with torches, lanterns, and weapons, expecting a typical apprehension. However, Jesus' divine presence and spoken word overwhelmed them, causing a visible, involuntary reaction.

John 18 5 Bonus Section

This incident, where Jesus’ statement causes His pursuers to fall backward, has been interpreted by some scholars as a manifestation of His divine power, possibly linked to a demonstration of divine glory or awe-inspiring presence. It prefigures His eventual resurrection and complete victory over death and the forces of darkness. The "I AM" declaration here strongly echoes the Septuagint rendering of God's name in Exodus 3:14, affirming Jesus’ full divinity.

John 18 5 Commentary

Jesus’ identity is not something He conceals when directly confronted by His captors. His simple utterance, “I am he,” delivered with divine authority, not only identifies Him but also incapacitates those who sought to arrest Him. This reveals that His suffering and death are voluntary, proceeding from His divine prerogative, not from an inability to defend Himself. The soldiers’ and guards’ involuntary falling signifies the overwhelming power of the divine person, even when presenting Himself for a destined suffering. It shows that even in the face of ultimate human opposition and perceived helplessness, Jesus remains sovereign and in control. His identity as the divine "I AM" compels a recognition, even if fearful and involuntary, from those who come against Him.