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

In John 18:5, the arresting party identifies Jesus as "Jesus of Nazareth," and Jesus responds with a direct and divinely charged affirmation, "I am He." This powerful self-declaration immediately follows Judas's active betrayal by leading the captors to Jesus. The verse highlights Jesus' full awareness and sovereign acceptance of His arrest, while also asserting His unique divine identity, which momentarily overwhelms those who come to seize Him. It sets the stage for His voluntary surrender to the Father's plan, despite the unfolding human treachery.

John 18 5 Context

John 18:5 takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following Jesus' High Priestly Prayer for His disciples and all believers (John 17). It is late at night, in the Kidron Valley, a place Jesus frequently visited. An armed contingent, consisting of Roman soldiers (a cohort or part of one) and Jewish temple guards, led by Judas Iscariot, has arrived with "lanterns and torches and weapons" (John 18:3) to arrest Jesus. This specific verse captures the direct confrontation between Jesus and those who have come for Him, underscoring Jesus' awareness and sovereign control even in His hour of apparent vulnerability. The event is a pivotal moment marking the beginning of His Passion.

John 18 5 Word analysis

• They answered Him: Signifies a direct engagement; Jesus initiates the exchange in John 18:4, compelling a response from the armed crowd.

• "Jesus of Nazareth": (Greek: Iēsoun ton Nazōraion)

  • "Jesus": The common Greek form of the Hebrew "Yeshua," meaning "YHWH saves." It is His human name.
  • "of Nazareth": This epithet identified His origin, distinguishing Him from others named Jesus. It was sometimes used pejoratively, as Nazareth was a despised Galilean town ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Jn 1:46). However, it accurately identified Him as the man they sought, fulfilling prophecy (Mt 2:23).

• Jesus said to them, "I am He.": (Greek: Egō eimi)

  • "I am He.": This is the crucial, pivotal statement. Egō eimi (literally "I am") is not merely a self-identification but a profound declaration of divine nature, echoing the Septuagint's translation of YHWH's self-revelation to Moses in Ex 3:14 ("I AM WHO I AM").
  • Throughout John's Gospel, Jesus uses Egō eimi seven absolute times (Jn 6:20, 8:24, 8:28, 8:58, 13:19, 18:5, 18:6), often implying His identity as YHWH. Here, in the context of His arrest, it is an astonishing display of power and divine sovereignty. Its impact is immediately seen in the next verse (John 18:6), where the armed guard falls back.
  • It communicates His self-existence, His absolute nature, and His claim to deity, directly to those intending to take Him captive.

• And Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them.

  • "And Judas": The betrayer's presence is explicitly noted at this critical juncture, highlighting the human element of treachery within the divine plan.
  • "who betrayed Him": (Greek: ho paradidous) The present participle indicates Judas's active role as "the one betraying" or "the one who hands over," not a past passive action. It underscores his ongoing involvement and direct culpability. This is not just a descriptor but a living reminder of his active treachery.
  • "was standing with them": (Greek: hestēkei met' autōn) The imperfect tense here indicates his continuous presence and full alignment with the arresting party. He is not merely present but actively taking his place among Jesus' enemies, finalizing his act of betrayal by guiding them and witnessing their direct encounter with Jesus.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "They answered Him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.'": This group identifies the object of their mission, a mortal man known by his earthly origin, setting up a dramatic contrast with Jesus' subsequent divine revelation. They sought a man; they encountered God.
  • "Jesus said to them, 'I am He.'": This profound declaration functions both as an affirmative answer to their query and, more significantly, as an assertion of His intrinsic deity and divine authority. It asserts not merely His name but His nature, underscoring His sovereignty over the situation.
  • "And Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them.": This final clause in the verse juxtaposes Jesus' divine self-declaration with the grim reality of human treachery. It emphasizes the direct involvement and complete identification of the betrayer with Jesus' adversaries at the precise moment of divine revelation. His active presence confirms the culmination of his betrayal.

John 18 5 Bonus section

The profound impact of "I am He" (Ἐγώ εἰμι) on the armed soldiers and temple guards in the garden underscores the idea that Jesus was not overpowered by force. Rather, His "capture" was a deliberate, sovereign act of His will. His words carry the power to incapacitate, showing that His path to suffering was chosen, not compelled. The juxtaposition of a vast, armed company being temporarily overcome by a mere two words from an apparently defenseless man is a powerful statement about spiritual authority triumphing over worldly might. This incident sets the tone for the rest of Jesus' passion, where even Pilate acknowledges that he would have no authority over Jesus unless it were given to him from above (John 19:11).

John 18 5 Commentary

John 18:5 is a profoundly charged moment revealing Jesus' sovereignty amidst human conspiracy. When asked, "Whom do you seek?", the reply "Jesus of Nazareth" is answered by Jesus' staggering "I am He." This Egō eimi is far more than a simple identification. It echoes the divine name of YHWH, marking Jesus' direct claim to absolute deity. This utterance is not merely verbal; it is a manifestation of divine power, causing the entire armed company to draw back and fall to the ground (John 18:6). Thus, Jesus' arrest is not a capture, but a submission initiated and controlled by Him. The presence of Judas, identified pointedly as "the one who betrayed Him" and "standing with them," highlights the tragic human dimension of treachery unfolding against the backdrop of Jesus' omnipotence and self-sacrifice. It signifies the fulfilling of prophecy through Jesus' full knowledge and willing acceptance of His pre-ordained path to the cross.