John 18:6 kjv
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
John 18:6 nkjv
Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:6 niv
When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:6 esv
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:6 nlt
As Jesus said "I AM he," they all drew back and fell to the ground!
John 18 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:58 | "Before Abraham was, I AM." | Jesus claims divine identity. |
| Exodus 3:14 | "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.'" | God's self-revealing name. |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I AM he." | Prophetic affirmation of "I AM". |
| John 10:30 | "I and the Father are one." | Unity with the Father. |
| John 14:9 | "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." | Jesus reveals the Father. |
| Matthew 17:6 | Peter, James, and John fell on their faces, terrified. | Awe at divine manifestation. |
| Luke 5:8 | Simon Peter fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord..." | Peter's recognition of Christ's holiness. |
| Psalm 76:7 | "It is you alone whom we fear. Who can stand in your presence when your anger is unleashed?" | Fear in God's presence. |
| Psalm 139:7 | "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" | Omnipresence of God. |
| 1 Samuel 6:20 | "Who is there that can stand before this holy LORD God?" | Awe and fear of God's holiness. |
| Acts 9:4 | Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" | Saul's encounter with Christ. |
| Revelation 1:17 | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though I were dead. | John's reaction to Christ's glory. |
| Revelation 1:8 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega," | Christ's eternal nature. |
| Mark 14:61-62 | The high priest questioned him again, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am..." | Jesus' affirmation before the council. |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." | The deity of Christ. |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." | The Incarnation. |
| John 18:4-5 | Jesus asked, "Whom are you looking for?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I AM he," Jesus said. ... At his words they staggered back and fell to the ground. | The immediate context of Jesus' arrest. |
| Hebrews 1:3 | "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being..." | Christ's full divine nature. |
| Philippians 2:6 | "who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage." | Christ's equality with God. |
| Colossians 2:9 | "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." | The divine nature in Christ. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 | "...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." | Christ as divine power. |
John 18 verses
John 18 6 Meaning
Jesus, understanding His full mission and the authority given to Him, declared His identity as "I Am" (ego eimi), which is the divine name of God. This pronouncement caused His adversaries to fall backward to the ground.
John 18 6 Context
This verse occurs during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. A large crowd, including Roman soldiers and temple guards led by Judas, arrived with weapons. Jesus calmly identifies Himself as the one they seek, stating, "I AM." This statement, using the divine name of God, causes the entire group to fall backward to the ground. It demonstrates Jesus' inherent authority and power, even in His hour of capture. This event highlights the divine nature of Jesus and the immense spiritual power He possesses, which is beyond physical coercion.
John 18 6 Word Analysis
- He (ἐκεῖνοι - ekeinoi): Demonstrative pronoun, meaning "those" or "they." Refers to the large group that came to arrest Jesus.
- therefore (οὖν - oun): Conjunction, indicating a consequence or result. It links the cause (Jesus' statement) to the effect (falling backward).
- again (πάλιν - palin): Adverb, meaning "again" or "back." It implies they were knocked back or stumbled.
- to (πρὸς - pros): Preposition, indicating direction, "toward" or "to."
- the (τὰ - ta): Definite article.
- ground (τὴν γῆν - tēn gēn): Noun, meaning "the earth" or "the ground."
- fell (ἔπεσαν - epesan): Verb, aorist tense of πίπτω (piptō), meaning "to fall." They fell prostrate.
Words-group analysis:
- He again fell to the ground (πάλιν ἔπεσον εἰς τὴν γῆν - palin epeson eis tēn gēn): This phrase describes the physical reaction of the arresting party. The inclusion of "again" (πάλιν) can imply a repeated or overwhelming falling, or perhaps that the initial group also staggered, but this one emphasizes a more complete collapse. The fall is to the earth, signifying being struck down by an invisible force.
John 18 6 Bonus Section
The use of "I AM" by Jesus here is a deliberate theological statement, not an accidental utterance. In Jewish thought, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) represented the ineffable name of God. To pronounce it was considered blasphemy by many. Jesus, by invoking this name, claimed divine equality with the Father, which was a primary charge leading to His crucifixion (as seen in John 10:33). The fact that the mob stumbled back suggests a recognition, even in their opposition, of the divine power confronting them. This instance parallels other encounters where divine presence caused people to fall down in awe or fear, such as with Saul on the road to Damascus or John before the risen Christ. The arresting party, armed and determined, found their physical preparations utterly ineffective against the spiritual authority of Jesus.
John 18 6 Commentary
Jesus' declaration "I AM" (ego eimi) is the crux of this verse and its preceding actions. This Greek phrase directly corresponds to the divine name Yahweh revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 ("I AM WHO I AM"). By using this phrase, Jesus is not merely identifying Himself but is asserting His divine nature and authority as God. The immediate physical reaction of the armed mob—falling backward—is a visible manifestation of His inherent power and glory, overwhelming them in their hostile intent. This power is not a product of physical strength but of His divine presence. The event underscores that Jesus was not a victim of circumstance but was in control of the events, willingly submitting to His mission. His enemies were rendered powerless by His mere spoken word, demonstrating the authority over life and death that He possesses. It also serves as a preview of His ultimate victory over death and hell.