John 18:7 kjv
Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
John 18:7 nkjv
Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
John 18:7 niv
Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they said.
John 18:7 esv
So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
John 18:7 nlt
Once more he asked them, "Who are you looking for?" And again they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene."
John 18 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 18:4 | Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen, went out and asked them, "Who | Fulfills Jesus' knowing actions |
| John 18:5 | "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. | Affirmation of identity |
| John 18:6 | At this, they drew back and fell to the ground. | Jesus' divine authority and power |
| Luke 22:52 | Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the captains of the temple guard and | Same event, different perspective |
| Matthew 26:50 | Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." | Jesus' acceptance of His fate |
| Acts 1:25 | that Judas… might take the place in this ministry and apostleship that the | Judas' betrayal |
| Psalm 41:9 | Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has | Old Testament prophecy of betrayal |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led | Fulfillment of suffering servant |
| Jeremiah 11:19-20 | But I was like a docile lamb led to slaughter; I did not realize they had | Prophecy of suffering and betrayal |
| John 10:17-18 | "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up | Jesus' voluntary sacrifice |
| John 13:21 | After saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, | Jesus’ foreknowledge of betrayal |
| John 18:1 | When Jesus had said these things, he went away with his disciples across the | Setting the scene for the arrest |
| John 18:8 | Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let | Reiteration of Jesus' willingness |
| John 18:9 | This happened so that the words he had said, "I have lost none of all those | Fulfillment of Jesus' protective prayer |
| Matthew 16:21 | From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must suffer | Jesus' announcement of His suffering |
| Mark 14:43 | Suddenly, while he was still speaking, Judas came up. He was one of the | Judas' arrival with the mob |
| 1 Peter 2:23 | When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he | Jesus' silent suffering |
| Philippians 2:8 | and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming | Jesus' humility and obedience |
| John 18:20 | "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in | Jesus' consistent ministry |
| John 19:11 | Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Do you not know that I have | Jesus’ obedience to authority |
John 18 verses
John 18 7 Meaning
Jesus, knowing what was about to happen, asked a clarifying question to confirm the identity of those seeking Him. The question revealed His foreknowledge and peaceful demeanor even when facing arrest.
John 18 7 Context
This verse occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following Jesus' arrest. A mob, led by Judas Iscariot, has arrived to seize Jesus. Jesus, aware of their intentions, steps forward to identify Himself, demonstrating His control over the situation despite being physically apprehended. The narrative highlights Jesus’ deliberate cooperation with His arrest, fulfilling His own pronouncements and the prophecies concerning His passion.
John 18 7 Word analysis
Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsoûs): The proper name of the Son of God, the Messiah.
knowing (εἰδὼς - eidōs): Present participle of "oida," meaning to know, perceive, understand; it implies a deep, comprehensive knowledge, not merely factual information. Here, it emphasizes Jesus' foreknowledge of all that was about to transpire.
all (πάντα - panta): All things; referring to the entirety of His coming arrest, suffering, and crucifixion.
that (ὅτι - hoti): Causal conjunction, introducing the reason or fact of His actions.
was about to happen (ἔμελλεν - emellen): Imperfect tense of "mello," indicating something that was imminent or about to occur.
went forth (προῆλθεν - proêlthen): Second aorist active indicative of "proerchomai," meaning to go forward, come forward, step out. It signifies Jesus actively stepping out to meet the arresting party.
and said (καὶ εἶπεν - kai eîpen): Connective "kai" (and) and aorist of "lego" (to say), indicating a statement was made.
unto them (αὐτοῖς - autoîs): Dative plural pronoun, referring to the multitude that came to arrest Him.
Whom (Τίνα - Tina): Interrogative pronoun, seeking identification.
seek ye (ζητεῖτε - zēteîte): Present middle indicative of "zēteō," meaning to seek, search for, desire. The present tense implies an ongoing action of searching for Him.
Group Analysis: Jesus’ intentional stepping forward and questioning ("Whom seek ye?") frames the moment not as a passive capture, but as a divinely orchestrated surrender. His prior knowledge ("knowing all that was about to happen") underscores His agency in the process.
John 18 7 Bonus section
Jesus’ use of "Whom seek ye?" is not a question of ignorance but a statement of divine sovereignty. It serves to draw attention to Himself, differentiating His arrest from that of an ordinary criminal. The phrase also subtly highlights the ignorance of the arresting party, who, despite having Judas' identification, still needed confirmation. The way the arresting party reacted by falling to the ground in verse 8 (not included here but in immediate sequence) further emphasizes the inherent power and divinity of Jesus, even when willingly submitting to arrest. This moment is a powerful testament to His identity as the Messiah who laid down His life willingly.
John 18 7 Commentary
This verse reveals Jesus' unwavering calm and control amidst His arrest. He proactively identified Himself, not out of fear, but to ensure His disciples were protected and the Father's will was accomplished. His action preempts any potential confusion or violence directed towards His followers. It demonstrates that His suffering was voluntary, a conscious choice to fulfill His redemptive mission. This is not an act of weakness, but of supreme authority and love.