John 2 18

John 2:18 kjv

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

John 2:18 nkjv

So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?"

John 2:18 niv

The Jews then responded to him, "What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

John 2:18 esv

So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"

John 2:18 nlt

But the Jewish leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."

John 2 verses

John 2 18 Meaning

John 2:18 depicts the direct confrontation between the Jewish authorities and Jesus immediately following His zealous cleansing of the temple. They challenge His authority, demanding that He validate His actions by performing a miraculous sign, effectively asking for proof of His divine mandate to undertake such a disruptive act within the sacred precincts. This marks an early stage of the mounting opposition against Jesus in the Gospel of John.

John 2 18 Context

John 2:18 occurs immediately after Jesus' first temple cleansing, as narrated by John. In a startling display of righteous indignation, Jesus drove out merchants and money-changers from the temple courts, overturning their tables and declaring that His Father's house was a "house of merchandise." This act was a direct challenge to the religious establishment and their commercial activities intertwined with temple worship. The Jewish authorities, likely a delegation from the Sanhedrin or leading Pharisees, respond not with questions about His doctrine or ethics, but about His authority to execute such a drastic, public demonstration. Their demand for a "sign" reflects a conventional Jewish expectation for prophets or the Messiah to validate their claims with supernatural authentication, particularly after performing an extraordinary deed that encroached upon established religious authority. This incident sets the tone for the continuous conflict between Jesus and "the Jews" (which in John's Gospel often signifies the unbelieving or hostile religious leadership in Jerusalem) that permeates the rest of the narrative.

John 2 18 Word analysis

• answered (ἀπεκρίθησαν, apekrithēsan): This verb not only signifies a response but can also convey a counter-challenge or an opening to a dispute, fitting the confrontational nature of the encounter. It highlights that the dialogue begins with their challenge, not His explanation.
• the Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, hoi Ioudaioi): In John's Gospel, this phrase frequently refers to the religious leaders in Jerusalem—Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests—who oppose Jesus and represent the official, established religious system rather than the entire Jewish populace. Their collective identity as the institutional authority is significant.
• unto him: Direct address, intensifying the confrontation.
• What sign (Τί σημεῖον, Ti sēmeion): Sēmeion means a "sign," but in a biblical context, it refers to a miraculous deed or wonder performed by divine power that serves as proof or authentication of a prophet's or Messiah's divine commission. It's not just "any" miracle, but one meant to validate authority. The authorities are demanding credentials.
• showest thou (δείκνυς, deiknys): To "show" or "exhibit." They demand a public, undeniable display of divine power.
• unto us: Specifically to them, the religious leaders, emphasizing their right as guardians of the faith to judge Jesus' claims.
• seeing that thou doest these things: The "things" refer to the recent temple cleansing (Jn 2:14-17). Their question implies, "By what authority do you dare to do this? Prove your right by showing a validating miracle." This phrasing makes it a direct challenge to the specific act Jesus just performed, rather than a general demand for a sign.

John 2 18 Bonus section

• This event in John's Gospel is presented at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry, unlike the Synoptic Gospels where a temple cleansing occurs towards the end. This strategic placement in John immediately establishes Jesus' identity as a radical agent of divine authority and reform, setting up the lifelong conflict with the established religious system from the outset.
• The demand for a sign points to the prevailing Jewish understanding that true prophets must be attested by God through wonders (Dt 13:1-5, Dt 18:20-22). While Jesus had performed wonders in Cana (Jn 2:1-11), these religious leaders demand a sign directly linked to His audacious action in the temple itself, proving His Messianic authority over the sacred space.
• The incident highlights the misplaced priorities of the religious leadership who were more concerned with maintaining their control and revenue streams from the temple than with genuine worship and God's glory. Their question isn't born of spiritual curiosity, but legalistic inquiry and protective defense of their vested interests.

John 2 18 Commentary

John 2:18 captures the pivot from Jesus' dramatic act of temple cleansing to the initial formal challenge from the religious elite. Their question for a "sign" is a conventional test for prophets, as they seek divine endorsement for an unprecedented and disruptive act. However, Jesus' subsequent cryptic answer regarding the temple of His body (Jn 2:19-21) reveals a fundamental disconnect: they seek external validation of His actions in their physical temple, while Jesus points to a deeper reality—His own body as the true dwelling of God, and His death and resurrection as the ultimate, albeit misunderstood, sign. This exchange underscores the contrasting spiritual perspectives and sets the stage for escalating tension, highlighting that mere signs, detached from spiritual understanding, often lead to rejection.