John 20 9

John 20:9 kjv

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

John 20:9 nkjv

For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

John 20:9 niv

(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

John 20:9 esv

for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

John 20:9 nlt

for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.

John 20 verses

John 20 9 Meaning

John 20:9 explains that despite witnessing the empty tomb and grave clothes, Peter and the other disciple did not yet fully grasp the divine necessity of Christ's resurrection as foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures. Their lack of understanding highlights their pre-resurrection spiritual dullness concerning this central tenet of the Messiah's work, showing that faith in the resurrection often required subsequent enlightenment and the illumination of the Scriptures.

John 20 9 Context

John 20:9 follows Peter and the "other disciple" (John) entering the empty tomb after Mary Magdalene's report. They find the linen cloths lying empty and the face cloth rolled up by itself. This physical evidence of the resurrection's occurrence confronts them, yet the verse reveals that even then, the profound theological meaning and necessity of this event had not fully dawned on them from the prophetic Scriptures. This underscores their human limitation in fully grasping divine revelation until aided by post-resurrection appearances and the Holy Spirit's enlightenment. It contrasts the immediate, palpable discovery with their yet-to-be-opened spiritual understanding, setting the stage for Jesus' later appearances to them to further illuminate these truths.

John 20 9 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ, gar): A conjunction introducing an explanation or reason. It explains why the disciples reacted as they did (wonder, rather than immediate belief in resurrection) when seeing the empty tomb. It links their observation with their spiritual state.

• they (οὐδέπω, oudepō, refers to Peter and the "other disciple" - John): Indicates a state that existed until now, or "not yet." It emphasizes the specific moment: up to this point at the empty tomb, they lacked comprehension. This lack of understanding applies even to disciples close to Jesus.

• did not understand/know (ᾔδεισαν, ēdeisan, from oida): This verb means to know by experience, perception, or intuitive understanding, rather than mere intellectual acquaintance (ginōskō). It signifies a deeper, internal grasp. Their failure was not just in not having memorized certain verses, but in not having truly apprehended their meaning and prophetic significance concerning the Messiah.

• the Scripture (τὴν γραφὴν, tēn graphēn): Singular, referring to the entire body of sacred writings that constitute the Old Testament. It implies that the concept of the Messiah's resurrection was not isolated in one passage but woven throughout the prophecies in various forms (types, explicit predictions).

• that (ὅτι, hoti): Introduces the content or substance of what the Scripture declared, clarifying what they had not understood about it.

• he must rise (δεῖ αὐτὸν ἀναστῆναι, dei auton anastēnai):

  • must (δεῖ, dei): A crucial term conveying divine necessity, obligation, or absolute imperative. It is not merely a possibility or a desirable outcome, but a part of God's unalterable, predetermined plan for salvation and the Messiah's work. This 'must' originates in God's will and purpose.
  • him (αὐτὸν, auton): Refers directly to Jesus, the Christ.
  • to rise (ἀναστῆναι, anastēnai, from anistēmi): To stand up, to rise, especially from the dead. This clearly points to bodily resurrection.

• from the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν, ek nekrōn): A common New Testament phrase describing the state from which one is raised – literally, "out from the dead ones." It emphasizes that the resurrection was from the realm of the deceased, signifying a triumph over death itself.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For as yet they did not understand": This phrase highlights the disciples' initial spiritual blindness. Despite having been with Jesus, hearing His predictions (Matt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19), and now witnessing physical evidence, the core meaning was obscured from them, emphasizing that understanding God's plan requires divine revelation.
  • "the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead": This clause asserts that Christ's resurrection was not an afterthought or a random event but a central, divinely ordained aspect of His mission, precisely foretold in the Old Testament. The phrase "must rise" encapsulates God's eternal purpose, demonstrating that Jesus' resurrection was predestined and absolutely essential for the fulfillment of prophecy and the unfolding of redemption.

John 20 9 Bonus section

This verse implies the continuous and unchanging nature of God's plan. The "must" (δεῖ) in John 20:9 resonates throughout the Gospels and Acts (e.g., Lk 24:7, 24:26, 24:44; Acts 1:16, 3:21), consistently emphasizing that Christ's sufferings and resurrection were indispensable, predetermined components of the Messianic task. This theological "must" secures the certainty of God's redemptive work. The disciples' journey from initial incomprehension to full belief (seen later in Acts, where they boldly proclaim the resurrection) serves as a paradigm for faith development, often requiring physical evidence, divine teaching, and spiritual enlightenment. Their transformation from perplexity to profound understanding authenticates their later apostolic witness to the world.

John 20 9 Commentary

John 20:9 is a pivotal statement in the resurrection narrative, explaining the initial confusion and lack of understanding among Jesus' closest disciples even after witnessing compelling physical evidence of His resurrection. Their failure to grasp "the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead" underscores several key theological truths. First, it highlights that without divine revelation or spiritual illumination, human minds, even those intimately acquainted with Jesus, struggled to comprehend God's ultimate plan, especially concerning the necessity of suffering and resurrection for the Messiah. The Greek word oida implies an experiential or deep understanding that they lacked at this critical moment. Second, the use of δεῖ (must) signifies that the resurrection was not merely an event, but a divinely ordained necessity, pre-planned and foretold by God in His prophetic word. This emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the intentionality of His salvific work. The empty tomb was the factual proof, but the meaning and its fulfillment of ancient prophecies would only be clear after Christ Himself expounded the Scriptures to them, opening their minds (Lk 24:45). This verse implicitly underscores the reliability of their post-resurrection testimony; they believed not because they expected or fantasized about it, but because of undeniable evidence and subsequent divine illumination.