John 21 18

John 21:18 kjv

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

John 21:18 nkjv

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."

John 21:18 niv

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

John 21:18 esv

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."

John 21:18 nlt

"I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go."

John 21 verses

John 21 18 Meaning

Jesus prophesies Peter's future, particularly his death, indicating a reversal of his former youthful autonomy. While in his youth Peter could gird himself and go where he pleased, in old age, he would stretch out his hands, be dressed by another, and led to a place he did not wish to go. This prophecy foreshadows Peter's martyrdom, a death that would ultimately glorify God, contrasting with Peter's initial self-confidence and aversion to suffering. It reveals the path of ultimate discipleship, marked by self-surrender to divine will, even unto death.

John 21 18 Context

John 21 takes place after Jesus' resurrection, specifically on the Sea of Tiberias where seven disciples, including Peter, have returned to fishing. After a miraculous catch of fish and breakfast with Jesus, the resurrected Lord addresses Peter three times, asking, "Do you love me?" (Jn 21:15-17), thereby restoring Peter after his triple denial (Jn 18:15-27, Lk 22:54-62). Jesus then commissions Peter to "Feed my sheep." Immediately following this restoration and commissioning, Jesus delivers the solemn prophecy of verse 18 concerning the type of death Peter would undergo. The prophecy directly connects Peter's ultimate love for Jesus and his role as shepherd with the self-sacrifice inherent in such a calling. Historically, the context reflects the imminent danger for early Christians under Roman rule, where loyalty to Christ could lead to persecution and martyrdom, particularly for prominent figures like Peter.

John 21 18 Word analysis

• Amen, amen: (ἀμὴν ἀμήν, amēn amēn) - A doubled Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "truly" or "so be it." In John's Gospel, Jesus often prefaces solemn, authoritative pronouncements with "Amen, amen," underscoring the certainty and divine truthfulness of what is about to be said. It carries the weight of a divine oath.

• I say to you: A standard Johannine phrase highlighting Jesus's unique authority as the speaker of divine truth.

• when you were young: (ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος, hote ēs neōteros) - Refers to Peter's earlier life, characterized by impulsive actions and a degree of self-reliance (e.g., drawing his sword, declaring readiness to die, walking on water).

• you used to dress yourself: (ἐζώννυες σεαυτόν, ezōnnues seauton) - Literally "you girded yourself." Girding or belting was a practical act, especially for those wearing tunics, to gather garments for freedom of movement and preparation for activity (e.g., journey, work, or battle). Here, it metaphorically signifies Peter's self-determination, his ability to prepare himself and act autonomously.

• and go wherever you wanted: (περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες, periepateis hopou ētheles) - Emphasizes Peter's former freedom, mobility, and exercise of personal will. His choices were his own, guided by his desires.

• But when you are old: (ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς, hotan de gērasēs) - Marks a significant transition from youth. Old age typically brings vulnerability and dependence. In this context, it signals a time when Peter will no longer be master of his own destiny.

• you will stretch out your hands: (ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου, ekteneis tas cheiras sou) - This action is highly evocative. Historically, Christian tradition, notably by Tertullian, understood this as a direct reference to the posture of crucifixion – hands stretched out and nailed to a crossbar. It could also broadly signify a posture of surrender, helplessness, or prayer in the face of imminent judgment or death.

• and another will dress you: (ἄλλος σε ζώσει, allos se zōsei) - The shift in agent is crucial. "Another" (ἄλλος) takes away Peter's self-girding. This suggests being bound or prepared for execution by an external, coercive power.

• and carry you where you do not want to go: (οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις, oisei hopou ou théleis) - The culmination of the loss of autonomy. Peter will be forcibly led to a place or destiny—specifically, death by martyrdom—that he naturally would not choose. This highlights the human aversion to suffering and death, but also the ultimate surrender required of discipleship.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Amen, amen, I say to you": Jesus's declaration acts as an emphatic prophetic statement, emphasizing the absolute truth and certainty of what follows regarding Peter's future. It carries divine authority.
  • "when you were young, you used to dress yourself and go wherever you wanted": This describes Peter's youthful self-reliance and freedom. It evokes Peter's earlier character—his impulsiveness, confidence in his own strength, and determination to act on his own will.
  • "But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go": This phrase details a profound reversal and loss of self-determination. It directly foreshadows Peter's arrest, binding, and forced leading to martyrdom. The imagery strongly alludes to crucifixion as the specific form of death, where hands are stretched and one is prepared and moved by executioners against one's natural inclination. This highlights the ultimate surrender and the painful path Peter is destined to walk.

John 21 18 Bonus section

• Martyrdom as Glorification: Verse 19 explicitly states that this kind of death would "glorify God." This connects Peter's suffering and death directly to God's purpose and honor, implying that faithfulness unto death is a powerful witness to God's sovereignty and grace. It elevates martyrdom from a mere tragedy to a divine appointment for glory.
• Contrast with Peter's past: This prophecy dramatically contrasts with Peter's impetuous declaration in Jn 13:37 ("I will lay down my life for you"), which he failed to fulfill by denying Jesus. Now, Jesus promises that Peter will lay down his life, but not by his own strength or timing, but as a direct outcome of God's plan and in humble submission.
• The Shepherd's Ultimate Sacrifice: Coming immediately after Jesus commissioned Peter to "Feed my sheep," this prophecy emphasizes that the good shepherd not only feeds and protects the flock but is also willing to lay down his life for them (Jn 10:11). Peter's leadership would culminate in this ultimate act of self-giving love.
• Tradition of Crucifixion: Early Christian tradition (e.g., Eusebius, quoting Origen, and Acts of Peter) maintains that Peter was indeed crucified in Rome during the reign of Nero, and furthermore, that he requested to be crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. While "stretching out your hands" specifically indicates crucifixion, "where you do not want to go" finds a deeper, poignant meaning in the willingness to suffer even in an inverted, more agonizing way.

John 21 18 Commentary

John 21:18 is Jesus' solemn prophecy regarding Peter's ultimate destiny and the nature of his death, uttered in the deeply personal aftermath of Peter's restoration. It marks a poignant contrast between Peter's past self-will and his future, compelled submission to divine will. The language shifts from Peter's youthful autonomy—symbolized by his ability to dress himself and go as he pleased—to his old age vulnerability and the forced circumstances of his death. "Stretching out your hands" is widely understood as a specific reference to the cruciform posture, and "another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go" signifies Peter's coerced martyrdom, where he loses all control over his physical body and ultimate fate. This prophecy confirms that Peter's ultimate expression of love, in contrast to his earlier boasts and denials, would be an obedient surrender to death that would glorify God (as specified in the next verse, Jn 21:19). It underscores the demanding nature of true discipleship, which may involve suffering and death, mirroring Jesus' own path of self-sacrifice. For the Christian, it is a reminder that following Christ entails laying down personal desires and autonomy for God's purposes, even to the point of embracing trials and yielding to the unknown paths of divine leading.