John 8:59 kjv
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 8:59 nkjv
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 8:59 niv
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
John 8:59 esv
So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
John 8:59 nlt
At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
John 8 59 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:59 | Jesus said... they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. | Old Testament stoning laws, Leviticus 24:16; Deuteronomy 13:10. |
| John 10:31 | The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. | Repeated instance of rejection. |
| John 11:8 | His disciples said, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you; and are you going there again?" | Shows the ongoing threat. |
| John 5:18 | This was why the Jews were seeking to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. | Reason for Jewish opposition. |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. | Fulfillment of prophecy regarding silence in the face of accusation. |
| Acts 7:54, 59 | Now when they heard these things they were cut to their hearts, and they gnashed together their teeth at him. ... And as they were stoning Stephen, called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit." | Stephen's martyrdom echoing Jesus' experience. |
| 1 Peter 2:21-24 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued to entrust himself to him who judges justly. | Christian exhortation to follow Christ's example of suffering. |
| John 8:46 | Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? | Jesus' challenge to His accusers. |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Jesus' declaration that provoked the stoning. |
| Psalm 35:1-3 | Contend, O LORD, with those who contend against me; battle against those who battle against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand for my help. Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul, "I am your salvation." | David's cry to God for deliverance from enemies, similar in theme. |
| Matthew 27:39-44 | And those who passed by hurled insults at him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him." If he is the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him. | Mockery and rejection during the crucifixion. |
| Luke 4:28-29 | and all in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the city and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. | Jesus facing a similar attempt at stoning early in His ministry. |
| John 8:31-32 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." | The dialogue leading up to this event. |
| John 1:1, 14 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | The eternal identity of Jesus, the Word, being rejected. |
| John 5:37-38 | And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. | Jesus referencing the Father's witness. |
| John 6:60 | When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is hard; who can accept it?" | Disciples' difficulty accepting Jesus' teachings. |
| Acts 7:57 | Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. | Crowd reaction to Stephen's message. |
| Zechariah 12:10 | "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn." | Prophecy of mourning for the pierced one. |
John 8 verses
John 8 59 Meaning
The verse describes an action by the crowd Jesus was speaking to, indicating their response to His claims and actions. They picked up stones, indicating their intent to harm Jesus and possibly stone Him. This action was a violent rejection of His divine identity and teachings.
John 8 59 Context
This event in John 8:59 occurs immediately after Jesus declares His existence before Abraham ("Before Abraham was, I AM"). This assertion of pre-existence and divine identity, directly referencing the divine name "I AM" from Exodus 3:14, is interpreted by His listeners as blasphemy. Their reaction is one of immediate and violent rejection, driven by their understanding of the Law which prescribed stoning for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16). The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' divine claims and the escalating conflict with the Jewish religious authorities. The narrative tension is heightened as Jesus, knowing their intentions, withdraws from their physical reach, demonstrating His divine power over their immediate threat. This incident is a critical point showing the hardened hearts and determined opposition Jesus faced due to His claims about His divine nature and unity with the Father.
John 8 59 Word Analysis
- “When” - Denotes the temporal setting, marking the immediate consequence of Jesus’ preceding declaration.
- “Jesus” - The subject of the sentence, referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- “said” - This refers to Jesus’ previous statement, which incited the reaction. His words carried divine authority and truth that challenged their religious framework.
- “this” - A demonstrative pronoun referring specifically to the claim "Before Abraham was, I AM." This highlights the precise statement that provoked the outrage.
- “they” - Refers to the crowd present, specifically "the Jews" to whom Jesus had been speaking earlier in chapter 8. Their collective action signifies a shared rejection.
- “picked up” - The Greek word used is ērantan (ἠραντες) from airō (αἴρω), meaning to lift, take up. This is an action of intentional gathering and preparation for an act of violence.
- “stones” - The instruments for capital punishment by stoning according to Mosaic Law, especially for blasphemy or idolatry. The use of stones signifies a direct application of Old Testament judgment upon Jesus.
- “to throw” - The infinitive form ballein (βάλλειν) indicates the purpose of picking up the stones – to cast or hurl them at Jesus.
- “at” - Indicates the target of their action.
- “him” - Jesus, the object of their intended attack.
- “but” - A conjunction indicating a contrast or turning point.
- “Jesus” - The subject, who acted in response to their aggression.
- “hid himself” - The Greek verb enkrýpto (ἐγκρύπτω) means to conceal oneself, to hide. This suggests a supernatural or divinely enabled concealment, not simply seeking cover. He withdrew Himself from their sight.
- “and went out” - dielthōn (διελθὼν), aorist participle meaning passing through, going through. This signifies His departure from the immediate physical vicinity.
- “of the temple” - ek tou hierou (ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ), meaning out of the temple. The location of this confrontation adds to its significance, occurring in a sacred space during a period of religious discourse.
- “going through their midst” - While not explicitly stated in this verse, scholarly interpretations and the flow of the narrative often suggest He passed through their midst unnoticed or unhindered, underscoring His divine control and their inability to lay hands on Him before His appointed time. His departure was purposeful and in control.
John 8 59 Bonus Section
The "hiding himself" could be interpreted as Jesus withdrawing His divine presence from their physical perception, rendering Him invisible or unapproachable at that moment. This mirrors other instances where Jesus' immediate departure or transcendence of human grasp is noted. It highlights that the physical stones they picked up could not harm Him unless He permitted it, a truth later confirmed at the cross, where He willingly surrendered Himself. This event foreshadows the broader theme in John’s Gospel of humanity’s failure to apprehend or harm Jesus without His own consent and according to the divine plan. The verse starkly contrasts the zeal of the mob with the serene, unassailable power of Christ.
John 8 59 Commentary
Jesus’ declaration "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58) was a potent assertion of His divine pre-existence and unity with God, evoking the divine name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14). This statement, perceived as blasphemy by the religious authorities, ignited an immediate violent response. The Jews, understanding the Law, took up stones to execute Jesus as a blasphemer. Their action was a definitive rejection of His claims and a sign of their entrenched opposition. However, Jesus, in His divine sovereignty, was not overpowered. He "hid himself" and departed. This act demonstrates His control over His own life and the circumstances surrounding Him. He was not apprehended until His "hour" had come, signifying that their violent intentions were thwarted by His divine power and purpose until the divinely appointed time for His crucifixion. His exit from the temple, unmolested, underscored His authority even in the face of imminent death, revealing that their perceived victory in seizing stones was nullified by His superior divine agency. This moment vividly illustrates the theme of rejection of Jesus by those who should have recognized Him, and His unwavering commitment to His Father’s will, even unto death.