The Meaning of John 18:21 Explained

John 18:21

KJV: Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

YLT: why me dost thou question? question those having heard what I spake to them; lo, these have known what I said.'

Darby: Why demandest thou of me? Demand of those who have heard, what I have spoken to them; behold, they know what I have said.

ASV: Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard me , what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Why  askest thou  me?  ask  them which heard me,  what  I have said  unto them:  behold,  they  know  what  I  said. 

What does John 18:21 Mean?

Context Summary

John 18:19-24 - Jesus Before His Persecutors
Annas was the father-in-law of the high priest. For many years he had worn the high priest's robes, and though now he had nominally retired from his office, he still kept his hands on the reins. He was the most powerful factor in the high-priestly circles. He was awaiting the return of the expedition in the hall of his palace, and at once began a preliminary inquiry, in the hope of extracting something on which to base his case against our Lord. Jesus penetrated his crafty purpose, and referred Annas to the army of spies who had been always on his track. There was no anger in Jesus' heart. He desired simply to show how absolutely pure and true His words had been; that though He was exposed to searching scrutiny, yet this secret measure had to be resorted to by Annas to incriminate Him. Jesus did not resist evil, but endeavored to bring His accusers and judges calmly to face their own consciences. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 18

1  Judas betrays Jesus
6  The officers fall to the ground
10  Peter cuts off Malchus' ear
12  Jesus is taken, and led unto Annas and Caiaphas
15  Peter's denial
19  Jesus examined before Caiaphas
25  Peter's second and third denial
28  Jesus arraigned before Pilate
36  His kingdom
40  The Jews prefer Barabbas

Greek Commentary for John 18:21

Ask them that have heard me [ερωτησον τους ακηκοοτας]
First aorist (tense of urgent and instant action) active imperative of ερωταω — erōtaō and the articular perfect active participle accusative masculine plural of ακουω — akouō to hear. There were abundant witnesses to be had. Multitudes had heard Jesus in the great debate in the temple on Tuesday of this very week when the Sanhedrin were routed to the joy of the common people who heard Jesus gladly (Mark 12:37). They still know. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 18:21

John 18:22 When he had said this [ταυτα αυτου ειποντος]
Genitive absolute of second aorist active participle of ειπον — eipon to say. Standing by Perfect active (intransitive) participle of παριστημι — paristēmi (transitive), to place beside. One of the temple police who felt his importance as protector of Annas. Struck Jesus with his hand Late word ραπισμα — rapisma is from ραπιζω — rapizō to smite with a rod or with the palm of the hand (Matthew 26:67). It occurs only three times in the N.T. (Mark 14:65; John 18:22; John 19:3), in each of which it is uncertain whether the blow is with a rod or with the palm of the hand (probably this, a most insulting act). The papyri throw no real light on it. “He gave Jesus a slap in the face.” Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:20. So As Jesus had done in John 18:21, a dignified protest in fact by Jesus. [source]

What do the individual words in John 18:21 mean?

Why Me do you question Question those having heard what I spoke to them behold they know what said I
τί με ἐρωτᾷς ἐρώτησον τοὺς ἀκηκοότας τί ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς ἴδε οὗτοι οἴδασιν εἶπον ἐγώ

τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐρωτᾷς  do  you  question 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐρωτάω  
Sense: to question.
ἐρώτησον  Question 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐρωτάω  
Sense: to question.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀκηκοότας  having  heard 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ἐλάλησα  I  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἴδε  behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
οἴδασιν  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
εἶπον  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.

What are the major concepts related to John 18:21?

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