The Meaning of John 21:21 Explained

John 21:21

KJV: Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

YLT: Peter having seen this one, saith to Jesus, 'Lord, and what of this one?'

Darby: Peter, seeing him, says to Jesus, Lord, and what of this man?

ASV: Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Peter  seeing  him  saith  to Jesus,  Lord,  and  what  [shall] this man  [do]? 

What does John 21:21 Mean?

Context Summary

John 21:20-25 - The Testimony Of A Beloved Follower
Having cautioned Peter, our Lord seems to have moved away, bidding Peter follow-a mandate intended to convey a deeper meaning. John followed some steps in the rear. Hearing footsteps, Peter turned and was seized with curiosity to see how far the future experiences of John and himself would agree. At once, without gratifying his curiosity, our Lord explained that the life-plan of His servants is determined by His will-If I will. It is equally certain that His arrangements for us are carefully adjusted to our nature, our special characteristics, and the service which we are best able to render. Peter was to be the Apostle of the tried and suffering. John was to behold and declare the apocalyptic vision of the Living Church. The one, contrary to his native disposition, wrote the Epistle of patient waiting; the other pictured the triumphant advent of the Son of God.
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Chapter Summary: John 21

1  Jesus appearing again to his disciples is known of them by the great catch of fish
12  He dines with them;
15  earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep;
18  foretells him of his death;
22  rebukes his curiosity
24  The conclusion

Greek Commentary for John 21:21

And what shall this man do? [ουτος δε τι]
Literally, “But this one … what?” The abrupt ellipsis is intelligible. [source]
And what shall this man do [οὗτος δὲ τί ;)?]
Literally, and this one what? [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 21:21

Acts 12:18 No small stir [ταραχος ουκ ολιγος]
Litotes Furneaux suggests that Manaen, the king‘s foster-brother and a Christian (Acts 13:1), was the “angel” who rescued Peter from the prison. That is not the way that Peter looked at it. What was become of Peter (τι αρα ο Πετρος εγενετο — tōi ara ho Petros egeneto). An indirect question with the aorist indicative retained. Αρα — Ara adds a syllogism (therefore) to the problem as in Luke 1:66. The use of the neuter τι — tōi (as in Acts 13:25) is different from τις — tis though nominative like Πετρος — Petros literally, “what then Peter had become,” “what had happened to Peter” (in one idiom). See the same idiom in John 21:21 (ουτος δε τι — houtos de tōi). But this one what (verb γενησεται — genēsetai not used). [source]
Acts 12:18 What was become of Peter [τι αρα ο Πετρος εγενετο]
An indirect question with the aorist indicative retained. Αρα — Ara adds a syllogism (therefore) to the problem as in Luke 1:66. The use of the neuter τι — tōi (as in Acts 13:25) is different from τις — tis though nominative like Πετρος — Petros literally, “what then Peter had become,” “what had happened to Peter” (in one idiom). See the same idiom in John 21:21 (ουτος δε τι — houtos de tōi). [source]

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

Him therefore having seen - Peter says - to Jesus Lord this man and what about
τοῦτον οὖν ἰδὼν Πέτρος λέγει τῷ Ἰησοῦ Κύριε οὗτος δὲ τί

ἰδὼν  having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
λέγει  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦ  to  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
οὗτος  this  man 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τί  what  about 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.

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

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