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John 1:51

“And he says to him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man.””

John 1:51 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

51

Allusion · Genesis 28:12

Go to Genesis 28:12

Both texts speak of the angels of God “going up and coming down,” in that order. In Genesis they go up and down the ladder; in John, “on the Son of Man.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • ἀγγέλουςangelousG32מַלְאֲכֵיmalajeH4397“messenger, angel”
  • ἀναβαίνονταςanabainontasG305עֹלִיםolimH5927“go up”
  • καταβαίνονταςkatabainontasG2597יֹרְדִיםyordimH3381“go down, descend”

John 1:51, word by word

he saysλέγειlegei

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “legei” appears
“TrulyἈμὴνAmēn

truly

"I assure you": Jesus says it to affirm something.

Where else “Amēn” appears
you will seeὄψεσθεopsesthe

see

To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.

Where else “opsesthe” appears
heavenοὐρανὸνouranon

heaven

God's dwelling, above all that is created.

Where else “ouranon” appears
openedἀνεῳγόταaneōigota

open

Open.

Where else “aneōigota” appears
the angelsἀγγέλουςangelous

angel

A messenger from heaven who serves God.

Where else “angelous” appears
of Godθεοῦtheou

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theou” appears
going upἀναβαίνονταςanabainontas

go up

To go upward: up a mountain, to Jerusalem or to heaven.

Where else “anabainontas” appears
coming downκαταβαίνονταςkatabainontas

go down, come down

Go down, come down, descend.

Where else “katabainontas” appears
the Sonυἱὸνhuion

Son

Jesus, the Son of God.

Where else “huion” appears
of Manἀνθρώπουanthrōpou

Son of Man

"The Son of Man": what Jesus calls himself.

Where else “anthrōpou” appears

Translation note

It recalls the ladder Jacob saw (Genesis 28:12).

The context

50Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

51 · This verse (above)

Read all of John 1

To study John 1 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does the beginning of this chapter say about the Word: where it was, what it was, and what came to be through it? (vv. 1-14)

  2. 2. What it means

    John says those who received the Word were given authority to become children of God. What does “receiving him” mean in this chapter? (vv. 11-13)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus asked the first disciples, “What are you looking for?” and invited them, “Come and you will see” (vv. 38-39). What are you looking for today?

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