They answeredἀπεκρίθησανhim,αὐτῷ“JesusἸησοῦνthe Nazarene.”τὸν ΝαζωραῖονHe saysλέγειto them,αὐτοῖς“IἘγώam he.”εἰμιAndδὲJudas,Ἰούδαςwhoὁwas handingπαραδιδοὺςhimαὐτὸνover,παραδιδοὺςwas standingεἱστήκειwithμετ’themαὐτῶνtoo.καὶ
John 18:5
Study it in the app“They answered him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He says to them, “I am he.” And Judas, who was handing him over, was standing with them too.”
With the Greek beneath
John 18:5, word by word
- They answeredἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsan
answer
To say something back to the one who spoke or asked.
Where else “apekrithēsan” appears- “JesusἸησοῦνIēsoun
Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
Where else “Iēsoun” appears- the NazareneΝαζωραῖονNazōraion
Nazarene
Nazarene: from Nazareth. That is what people called Jesus and, later, his followers.
Where else “Nazōraion” appears- He saysλέγειlegei
say
To express something in words to others.
Where else “legei” appears- am heεἰμιeimi
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “eimi” appears- JudasἸούδαςIoudas
Judas
Judas or Judah, depending on the person: Judah the son of Jacob and his tribe, Judas Iscariot, Judas the brother of Jesus, and others with this name.
Where else “Ioudas” appears- was handingπαραδιδοὺςparadidous
betray
To give someone up to enemies, betray them.
Where else “paradidous” appears- was standingεἱστήκειheistēkei
stand
To stay upright on one's feet, or hold out without falling.
Where else “heistēkei” appears
Translation note
“I am” (egō eimi) answers here “It is I, the one you are looking for.” It can also be understood as an echo of the name of God (Exodus 3:14; compare 8:58), and as the reason why they fall to the ground in 18:6.
Parallel passages
Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.
The arrest of Jesus
Matthew 26:47-56Mark 14:43-52Luke 22:47-53
See them side by side
John 18:2-12
2Now Judas, who was handing him over, also knew the place, because Jesus had often gathered there with his disciples. 3So Judas, having taken the cohort and officers from the high priests and from the Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4So Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went out and says to them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5They answered him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He says to them, “I am he.” And Judas, who was handing him over, was standing with them too. 6So when he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7So he asked them again, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9This was so that the word might be fulfilled that he had spoken, “Of those whom you have given me, I have not lost a single one.” 10So Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath! The cup that the Father has given me, shall I not drink it?” 12So the cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.
47And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and elders of the people. 48Now the one who was handing him over had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss, he is the one; seize him.” 49And at once coming up to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. 50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do that for which you have come.” Then they came up and laid their hands on Jesus and seized him. 51And look, one of those with Jesus, stretching out his hand, drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus says to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will put at my side right now more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
43And at once, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrives, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the scribes and the elders. 44Now the one who was handing him over had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45And when he came, at once going up to him, he says, “Rabbi,” and kissed him. 46And they laid their hands on him and seized him. 47But one of those standing by, drawing his sword, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48And Jesus responded and said to them, “As against a robber have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me? 49Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me; but this has happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50And leaving him, they all fled. 51And a certain young man was following him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body; and they seize him; 52but he left the linen cloth and fled naked.
47While he was still speaking, look, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was going ahead of them, and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, with a kiss are you handing over the Son of Man?” 49And when those around him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered and said, “Leave off; enough of this!” And touching the ear, he healed him. 52And Jesus said to those who had come against him, high priests and captains of the temple guard and elders, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53Day after day, while I was with you in the temple, you did not stretch out your hands against me; but this is your hour, and the authority of darkness.”
The context
4So Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went out and says to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
5 · This verse (above)
6So when he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
To study John 18 in a group
1. What it says
When they come to arrest him in the garden, what does Jesus ask them, what does Peter do, and what does Jesus say to him? (vv. 3-11)
2. What it means
Pilate asks if Jesus is a king, and he answers, “My kingdom is not of this world” (vv. 33-37). What does he say he came to do?
3. How I live it
Peter denied Jesus three times by the fire (vv. 15-27). When is it hard for you to say openly who you are and what you believe?