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Saturday, October 12th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

John 18:6

At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Prisoners;   Prophecy;   Traitor;   Thompson Chain Reference - Overpowering Presence;   Presence, Divine;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Malchus;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   Judas;   Messiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Holy, Holiness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   John, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nazarene;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arrest ;   Attributes of Christ;   First and Last ;   Gethsemane ;   Influence;   Logos;   Mount of Olives ;   Omnipotence;   Perfection (of Jesus);   Scourge, Scourging;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Officer;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Mary;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus looked at the traitor Judas and said, "I AM he." They all drew back and fell down at the power of his words.
Legacy Standard Bible
So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Bible in Basic English
And when he said to them, I am he, they went back, falling to the earth.
Darby Translation
When therefore he said to them, I am [he], they went away backward and fell to the ground.
New King James Version
Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Christian Standard Bible®
When He told them, "I am He," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
World English Bible
When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
As soon as he said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Weymouth's New Testament
As soon then as He said to them, "I am he," they went backwards and fell to the ground.
King James Version (1611)
Assoone then as he had said vnto them, I am he, they went backeward, and fell to the ground.
Literal Translation
Then when He said to them, I AM, they departed into the rear and fell to the ground.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Iesus sayde vnto the: I am he, they wete bacwardes, and fell to the grounde.
Mace New Testament (1729)
upon Jesus his saying to them, I am he, they fell backward to the ground.
Amplified Bible
When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
American Standard Version
When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Revised Standard Version
When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But assone as he had sayd vnto them I am he they went backe wardes and fell to the grounde.
Update Bible Version
When therefore he said to them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Webster's Bible Translation
As soon then as he had said to them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Young's Literal Translation
when, therefore, he said to them -- `I am [he],' they went away backward, and fell to the ground.
New Century Version
When Jesus said, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground.
New English Translation
So when Jesus said to them, "I am he," they retreated and fell to the ground.
Complete Jewish Bible
When he said, "I AM," they went backward from him and fell to the ground.
English Standard Version
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Assoone then as hee had saide vnto them, I am hee, they went away backewardes, and fell to the grounde.
George Lamsa Translation
When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.
Hebrew Names Version
When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.
International Standard Version
When Jesushe
">[fn] told them, "I am he," they backed away and fell to the ground.
Etheridge Translation
And when Jeshu had said to them, I am, they went backward and fell upon the ground.
Murdock Translation
And when Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell upon the ground.
New Living Translation
As Jesus said " I am he," they all drew back and fell to the ground!
New Life Bible
When He said to them, "I am Jesus," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
English Revised Version
When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Berean Standard Bible
When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New Revised Standard
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When, therefore, he said unto them, I, am he, they went backwards, and fell to the ground.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward and fell to the ground.
King James Version
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Lexham English Bible
So when he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Assoone then as he sayde vnto them I am he, they went backewarde, & fell to the grounde.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Jesus said, "I am Jesus," the men moved back and fell to the ground.
New American Standard Bible
Now then, when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Good News Translation
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he seide to hem, Y am, thei wenten abak, and fellen doun on the erthe.

Contextual Overview

1 When Jesus had finished praying, he and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and went into a garden. 2 Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and Judas knew where the place was. 3Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, "Who are you looking for?" They answered, "We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!" Jesus told them, "I am Jesus!" 6 At once they all backed away and fell to the ground. 7 Jesus again asked, "Who are you looking for?" "We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth," they answered. 8 This time Jesus replied, "I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go. 9 Then everything will happen, just as I said, ‘I did not lose anyone you gave me.'" 10 Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He now pulled it out and struck at the servant of the high priest. The servant's name was Malchus, and Peter cut off his right ear. 11 Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword away. I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me." 12 The Roman officer and his men, together with the temple police, arrested Jesus and tied him up.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they went: Doubtless by the interposition of Divine power; and it was thus shown that Jesus voluntarily resigned himself into their hands. 2 Kings 1:9-15, Psalms 27:2, Psalms 40:14, Psalms 70:2, Psalms 70:3, Psalms 129:5, Luke 9:54-56, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:30

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:31 - bowed down 1 Kings 13:4 - his hand Psalms 35:4 - turned Psalms 56:9 - then Psalms 65:7 - tumult Luke 4:30 - General John 2:15 - he drove John 7:44 - no man John 10:18 - man Acts 9:4 - he fell

Cross-References

Isaiah 32:8
But helpful people can always be trusted to make helpful plans.
Matthew 13:33
Jesus also said: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.
Acts 16:15
Then after she and her family were baptized, she kept on begging us, "If you think I really do have faith in the Lord, come stay in my home." Finally, we accepted her invitation.
Romans 12:13
Take care of God's needy people and welcome strangers into your home.
Galatians 5:13
My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.
Hebrews 13:2
Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.
1 Peter 4:9
Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As soon then as he had said unto them I am he,.... Immediately upon his speaking these words, which were delivered with so much majesty and authority, and were attended with such a divine power:

they went backward, and fell to the ground; they were confounded, surprised, and intimidated, and seemed as if they would have chose rather to have fled from him, than to have apprehended him; and as they retired and went backward, they fainted away, as it were, either at the majesty of his looks, or at the power of his words, or both, so that they became like ad men, falling to the ground. Sometimes the majesty of a man's person, or his fame for some remarkable things done by him, or the innocence and uprightness of his cause, have had such an influence upon his enemies, that they have not been able to execute upon him what they intended. It is reported of Caius Maxius that being reduced to the utmost misery, and shut up in a private house at Minturnae, (a town in Italy,) an executioner was sent to kill him; and though he was an old man, and unarmed, and in the most miserable condition, yet the executioner having drawn his sword, could not attempt to use it; but, as the historian y says, being struck with blindness at the glory of the man, ran away astonished and trembling. Now, besides the above things, in their highest perfection, there was in our Lord something more than human; he was God as well as man, and he displayed his divine majesty, glory, and power. This was done, not to make his escape from them; but to give proof of his deity, and a specimen of his power at the great day; and to let them know, that if he had not thought fit to have surrendered himself voluntarily to them, though he was an unarmed person, they, with all their men and arms, could never have laid hold on him; and to show them, that he could as easily have struck them dead, as to cause them to fall to the ground: and sometimes striking a person dead immediately, is expressed by this phrase of striking to the ground; and is ascribed to God, who does it by the ministry of angels: says R. Simeon ben Shetach z, to some persons at variance,

"let the master of thoughts come, (i.e. the blessed God,) and take vengeance on you; immediately Gabriel came, בקרקע

והבטן, "and smote them to the ground"; and they died immediately.''

The like is elsewhere said a,

"if thou transgresseth thy father's command, immediately comes Gabriel, and "smites to the ground".''

y Valerius Maxim. l. 2. c. 5. z F. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 2. a Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They went backward ... - The cause of their retiring in this manner is not mentioned. Various things might have produced it. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of his innocence, and deterred them from prosecuting their wicked attempt. His disclosure of himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that he would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at his open and bold profession. Their consciences reproved them for their crimes, and probably the firm, decided, and yet mild manner in which Jesus addressed them, the expression of his unequalled power in knowing how to find the way to the consciences of men, made them feel that they were in the presence of more than mortal man. There is no proof that there was here any miraculous power, any mere physical force, and to suppose that there was greatly detracts from the moral sublimity of the scene.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 18:6. They went backward, and fell to the ground. — None of the other evangelists mentions this very important circumstance. Our Lord chose to give them this proof of his infinite power, that they might know that their power could not prevail against him if he chose to exert his might, seeing that the very breath of his mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth. Thus by the blast of God they might have perished, and by the breath of his nostrils they might have been consumed: Job 4:9.


 
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