Lectionary Calendar
Monday, October 7th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

John 20:25

So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Skepticism;   Thomas;   Unbelief;   Thompson Chain Reference - Dead, the;   Doubters;   Faith-Unbelief;   Faithlessness;   Infidelity;   Mortality-Immortality;   Power;   Resurrection;   Thomas;   Unrealized Power;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prophecies Respecting Christ;   Unbelief;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Crucifixion;   Thomas;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Scripture;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Nail;   Thomas;   Type;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - John, the Gospel According to;   Mary Magdalene;   Nail;   Thomas;   Holman Bible Dictionary - John, the Gospel of;   Nail;   Resurrection of Jesus Christ;   Thomas;   Typology;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crucifixion;   John, Gospel of;   Resurrection;   Thomas;   Trinity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Crucifixion;   Discourse;   Example;   Faith ;   Feet (2);   Man (2);   Manuscripts;   Pattern;   Print ;   Slowness of Heart;   Thomas;   Type;   Unbelief (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Nails;   Thomas ;   Type;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Thomas;   Smith Bible Dictionary - John, Gospel of;   Thom'as;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Thomas;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Body, Spiritual;   Christ, the Exaltation of;   Nail;   Nathanael (2);   Papyrus;   Print;   Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament;   Thomas;   Type;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 8;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
They told him, "The Lord was here!"But Tom said, "I won't believe a word of it until I put my fingers in the nail holes and place my hand in his side."
Legacy Standard Bible
So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
Bible in Basic English
So the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, If I do not see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and if I do not put my hand into his side, I will never have belief.
Darby Translation
The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
New King James Version
The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
Christian Standard Bible®
So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "If I don't see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!"
World English Bible
The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the print of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the prints of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Weymouth's New Testament
So the rest of the disciples told him, "We have seen the Master!" His reply was, "Unless I see in his hands the wound made by the nails and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it."
King James Version (1611)
The other disciples therefore said vnto him, We haue seene the Lord. But he said vnto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nailes, and put my finger into the print of the nailes, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not beleeue.
Literal Translation
Then the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and thrust my finger into the mark of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe, never!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The sayde the other disciples vnto him: We haue sene the LORDE. But he sayde vnto the: Excepte I se in his handes the prynte of the nales, and put my hade in to his syde, I wil not beleue.
Mace New Testament (1729)
the other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the Lord. but he said to them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Amplified Bible
So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe."
American Standard Version
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Revised Standard Version
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The other disciples sayd vnto him: we have sene ye lorde. And he sayde vnto the: except I se in his hondes the prent of the nayles and put my fynger in the holes of the nayles and thrust my honde into his syde I will not beleve.
Update Bible Version
The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will in no way believe.
Webster's Bible Translation
The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Young's Literal Translation
the other disciples, therefore, said to him, `We have seen the Lord;' and he said to them, `If I may not see in his hands the mark of the nails, and may put my finger to the mark of the nails, and may put my hand to his side, I will not believe.'
New Century Version
The other followers kept telling Thomas, "We saw the Lord." But Thomas said, "I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side."
New English Translation
The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!"
Berean Standard Bible
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe."
Complete Jewish Bible
When the other talmidim told him, "We have seen the Lord," he replied, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it."
English Standard Version
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
Geneva Bible (1587)
The other disciples therefore saide vnto him, We haue seene the Lord: but he said vnto them, Except I see in his handes the print of the nailes, and put my finger into the print of the nailes, and put mine hand into his side, I will not beleeue it.
George Lamsa Translation
And the disciples said to him, We have seen our Lord. He said to them, Unless I see in his hands the places of the nails, and put my fingers in them, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Hebrew Names Version
The other talmidim therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
International Standard Version
So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he told them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into them,into the nail marks">[fn] and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!"
Etheridge Translation
And the disciples say to him, We have seen our Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the places of the nails, and put into them my fingers, and extend my hand into his side, I believe not.
Murdock Translation
And the disciples said to him: We have seen our Lord. But he said to them: Unless I see in his hands the places of the nails, and put my fingers into them, and extend my hand to his side, I will not believe.
New Living Translation
They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
New Life Bible
The other followers told him, "We have seen the Lord!" He said to them, "I will not believe until I see the marks made by the nails in His hands. I will not believe until I put my finger into the marks of the nails. I will not believe until I put my hand into His side."
English Revised Version
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
New Revised Standard
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The other disciples, therefore, were saying unto him - We have seen the Lord! But, he, said unto them - Except I see, in his hands, the print of the nails, and press my finger into the print of the nails, and press my hand into his side, in nowise will I believe.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
King James Version
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord . But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Lexham English Bible
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The other disciples therfore sayde vnto hym, we haue seene the Lorde. But he sayde vnto them: Except I see in his handes the print of the nayles, and put my fynger into the prynt of the nayles, and thruste my hande into his syde, I wyll not beleue.
Easy-to-Read Version
They told him, "We saw the Lord." Thomas said, "That's hard to believe. I will have to see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side. Only then will I believe it."
New American Standard Bible
So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
Good News Translation
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the othere disciplis seiden, We han seyn the Lord. And he seide to hem, But Y se in hise hondis the fitchinge of the nailis, and putte my fyngur in to the places of the nailis, and putte myn hond in to his side, Y schal not bileue.

Contextual Overview

19 The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them 20 and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy. 21 After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." 22 Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven." 24 Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. 25 So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

We: John 20:14-20, John 1:41, John 21:7, Mark 16:11, Luke 24:34-40, Acts 5:30-32, Acts 10:40, Acts 10:41, 1 Corinthians 15:5-8

Except: John 20:20, John 6:30, Job 9:16, Psalms 78:11-22, Psalms 78:32, Psalms 95:8-10, Psalms 106:21-24, Matthew 16:1-4, Matthew 27:42, Luke 24:25, Luke 24:39-41, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 3:18, Hebrews 3:19, Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:2, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 10:39

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 10:7 - I believed 2 Chronicles 9:6 - I believed Psalms 22:16 - they pierced Daniel 11:35 - some Matthew 27:35 - they crucified Mark 15:32 - Christ Mark 16:13 - neither John 14:5 - Thomas John 20:8 - and he John 20:27 - Reach hither thy finger

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The other disciples therefore said unto him,.... Some time in the same week, as they had opportunity of seeing him, with great joy, and full assurance of faith in Christ's resurrection:

we have seen the Lord; they had not only the testimony of the women, and the declaration of the angels, but they saw him with their own eyes, and beheld even the very prints of the nails in his hands and feet, and of the spear in his side, and therefore could not be mistaken and imposed upon: a spiritual sight of Christ is a blessing often enjoyed by attending the assembly of the saints to see Christ, is the desire of every gracious soul; this is the end of their meeting together for social worship; the word and ordinances have a tendency in them to lead souls to a sight of him; and it may be expected, because it is promised; and whenever it is enjoyed, it is very delightful; and a soul that meets with Christ in an ordinance, cannot but speak of it to others; and which he does with joy and pleasure, in an exulting, and even in a kind of a boasting manner; and that for the encouragement of others to attend likewise:

but he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. That nails were used in the crucifixion of Christ, is certain from this place, though nowhere else mentioned; whereby the prophecy of him in Psalms 22:16 was fulfilled; for these were not always used in this kind of death. The bodies of men were sometimes fastened to the cross with cords, and not nails s. How many were used, whether three, as some, or four, as others, or more, as were sometimes used t, is not certain, nor material to know. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions read, "the place of the nails"; that is, the place where the nails were drove. Thomas knew that Christ was fastened to the cross with nails, and that his side was pierced with a spear; which he, though not present, might have had from John, who was an eyewitness thereof; but though they had all seen him alive, he will not trust to their testimony; nay, he was determined not to believe his own eyes; unless he put his finger into, as well as saw, the print of the nails, and thrust his hand into his side, as well as beheld the wound made by the spear, he is resolved not to believe. And his sin of unbelief is the more aggravated, inasmuch as this disciple was present at the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Christ, and had heard Christ himself say, that he should rise from the dead the third day. We may learn from hence how great is the sin of unbelief; that the best of men are subject to it; and that though this was over ruled by divine providence to bring out another proof Christ's resurrection, yet this did not excuse the sin of Thomas: and it may be observed, that as Thomas would not believe without seeing the marks of the nails and spear in Christ's flesh; so many will not believe, unless they find such and such marks in themselves, which often prove very ensnaring and distressing. Just such an unbeliever as Thomas was, the Jews make Moses to be, when Israel sinned: they say,

"he did not believe that Israel had sinned, but said, מאמין

אם איני רואה איני, "if I do not see, I will not believe" u.''

s Vid. Lipsium de Cruce, l. 2. c. 8. p. 87. t Ib. c. 9. p. 91. u Shemot Rabba, sect. 46. fol. 142. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Except I shall see ... - It is not known what was the ground of the incredulity of Thomas. It is probable, however, that it was, in part, at least, the effect of deep grief, and of that despondency which fills the mind when a long-cherished hope is taken away. In such a case it requires proof of uncommon clearness and strength to overcome the despondency, and to convince us that we may obtain the object of our desires. Thomas has been much blamed by expositors, but he asked only for proof that would be satisfactory in his circumstances. The testimony of ten disciples should have been indeed sufficient, but an opportunity was thus given to the Saviour to convince the last of them of the truth of his resurrection. This incident shows, what all the conduct of the apostles proves, that they had not conspired together to impose on the world. Even they were slow to believe, and one of them refused to rely even on the testimony of ten of his brethren. How unlike this to the conduct of men who agree to impose a story on mankind! Many are like Thomas. Many now are unwilling to believe because they do not see the Lord Jesus, and with just as little reason as Thomas had. The testimony of those eleven men - including Thomas who saw him alive after he was crucified; who were willing to lay down their lives to attest that they had seen him alive; who had nothing to gain by imposture, and whose conduct was removed as far as possible from the appearance of imposture, should be regarded as ample proof of the fact that he rose from the dead.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile