John 21:21

Contemporary English Version

When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
When Pete saw him, he asked, "What about this cowboy? What will happen to him, Lord?"

Legacy Standard Bible
So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

Bible in Basic English
Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, What about this man?

Darby Translation
Peter, seeing him, says to Jesus, Lord, and what [of] this [man]?

New King James Version
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"

Christian Standard Bible®
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord—what about him?"

World English Bible
Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, "Lord, and what will this man do?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, what shall this man do?

Weymouth's New Testament
On seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, "And, Master, what about him?"

King James Version (1611)
Peter seeing him, saith to Iesus, Lord, and what shall this man doe?

Literal Translation
Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, Lord, and what of this one?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wha Peter sawe him, he sayde vnto Iesus: LORDE, but what shal he do?

Mace New Testament (1729)
upon seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall become of him?

Amplified Bible
So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man [what is in his future]?"

American Standard Version
Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Revised Standard Version
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When Peter sawe him he sayde to Iesus: Lorde what shall he here do?

Update Bible Version
Peter therefore seeing him says to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Webster's Bible Translation
Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?

Young's Literal Translation
Peter having seen this one, saith to Jesus, `Lord, and what of this one?'

New Century Version
When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

New English Translation
So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

Berean Standard Bible
When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

Complete Jewish Bible
On seeing him, Kefa said to Yeshua, "Lord, what about him?"

English Standard Version
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
When Peter therefore sawe him, he saide to Iesus, Lord, what shall this man doe?

George Lamsa Translation
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, My Lord, what about him?

Hebrew Names Version
Kefa seeing him, said to Yeshua, "Lord, what about this man?"

International Standard Version
When Peter saw him, he said, "Lord, what about him?"

Etheridge Translation
This when Kipha saw, he said to Jeshu, My Lord, and this, what ?

Murdock Translation
Him Cephas saw, and said to Jesus: My Lord, as for this man, what?

New Living Translation
Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?"

New Life Bible
Peter saw him and said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this one?"

English Revised Version
Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

New Revised Standard
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Peter, therefore, seeing, this one, saith unto Jesus - Lord! and, this one, what?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do?

King James Version
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Lexham English Bible
So when he saw this one, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, but what about this one?"

Bishop's Bible (1568)
When Peter therfore sawe hym, he sayth to Iesus: Lorde, what shal he do?

Easy-to-Read Version
When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

New American Standard Bible
So Peter, upon seeing him, said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?"

Good News Translation
When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne Petre hadde seyn this, he seith to Jhesu, Lord, but what this?

Contextual Overview

²⁰ Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who had sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" ²¹ When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" ²² Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me." ²³ So the rumor spread among the other disciples that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?" ²⁴ This disciple is the one who told all of this. He wrote it, and we know he is telling the truth. ²⁵ Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Lord: Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:4, Luke 13:23, Luke 13:24, Acts 1:6, Acts 1:7

Reciprocal: Mark 13:4 - General Luke 21:7 - when John 13:36 - whither John 16:23 - ask Acts 10:42 - he commanded 1 Peter 5:12 - testifying

Cross-References

Genesis 21:3
Abraham named his son Isaac,

Genesis 21:4
and when the boy was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, just as the Lord had commanded.

Genesis 21:34
Then Abraham lived a long time as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines.

Numbers 10:12
So the Israelites broke camp and left the Sinai Desert. And some time later, the cloud stopped in the Paran Desert.

Numbers 12:16
Then they left Hazeroth and set up camp in the Paran Desert.

Numbers 13:3
So Moses sent twelve tribal leaders from Israel's camp in the Paran Desert

Numbers 13:26
the twelve men returned to Kadesh in the Paran Desert and told Moses, Aaron, and the people what they had seen. They showed them the fruit

Judges 14:2
When he got back home, he told his parents, "I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah, and I want to marry her. Get her for me!"

1 Samuel 25:1
Samuel died, and people from all over Israel gathered to mourn for him when he was buried at his home in Ramah. Meanwhile, David moved his camp to Paran Desert.

1 Corinthians 7:38
It is perfectly all right to marry, but it is better not to get married at all.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus,.... Peter took a great deal of notice of John, and very likely understood, that he meant by his rising up and following Christ, to signify his readiness for service and suffering in the cause of Christ: and therefore says,

Lord, and what shall this man do? The phrase in the original is very short and concise, "Lord, and this what?" The Arabic version renders it, "and this, of what mind is he?" it looks as if he was of the same mind with me to follow thee; but it is better rendered by us, "what shall this man do?" in what work and service shall he be employed, who seems as willing as I am to serve thee? or it may be rendered thus, "and what shall this man suffer?" shall he suffer at all? and if he shall, what kind of death shall he undergo? what will become of him? what will be his end? how will it fare with him? this he said, partly out of curiosity, and partly out of concern for him, they two being associates and intimates, who had a strong affection for each other.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What shall this man do? - This question probably means, “What death shall he die?” But it is impossible to ascertain certainly why Peter asked this question. John was a favorite disciple, and perhaps Peter suspected that he would have a happier lot, and not be put to death in this manner. Peter was grieved at the question of Jesus; he was probably deeply affected with the account of his own approaching sufferings; and, with perhaps a mixture of grief and envy, he asked what would be his lot. But it is possible, also, that it was from kindness to John - a deep solicitude about him, and a wish that he might not die in the same manner as one who had denied his Lord. Whatever the motive was, it was a curiosity which the Lord Jesus did not choose to gratify.