John 18:38

King James Version

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“What is truth?” said Pilate.

King James Version (1611)
Pilate saith vnto him, What is trueth? And when hee had said this, he went out againe vnto the Iewes, and saith vnto them, I find in him no fault at all.

English Standard Version
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.

New American Standard Bible
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And after saying this, he came out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no grounds at all for charges in His case.

New Century Version
Pilate said, "What is truth?" After he said this, he went out to the crowd again and said to them, "I find nothing against this man.

Amplified Bible
Pilate said to Him [scornfully], "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

Berean Standard Bible
"What is truth?" Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against Him.

Contemporary English Version
Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" Pilate went back out and said, "I don't find this man guilty of anything!

Complete Jewish Bible
Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" Having said this, Pilate went outside again to the Judeans and told them, "I don't find any case against him.

Darby Translation
Pilate says to him, What is truth? And having said this he went out again to the Jews, and says to them, I find no fault whatever in him.

Easy-to-Read Version
Pilate said, "What is truth?" Then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and said to them, "I can find nothing against this man.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Pilate said vnto him, What is trueth? And when he had saide that, hee went out againe vnto the Iewes, & said vnto them, I finde in him no cause at all.

George Lamsa Translation
Pilate said to him, What is this truth? And as he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I am unable to find even one cause against him.

Good News Translation
"And what is truth?" Pilate asked. Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, "I cannot find any reason to condemn him.

Lexham English Bible
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no basis for an accusation against him.

Literal Translation
Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And saying this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, I do not find even one crime in Him!

American Standard Version
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.

Bible in Basic English
Pilate said to him, True? what is true? Having said this he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I see no wrong in him.

Hebrew Names Version
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he went out again to the Yehudim, and said to them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

International Standard Version
Pilate said to him, "What is 'truth'?" After he said this, he went out to the Jews[fn] again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.Matthew 27:24; Luke 23:4; John 19:4,6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Pilatos said to him, What is the truth ? And when he had said this, he went forth again to the Jihudoyee, and said to them, I find not one cause in him.

Murdock Translation
Pilate said to him: What is the truth? And as he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them: I find not any crime in him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Pilate sayde vnto him: What [thyng] is trueth? And when he had sayde this, he went out agayne vnto the Iewes, & sayth vnto them, I fynde in hym no cause at all.

English Revised Version
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.

World English Bible
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice. Pilate saith to him, What is truth? And having said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them, I find no fault in him.

Weymouth's New Testament
"What is truth?" said Pilate. But no sooner had he spoken the words than he went out again to the Jews and told them, "I find no crime in him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Pilat seith to hym, What is treuthe? And whanne he hadde seid this thing, eft he wente out to the Jewis, and seide to hem, Y fynde no cause in hym.

Update Bible Version
Pilate says to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and says to them, I find no crime in him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Pilate saith to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them, I find in him no fault.

New English Translation
Pilate asked, "What is truth?" When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, "I find no basis for an accusation against him.

New King James Version
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

New Living Translation
"What is truth?" Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, "He is not guilty of any crime.

New Life Bible
Pilate said to Jesus, "What is truth?" After Pilate said this, he went out again to the Jews. He said, "I do not find Him guilty.

New Revised Standard
Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Pilate saith unto him - What, is truth? And, this saying, again, went he out to the Jews, and saith unto them, - I, find in him, not a single fault.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Pilate saith to him: What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews and saith to them: I find no cause in him.

Revised Standard Version
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no crime in him.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Pilate sayde vnto him: what thinge is trueth? And when he had sayd yt he went out agayne vnto the Iewes and sayde vnto them: I fynde in him no cause at all.

Young's Literal Translation
Pilate saith to him, `What is truth?' and this having said, again he went forth unto the Jews, and saith to them, `I do find no fault in him;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Pilate sayde vnto hi: What is the trueth? And whan he had sayde that he wete out agayne to the Iewes, and sayde vnto them: I fynde no gyltinesse in him:

Mace New Testament (1729)
what is truth? said Pilate. and upon saying this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I don't find he is guilty of any crime.

THE MESSAGE
Pilate said, "What is truth?" Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, "I find nothing wrong in this man. It's your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews'?"

Simplified Cowboy Version
"What is truth?" Pilate said sorrowfully. He then went out and tried to dismiss the charges against Jesus.

Contextual Overview

²⁸ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. ²⁹ Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? ³⁰ They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. ³¹ Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: ³² That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. ³³ Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? ³⁴ Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? ³⁵ Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? ³⁶ Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. ³⁷ Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What: Acts 17:19, Acts 17:20, Acts 17:32, Acts 24:25, Acts 24:26

I find: John 19:4, John 19:6, John 19:21, John 19:22, Matthew 27:18, Matthew 27:19, Matthew 27:24, Mark 15:14, Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14-16, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Peter 2:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:5 - ye have Daniel 11:2 - will I Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth Matthew 27:15 - General Luke 23:13 - General Acts 13:28 - General Acts 25:25 - committed 1 John 3:12 - And

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Pilate saith unto him, what is truth?.... That is, in general, or that which Christ then particularly spoke of: many things might be observed in answer to this question, as that there is the truth and faithfulness of God in his word and promises; the truth of grace in the hearts of his people; Jesus Christ himself is truth, he is true God, and true man; the truth of all covenant transactions, of all types, promises, and prophecies; whatever he said and taught was truth, and the truth of all doctrine comes from him. The Gospel is truth in general; it comes from the God of truth; lies in the Scriptures of truth; Christ, who is truth itself, is the substance of it; the Spirit of truth has an hand in it, leads into it, and makes it effectual; the whole of it is true, and every particular doctrine of it; as the manifestation of the Son of God in human nature, his coming into the world to save the chief of sinners, justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, atonement by his sacrifice, the resurrection of the dead, c. The same question is put in the Talmud p, מה אמת, "what is truth?" and it is answered, that he is the living God, and the King of the World: we do not find that our Lord gave any answer to this question, which might be put in a scornful, jeering way nor did Pilate wait for one; for

when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews: as soon as he had put the question about truth, having no great inclination to hear what Christ would say to it; nor did he put it for information sake, or as having any opinion of Christ, and that he was able to answer it; he directly goes out of the judgment hall, taking Jesus along with him, and addresses the Jews after this manner:

and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all; and indeed how should he? there was no sin in his nature, nor guile in his lips, nor any iniquity in his life; the devil himself could find none in him. This confession is both to the shame of Pilate and the Jews; to the reproach of Pilate, that after this he should condemn him; and of the Jews, that after such a fair and full declaration from the judge, they should insist upon his crucifixion; it shows, however, that he died not for any sin of his own, but for the sins of others.

p T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 18. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What is truth? - This question was probably asked in contempt, and hence Jesus did not answer it. Had the question been sincere, and had Pilate really sought it as Nicodemus had done John 3:0, Jesus would not have hesitated to explain to him the nature of his kingdom. They were now alone in the judgment-hall John 18:33, and as soon as Pilate had asked the question, without waiting for an answer, he went out. It is evident that he was satisfied, from the answer of Jesus John 18:36-37, that he was not a king in the sense in which the Jews accused him; that he would not endanger the Roman government, and consequently that he was innocent of the charge alleged against him. He regarded him, clearly, as a fanatic poor, ignorant, and deluded, but innocent and not dangerous. Hence, he sought to release him; and, hence, in contempt, he asked him this question, and immediately went out, not expecting an answer.

This question had long agitated the world. It was the great subject of inquiry in all the schools of the Greeks. Different sects of philosophers had held different opinions, and Pilate now, in derision, asked him, whom he esteemed an ignorant fanatic, whether he could solve this long-agitated question. He might have had an answer. If he had patiently waited in sincerity, Jesus would have told him what it was. Thousands ask the question in the same way. They have a fixed contempt for the Bible; they deride the instructions of religion; they are unwilling to investigate and to wait at the gates of wisdom; and hence, like Pilate, they remain ignorant of the great Source of truth, and die in darkness and in error. All might find truth if they would seek it; none ever will find it if they do not apply for it to the great source of light the God of truth, and seek it patiently in the way in which he has chosen to communicate it to mankind. How highly should we prize the Bible! And how patiently and prayerfully should we search the Scriptures, that we may not err and die forever! See the notes at John 14:6.

I find in him no fault - See Luke 23:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 18:38. What is truth — Among the sages of that time there were many opinions concerning truth; and some had even supposed that it was a thing utterly out of the reach of men. Pilate perhaps might have asked the question in a mocking way; and his not staying to get an answer indicated that he either despaired of getting a satisfactory one, or that he was indifferent about it. This is the case with thousands: they appear desirous of knowing the truth, but have not patience to wait in a proper way to receive an answer to their question.

I find in him no fault — Having asked the above question, and being convinced of our Lord's innocence, he went out to the Jews to testify his convictions and to deliver him, if possible, out of their hands.