John 11:50

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.”

King James Version (1611)
Nor consider that it is expedient for vs, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

King James Version
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

English Standard Version
Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."

New American Standard Bible
nor are you taking into account that it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead."

New Century Version
You don't realize that it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."

Amplified Bible
"Nor do you understand that it is expedient and politically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

Legacy Standard Bible
nor do you take into account that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

Berean Standard Bible
You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

Contemporary English Version
Don't you know it is better for one person to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?"

Complete Jewish Bible
You don't see that it's better for you if one man dies on behalf of the people, so that the whole nation won't be destroyed."

Darby Translation
nor consider that it is profitable for you that one man die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish.

Easy-to-Read Version
It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. But you don't realize this."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nor yet doe you consider that it is expedient for vs, that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

George Lamsa Translation
Nor do you reason that it is much better for us that one man should die instead of the people, and not all the people perish.

Good News Translation
Don't you realize that it is better for you to have one man die for the people, instead of having the whole nation destroyed?"

Lexham English Bible
Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish."

Literal Translation
nor consider that it is profitable for us that one man die for the people, and not all the nation to perish.

American Standard Version
nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Bible in Basic English
You do not see that it is in your interest for one man to be put to death for the people, so that all the nation may not come to destruction.

Hebrew Names Version
nor do you take account that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

International Standard Version
You don't realize that it is better for youfor us">[fn] to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed."John 18:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
nor reason that it is expedient for us that one man die for the people, and not all the people perish.

Murdock Translation
Neither do ye consider, that it is expedient for us, that one man die for the people, and not that this whole people perish.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nor consider, that it is expedient for vs, that one man dye for the people, and not that all the people perishe.

English Revised Version
nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

World English Bible
nor do you take account that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
said to them, Ye know nothing, Nor consider, it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Weymouth's New Testament
You do not reflect that it is to your interest that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ye witen nothing, ne thenken, that it spedith to you, that o man die for the puple, and that al the folc perische not.

Update Bible Version
nor do you take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

New English Translation
You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish."

New King James Version
nor do you consider that it is expedient for us [fn] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish."

New Living Translation
You don't realize that it's better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."

New Life Bible
Do you not see it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?"

New Revised Standard
You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
nor do ye take into account, that it is profitable for you that, one man, should die for the people, and not, the whole nation, perish.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not.

Revised Standard Version
you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
nor yet consider that it is expedient for vs that one man dye for the people and not that all the people perisshe.

Young's Literal Translation
nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is better for us that one ma dye for the people, then that all the people shulde perishe.

Mace New Testament (1729)
you little consider it is our interest, that one man should die for the people, to prevent the destruction of the whole nation.

Simplified Cowboy Version
you don't see what we should do. It is better that one man dies rather than everyone else."

Contextual Overview

⁴⁵That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. "What do we do now?" they asked. "This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have." ⁴⁹Then one of them—it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year—spoke up, "Don't you know anything? Can't you see that it's to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?" He didn't say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God's exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people. ⁵³From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples. ⁵⁵The Jewish Passover was coming up. Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the Feast. They were curious about Jesus. There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the Temple: "What do you think? Do you think he'll show up at the Feast or not?" ⁵⁷ Meanwhile, the high priests and Pharisees gave out the word that anyone getting wind of him should inform them. They were all set to arrest him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

John 11:48, John 18:14, John 19:12, Luke 24:46, Romans 3:8

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 17:2 - I will smite 2 Kings 6:31 - if the head Psalms 2:1 - people Jeremiah 40:15 - wherefore Jonah 1:12 - Take Micah 3:10 - build up Zion Matthew 20:28 - and to John 16:7 - It John 19:11 - he 2 Corinthians 5:14 - one 2 Corinthians 8:10 - expedient

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Nor consider that it is expedient for us,.... Priests, Levites, Pharisees, the sanhedrim, and ecclesiastical rulers of the people; who, as Caiaphas apprehended, must suffer in their characters and revenues, must quit their honourable and gainful posts and places, if Jesus went on and succeeded at this rate: wherefore it was most expedient and advantageous for them, which was the main thing to be considered in such a council, so he thought it was,

that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not; he proceeded entirely upon this political principle, that a public good ought to be preferred to a private one; that it was no matter what the man was, whether innocent or not; common prudence, and the public safety of the nation, required him to fall a sacrifice, rather than the Romans should be exasperated and provoked to such a degree, as to threaten the utter ruin and destruction of the whole nation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It is expedient for us - It is better for us. Literally, “It is profitable for us.”

That one man should die - Jesus they regarded as promoting sedition, and as exposing the nation, if he was successful, to the vengeance of the Romans, John 11:48. If he was put to death they supposed the people would be safe. This is all, doubtless, that he meant by his dying for the people. He did not himself intend to speak of his dying as an atonement or a sacrifice; but his words might also express that, and, though he was unconscious of it, he was expressing a real truth. In the sense in which he intended it there was no truth in the observation, nor occasion for it, but in the sense which the words might convey there was real and most important truth. It was expedient, it was infinitely desirable, that Jesus should die for that people, and for all others, to save them from perishing.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 50. Nor consider — Ye talk more at random than according to reason, and the exigencies of the case. There is a various reading here in some MSS. that should be noticed. Instead of ουδε διαλογιζεσθε, which we translate, ye do not consider, and which properly conveys the idea of conferring, or talking together, ουδε λογιζεσθε, neither do ye reason or consider rightly, is the reading of ABDL, three others, and some of the primitive fathers. Griesbach, by placing it in his inner margin, shows that he thinks it bids fair to be the true reading. Dr. White thinks that this reading is equal, and probably preferable, to that in the text: Lectio aequalis, forsitan praeferenda receptae.

That one man should die for the people — In saying these remarkable words, Caiaphas had no other intention than merely to state that it was better to put Jesus to death than to expose the whole nation to ruin on his account. His maxim was, it is better to sacrifice one man than a whole nation. In politics nothing could be more just than this; but there are two words to be spoken to it: First, The religion of God says, we must not do evil that good may come: Romans 3:8. Secondly, It is not certain that Christ will be acknowledged as king by all the people; nor that he will make any insurrection against the Romans; nor that the Romans will, on his account, ruin the temple, the city, and the nation. This Caiaphas should have considered. A person should be always sure of his premises before he attempts to draw any conclusion from them. See Calmet. This saying was proverbial among the Jews: see several instances of it in Schoettgen.