John 8:22

The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”

BSB

So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

KJV

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

ASV

The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?

BBE

So the Jews said, Will he take his life? Is that why he says, Where I go it is not possible for you to come?

Original Greek

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ἔλεγον elegon Were saying G3004 οὖν oun therefore G3767 οἱ hoi the G3588 Ἰουδαῖοι Ioudaioi Jews G2453 μήτι mēti surely not ever G3385 ἀποκτενεῖ apoktenei will He kill G615 ἑαυτόν he'auton Himself G1438 ὅτι hoti for G3754 λέγει legei He says G3004 ὅπου hopou Where G3699 ἐγὼ egō I myself G1473 ὑπάγω hupagō go G5217 ὑμεῖς humeis you yourselves G4771 οὐ ou not G3756 δύνασθε dunasthe are able G1410 ἐλθεῖν; elthein to come G2064

The early church

But on hearing these words, as is usual with those whose thoughts are carnal, who judge after the flesh, and hear and apprehend everything in a carnal way, they said, "Will he kill himself because he said, Whither I go ye cannot come." Foolish words, and overflowing with stupidity! For why could they not go whither He would have proceeded had He killed Himself? Were not they themselves to die? What, then, means, "Will he kill himself because he said, Whither I go ye cannot come?" If He spake of man's death, what man is there that does not die? Therefore, by "whither I go" He meant, not the going to death, but whither He was going Himself after death. Such, then, was their answer, because they did not understand.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John

(Tract. xxviii) They take these words, as they generally do, in a carnal sense, and ask, Will He kill Himself, because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come? A foolish question. For why? Could they not go where He went, if He killed Himself? Were they never to die themselves? Whither I go, then, He says; meaning not His departure at death, but where He went after death.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

I affect nothing worldly, nothing earthly: I could never come to such madness as to kill Myself.

Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 21–29

Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ's grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.

Read Matthew Henry on John 8 →

Cross-references

Topics

Jesus, The Christ Hades

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.