John 8:59

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

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John 8:59 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
English Standard Version (ESV)
59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
New Living Translation (NLT)
59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
The Message Bible (MSG)
59 That did it - pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.
American Standard Version (ASV)
59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
59 Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
59 When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.

John 8:59 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:59

Then they took up stones to cast at him
Supposing that he had spoken blasphemy; for they well understood that he, by so saying, made himself to be the eternal God, the unchangeable Jehovah. Should it be asked how they came by their stones in the temple? it may be replied, the temple was still building, ( John 2:20 ) , and stones, or pieces of stones, might lie about, with which they furnished themselves, in order to have destroyed Christ: and this they attempted, though it was on the sabbath day, as appears from ( John 9:1 John 9:14 ) ; and with them, (tbvb hlyqo) , "stoning on the sabbath day" F4 was allowed in some cases.

But Jesus hid himself,
not in any corner of the temple, or behind a pillar; but he withdrew himself from them directly, and made himself invisible to them, by holding their eyes, or casting a mist before them, that they could not see him:

and went out of the temple;
by one of the gates of it:

going through the midst of them;
not of the persons that took up stones to stone him; but the rest of the people, who were there in great multitudes to hear his doctrine, and see his miracles: and so passed by, and escaped out of their hands; the last words, going through the midst of them,

and so passed by,
are not in Beza's most ancient copy, and in the Vulgate Latin version.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Hieros. Yom Tob, fol. 63. 2.

John 8:59 In-Context

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Exodus 17:4; Leviticus 24:16; 1 Samuel 30:6; John 10:31; John 11:8
  • 2. John 12:36
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