John 11:50

50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

John 11:50 in Other Translations

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

50 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."

50 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.”

50 Can't you see that it's to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?"

50 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.

50 You haven't even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."

50 You're not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish."

50 You don't realize what is good for you. It is better if one man dies for the people than if the whole nation is destroyed."

John 11:50 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:50

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.

John 11:50 In-Context

48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!

50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

Cross References

• 1. John 18:14