John 11:48
New International Version
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.”

New Living Translation
If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

English Standard Version
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Berean Standard Bible
If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Berean Literal Bible
If we shall let Him alone like this, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and will take away both our place and nation."

King James Bible
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

New King James Version
If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

New American Standard Bible
If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation.”

NASB 1995
“If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

NASB 1977
“If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Legacy Standard Bible
If we let Him go on like this, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Amplified Bible
If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.”

Christian Standard Bible
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation.”

American Standard Version
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.

Contemporary English Version
If we don't stop him now, everyone will put their faith in him. Then the Romans will come and destroy our temple and our nation."

English Revised Version
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation."

Good News Translation
If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation!"

International Standard Version
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation."

Majority Standard Bible
If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

NET Bible
If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation."

New Heart English Bible
If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

Webster's Bible Translation
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation.

Weymouth New Testament
If we leave him alone in this way, everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and blot out both our city and our nation."

World English Bible
If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If we may leave Him alone thus, all will believe in Him; and the Romans will come, and will take away both our place and nation.”

Berean Literal Bible
If we shall let Him alone like this, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and will take away both our place and nation."

Young's Literal Translation
if we may let him alone thus, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and will take away both our place and nation.'

Smith's Literal Translation
If we let him thus go, all will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away also our place and nation.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If we let him alone so, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If we leave him alone, in this way all will believe in him. And then the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation.”

New American Bible
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”

New Revised Standard Version
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If we allow him to continue like this, all men will believe in him; and the Romans will come and take over both our country and our people.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And if we allow him to do so, all the people will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away our position and our nation.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
If we thus let him alone, all will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation.

Godbey New Testament
If we thus let Him alone, all will believe on Him: and the Romans will come and take away our place and nation.

Haweis New Testament
If we suffer him to go on thus, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation.

Mace New Testament
if we let him go on at this rate, all will believe on him; and the Romans will come, and destroy both our temple and nation.

Weymouth New Testament
If we leave him alone in this way, everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and blot out both our city and our nation."

Worrell New Testament
If we let Him thus alone, all will believe on Him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and our nation.

Worsley New Testament
If we suffer Him to go on thus, all the people will believe on Him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our place and nation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Plot to Kill Jesus
47Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!…

Cross References
John 12:19
Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

Acts 4:16-17
“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. / But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

Matthew 24:15
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),

Luke 19:47-48
Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him. / Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

Mark 11:18
When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

Acts 5:28
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

John 6:15
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Matthew 27:18
For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

Mark 15:10
For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

Luke 23:2
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

Acts 17:6-7
But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, / and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

John 7:47-48
“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. / “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?

Matthew 21:46
Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

Luke 11:48-51
So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. / Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ / As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, ...

John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”


Treasury of Scripture

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

we let.

Acts 5:28,38-40
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us…

all.

John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Luke 8:12
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Luke 11:52
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

and the.

Deuteronomy 28:50-68
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: …

Daniel 9:26,27
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined…

Zechariah 13:7,8
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones…

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John 11
1. Jesus raises Lazarus, four days buried.
45. Many Jews believe.
47. The high priests and Pharisees gather a council against Jesus.
49. Caiaphas prophesies.
54. Jesus hides himself.
55. At the Passover they enquire after him, and lay wait for him.














If we let Him go on like this
This phrase reflects the growing concern among the Jewish leaders about Jesus' increasing influence. The Greek word for "let" (ἀφίωμεν, aphiōmen) implies a sense of allowing or permitting. The leaders are contemplating the consequences of inaction. Historically, this reflects the tension between maintaining religious authority and the fear of losing control. The leaders are faced with a dilemma: to allow Jesus' ministry to continue unchecked or to intervene. This phrase sets the stage for the unfolding drama of Jesus' eventual arrest and crucifixion.

everyone will believe in Him
The word "everyone" (πάντες, pantes) indicates the widespread impact of Jesus' miracles and teachings. The leaders fear a mass conversion to belief in Jesus as the Messiah. The Greek word for "believe" (πιστεύσουσιν, pisteusousin) is central to the Gospel of John, emphasizing faith and trust in Jesus. This concern highlights the leaders' awareness of Jesus' growing popularity and the potential shift in religious allegiance. It underscores the transformative power of Jesus' message and the threat it posed to the established religious order.

and then the Romans will come
The mention of "the Romans" reflects the political context of the time. Judea was under Roman occupation, and the Jewish leaders were acutely aware of the delicate balance of power. The fear of Roman intervention was a real and present danger. The leaders were concerned that any messianic movement could be perceived as a threat to Roman authority, leading to military action. This phrase underscores the political tension and the precarious position of the Jewish nation under Roman rule.

and take away both our place
The term "place" (τόπον, topon) likely refers to the temple, the center of Jewish religious life and authority. The temple was not only a physical structure but also a symbol of God's presence and the heart of Jewish identity. The leaders feared that Roman intervention could lead to the destruction of the temple, as had happened in the past. This concern reveals the deep connection between religious authority and national identity, and the fear of losing both.

and our nation
The word "nation" (ἔθνος, ethnos) refers to the Jewish people as a distinct ethnic and religious group. The leaders feared that Roman action could lead to the dissolution of the Jewish nation, either through direct military action or by undermining their religious and cultural identity. This phrase highlights the existential threat perceived by the leaders and their desire to preserve their national and religious heritage. It reflects the broader theme of the Gospel of John, where Jesus' mission transcends national boundaries and calls for a new understanding of God's kingdom.

(48) If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him.--He who but a short time since had escaped from their stones and violence, and had retired to Bethany, was now within two miles of Jerusalem. One work had carried conviction to the minds of all who had seen it, though many of them were of their own party. Another such miracle in the city itself would carry conviction, they think, to the minds of all.

And the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.--The dread of the Roman power must have been constantly present to the Jews of that generation. They had seen Archelaus deposed, and a Roman procurator had come to carry into effect the enrolment decreed by Augustus (Luke 2:1). Pontius Pilate had suppressed outbreaks by violence in the Temple itself. There had been tumults in connection with the Corban money and with Barabbas. The Temple mountain was the site of the Roman fortress Antonia, and this dread power may at any moment destroy the national life, which only existed on sufferance.

The attempts to prove that "our place" can mean "the Temple" must now be given up; and if we attach a local meaning to the word we must understand it of Jerusalem. It may, however, be questioned whether the word has any local signification here. Like our words "standing," and "place," and "position," it certainly may have a moral sense, and New Testament examples of this usage are frequent. (See Acts 1:25; Romans 15:23; 1Corinthians 14:16; Hebrews 12:17.) It is suggested that this sense is more in harmony with the feeling of the Pharisees. They possessed no local power; and the city could not be taken away from them more entirely than it already was. Their existence as rulers depended upon the Mosaic law and upon the services of the Temple. Round these centres they had gathered human tradition and ordinance, to which they clung because they only could interpret them, and they only could use the vast powers which were thus exercised over men. The Law had become practically an intricate system of tradition, and the Temple-service had become practically an intricate system of ritual. With this the Roman empire, following its usual policy, had not interfered, and the Jewish hierarchy had become the centre and the rulers of the national life. But in direct opposition to both of them had been the work and teaching of Christ. He had sought to establish for law and service the simplicity of their first spiritual principles. His spiritual teaching was a cutting to the very root of their whole being. If all the people believed on Him their raison d'etre would be gone, and the Romans would no longer suffer an imperium in imperio, which they now allowed because it swayed the masses of the people. They would take both their position, and with it the rank which they still claimed as a nation. . . .

Verse 48. - If we let him alone thus, as we have been doing hitherto - if we suffer him to do these things - all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away from us, i.e. from the Sanhedrin, from the lawful rulers in all matters affecting religious order or privilege, our place - the city or temple - and the nation, which we rule through our subordinates and surrogates, but to accomplish which we shall prove our incompetence if we cannot keep down all insubordination and hold perilous enthusiasm in check. De Wette and Hengstenberg strongly urge that by τόπον was meant the temple, "the dwelling-place and seat of the whole people" (Psalm 84:4; Psalm 27:4; cf. Matthew 23:38). Ewald, Godet, Meyer, Watkins, consider τόπον to be the city, the seat of all the power of the nation, spiritual and civil. The nation was a province of the Roman empire, but the hierarchy was still invested with great powers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

we let
ἀφῶμεν (aphōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

go on like this,
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

everyone
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

will believe
πιστεύσουσιν (pisteusousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Him,
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and then
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Romans
Ῥωμαῖοι (Rhōmaioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4514: Roman; subst: a Roman citizen. From Rhome; Romaean, i.e. Roman.

will come
ἐλεύσονται (eleusontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

take away
ἀροῦσιν (arousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

both
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

place
τόπον (topon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[our]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nation.”
ἔθνος (ethnos)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.


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NT Gospels: John 11:48 If we leave him alone like this (Jhn Jo Jn)
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