John 8:22
New International Version
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

New Living Translation
The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”

English Standard Version
So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

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

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the Jews were saying, "Will He kill Himself, that He says, 'Where I go, you are not able to come'?"

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

New King James Version
So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

New American Standard Bible
So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

NASB 1995
So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come ‘?”

NASB 1977
Therefore the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Amplified Bible
So the Jews were asking [among themselves], “Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Christian Standard Bible
So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill Himself, will He, since He says, Where I’m going, you cannot come?”

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

Contemporary English Version
The people asked, "Does he intend to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying we cannot go where he is going?"

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the Jews asked, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means when he says, 'You can't go where I'm going'?"

Good News Translation
So the Jewish authorities said, "He says that we cannot go where he is going. Does this mean that he will kill himself?"

International Standard Version
So the Jewish leaders were asking, "He isn't going to kill himself, is he? Is that why he said, 'You cannot come where I'm going'?"

Majority Standard Bible
So the Jews began to ask, ?Will He kill Himself, since He says, ?Where I am going, you cannot come???

NET Bible
So the Jewish leaders began to say, "Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'"

New Heart English Bible
The Jewish leaders therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said the Jews, will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

Weymouth New Testament
The Jews began to ask one another, "Is he going to kill himself, do you think, that he says, 'Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come'?"

World English Bible
The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The Jews, therefore, said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, To where I go away, you are not able to come?”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the Jews were saying, "Will He kill Himself, that He says, 'Where I go, you are not able to come'?"

Young's Literal Translation
The Jews, therefore, said, 'Will he kill himself, because he saith, Whither I go away, ye are not able to come?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said the Jews, Will he not kill himself? for he says, Where I retire, ye cannot come.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Jews therefore said: Will he kill himself, because he said: Whither I go, you cannot come?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself, for he said: ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go?’ ”

New American Bible
So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The Jews said, Why, will he kill himself? for he says, Where I am going, you cannot come.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Judeans were saying, “Will he now kill himself?”, because he had said, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then said the Jews: Will he kill himself, because he says, Whither I go, you can not come?

Godbey New Testament
Then the Jews were saying, Whether will He kill Himself, because He says, Whither I go away, you are not able to come?

Haweis New Testament
The Jews said therefore, Will he kill himself? because he said, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

Mace New Testament
then said the Jews, what, will he kill himself? that he says, "whither I go, you cannot come."

Weymouth New Testament
The Jews began to ask one another, "Is he going to kill himself, do you think, that he says, 'Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come'?"

Worrell New Testament
The Jews, therefore, said, "Will He kill Himself?" because He said, "Whither I go, ye cannot come."

Worsley New Testament
The Jews therefore said, What! will He kill himself; that He says, where I am going, ye cannot come?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Woman Caught in Adultery
21Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.…

Cross References
John 7:34
You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

John 13:33
Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

John 3:13
No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.

John 14:5-6
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” / Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 16:17
Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”

John 7:36
What does He mean by saying, ‘You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,’ and, ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

John 8:21
Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

John 8:24
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 6:62
Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?

John 17:11
I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.

Proverbs 1:28
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Jeremiah 8:20
“The harvest has passed, the summer has ended, but we have not been saved.”

Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Hosea 5:6
They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he said, Where I go, you cannot come.

Will.

John 8:48,52
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? …

John 7:20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

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John 8
1. Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery.
12. He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;
31. promises freedom to those who believe;
33. answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;
48. answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;
59. and slips away from those who would stone him.














So the Jews began to ask
This phrase indicates a reaction from the Jewish leaders or people present during Jesus' discourse. The Greek word for "Jews" here is "Ἰουδαῖοι" (Ioudaioi), which in the Gospel of John often refers to the Jewish authorities or those opposed to Jesus. Historically, this reflects the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time, who frequently misunderstood or challenged His teachings. Their questioning shows a lack of spiritual insight and a focus on earthly interpretations.

Will He kill Himself
The question posed by the Jews reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus' statement. The Greek verb "ἀποκτείνω" (apokteinō) means "to kill" or "to put to death." In the cultural and historical context, suicide was considered a grave sin, and the Jews' question may have been sarcastic or mocking, suggesting that Jesus' words were nonsensical or indicative of despair. This reflects their spiritual blindness and inability to grasp the deeper, spiritual meaning of Jesus' mission and destiny.

since He says
This phrase introduces the reason for their question, pointing back to Jesus' previous statement. The Greek word "λέγει" (legei) means "he says" or "he speaks," emphasizing the authority and intentionality behind Jesus' words. The Jews are fixated on the literal interpretation of His statement, missing the spiritual truth He is conveying.

‘Where I am going, you cannot come’
This statement by Jesus is profound and layered with meaning. The Greek phrase "ὅπου ἐγὼ ὑπάγω" (hopou egō hypagō) translates to "where I am going." Jesus is speaking of His return to the Father, His ascension, and ultimately, the heavenly realm. The inability of the Jews to follow Him "you cannot come" (οὐ δύνασθε ἐλθεῖν, ou dynasthe elthein) highlights their spiritual separation from God due to unbelief. This phrase underscores the necessity of faith in Christ to access eternal life and the presence of God. It serves as a call to recognize Jesus as the way to the Father, a theme that is central to the Gospel of John.

(22) Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself?--They see the deeper meaning of His words, and yet cannot see how that meaning is to be fulfilled. "He is going away, and He clearly refers to His death. But the issues of life are in the darkness of the future. Who can know the hour of His own departure? There is only one class of persons who can speak with certainty of thus going away, and these are persons who by their own act fix the limit of their own lives."

Because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.--Comp. Note on John 7:35. Then they had asked in scorn if He would go to the Dispersion and teach the heathen? If so, they certainly could not follow Him. Here there is the same scorn. If He intends to go to Hades, He will indeed be beyond their reach. They expect to go to Abraham's bosom: between Him and them there will be the great gulf which no one can pass. (Comp. Notes on Luke 16:22-26.) Many expositors have seen here a reference to the deeper darkness which, in current Jewish belief, fell on the souls of those who had by their own act passed to the other world. This is supported by the speech of Josephus at Jotapata (Wars, iii. 8, ? 5). Their words may imply, "If He is going to that depth, well may He say 'Whither I go, ye cannot come.'" But if this meaning were expressed in their words, we should have expected some reference to it in the answer of our Lord; and if it be expressed at all it is in their words. It has no sanction in thought or word from Him.

Verse 22. - The Jews therefore said (were saying one to the other), Will he kill himself, that (because) he saith, Whither I go, thither ye cannot come? This query was one of harsh mockery, and can hardly be exaggerated in malign intent. The suicide was supposed to have his place in Gehenna, According to Josephus ('Bell. Jud.,' 3:08. 5), "the darkest regions of Hades would receive the souls of such." The Jews then scoff at his departure as a spontaneous resort to a fate towards which they did rot care or mean to follow him. Edersheim declares this passage of Josephus not to be sustained by rabbinical authority, and he doubts this aspect of their scorn. He limits it to the Jewish guess that Jesus must be contemplating self. murder, and as putting deliberately such a distance between them and him that they could not traverse it. The very fact that they had it in their hearts to destroy him makes it probable that they were looking beyond the act of suicide, either to the hell of popular belief or the hatred of contemporaries. They obviously thought that none but a suicide can determine the time of his departure. Christ proceeded to show them that the reason why his death would separate them from him was a fundamental difference of nature.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

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.

Jews
Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

began to ask,
Ἔλεγον (Elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Will He kill
ἀποκτενεῖ (apoktenei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.

Himself,
ἑαυτὸν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

since
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

He says,
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘Where
Ὅπου (Hopou)
Adverb
Strong's 3699: Where, whither, in what place. From hos and pou; what(-ever) where, i.e. At whichever spot.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am going,
ὑπάγω (hypagō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5217: To go away, depart, begone, die. From hupo and ago; to lead under, i.e. Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

cannot
δύνασθε (dynasthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

come’?”
ἐλθεῖν (elthein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2064: To come, go.


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