Truly, truly, I tell you
This phrase, often translated as "Verily, verily" or "Amen, amen," is a solemn affirmation used by Jesus to emphasize the truth and importance of His statement. In Jewish culture, repetition is a method of adding emphasis, indicating that what follows is of utmost significance. This introduction is unique to Jesus in the Gospels, underscoring His authority and the divine truth of His message. It is a call to pay close attention, as Jesus is about to reveal a profound spiritual truth.

if anyone keeps My word
The condition "if anyone keeps My word" highlights the necessity of obedience and faithfulness to Jesus' teachings. In the Jewish tradition, keeping God's commandments was central to the covenant relationship with Him. Here, Jesus equates His word with divine authority, suggesting that His teachings are not merely good advice but are essential for spiritual life. This echoes the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where the Israelites are commanded to love the Lord and keep His commandments. It also connects to John 14:15, where Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments," emphasizing the link between love, obedience, and discipleship.

he will never see death.”
The promise "he will never see death" refers to eternal life, a central theme in the Gospel of John. While physical death is a reality for all, Jesus speaks of a spiritual life that transcends physical death. This assurance is rooted in the belief in the resurrection and eternal life, as seen in John 11:25-26, where Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies." The phrase also reflects the Jewish understanding of death as separation from God, and Jesus promises that those who keep His word will not experience this separation. This promise is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah bringing eternal life, such as in Isaiah 25:8, which speaks of God swallowing up death forever.

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders and the crowd. He is the central figure in the Gospel of John, presenting Himself as the Son of God and the source of eternal life.

2. Jewish Leaders
The audience includes the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders who are often in conflict with Jesus throughout the Gospel of John. They challenge His authority and teachings.

3. Jerusalem
The setting of this discourse is likely in or near the temple in Jerusalem, where Jesus often taught and engaged with the religious leaders.

4. Eternal Life
The concept of eternal life is a key theme in this passage, as Jesus promises that those who keep His word will never see death.

5. The Word of Jesus
Refers to the teachings and commandments of Jesus, which are central to the Christian faith and the path to eternal life.The Assurance of Eternal Life
Jesus provides a clear promise of eternal life to those who keep His word. This assurance should be a source of hope and motivation for believers to live according to His teachings.

The Importance of Obedience
Keeping Jesus' word is not merely about intellectual assent but involves active obedience. This obedience is a demonstration of genuine faith and love for Christ.

Understanding Never See Death
The phrase "never see death" refers to spiritual death. While physical death is a reality, believers are promised eternal life with God, transcending physical death.

The Role of Faith in Jesus' Promises
Faith in Jesus and His word is crucial. Believers are called to trust in His promises, even when faced with doubts or challenges.

Living with an Eternal Perspective
This promise encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on spiritual growth and the kingdom of God rather than temporary worldly concerns.(51) If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.--Better, If a man keep My word. Our version obscures the close connection with the thought of "continuing in His word" in John 8:31; and also that with "He that heareth my word," in John 5:24. This last passage is the key to the words before us. Here, as there, the thought of judgment and death leads to the opposite thought of coming not into judgment, but passing out of death into life. Here, as there, the believer is thought of as possessing the true spiritual life which cannot see death, but shall pass into the fuller spiritual life hereafter.

Another interpretation of the phrase rendered "He shall never see death," is "he shall not see death for ever"--i.e., "he shall indeed die, but that death shall only be in this world, it shall not be in the world which is for ever." This is the thought in the collect in "The Order for the Burial of the Dead ". . . "our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall not die eternally."

The following are the only passages in St. John where exactly the same formula is used, and a comparison of them will make it clear that it means, as does the Hebrew formula on which it is based, that which we express by "never," or "certainly never." "by no means ever," for the negative is in its strongest form (John 4:14, John 8:52 in this John 10:28; John 11:26; John 13:8). The first and last of these passages refer to subjects ("shall never thirst," "shall never wash my feet"), which do not admit any possibility of doubt. The others are all parallel to the present text, in thought as well as in word. In all there is the fuller meaning that for the believer who now has spiritual life, and continues to live in communion with God, there cannot be death. "He shall never see death." What we think of as death is but a sleep. (See Note on John 11:11.) Death has been swallowed up of life, and physical death is thought of, in its true sense, as an entering into life. . . .

Verse 51. - Verily, verily. This impressive recommencement of discourse implies that a new turn is given to the conversation, and that the gravest solemnity and importance is attached to the utterance. It is impossible that the Jews should have listened unmoved to Christ's rejoinder on their rude taunt, or been unimpressed by the self-composed and lofty way in which the honour of our Lord was calmly entrusted by him to the Father. The Jews may say what they please, call him by any opprobrious name they choose; "there is One that seeketh" his glory, and he is content. He has, in earlier portions of this discourse, promised freedom and sonship to those who abide in his word; and now to those who believed on him he says, with extraordinary emphasis, If a man (any one) have kept my word, he shall never behold death. This "keeping" is more than "abiding" in the word. There is the additional notion of intently watching the "keeping," which issues in "fulfilling" and "obeying" (Meyer and Tholuck); see ver. 55; John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:20; John 17:6. The opposite of τηρεῖν would be "to disregard;" the opposite of φυλάσσειν would be "to let slip" (Westcott). The promise is dazzling: "He shall never behold," i.e. steadily or exhaustively know by experience, what death means and is. He may pass through physical death, he may (γεύσηται) taste of dissolution, he may come before the judgment seat, he may see corruption (ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν); but he will not behold (θεωρεῖν) death. He will never know what death is (cf. here; John 4:14; John 5:24; John 6:51, where the Saviour speaks of the "living water," and "life eternal," and "living bread," which whoso partaketh shall never die.. See also John 11:26). He does not tell his disciples that they shall not see the grave, but that in the deepest sense they shall never die. "Death" and "life" are words that are lifted into a higher connotation. Death is a moral state, not an event in their physical existence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Truly,
ἀμὴν (amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.

truly,
ἀμὴν (amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.

I tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st 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.

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

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

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

keeps
τηρήσῃ (tērēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

My
ἐμὸν (emon)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1699: My, mine. From the oblique cases of ego; my.

word,
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

he will never see
θεωρήσῃ (theōrēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2334: From a derivative of theaomai; to be a spectator of, i.e. Discern, (experience) or intensively (acknowledge).

death.”
θάνατον (thanaton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.


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NT Gospels: John 8:51 Most certainly I tell you if (Jhn Jo Jn)