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Read the Bible

George Lamsa Translation

John 18:6

When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Prisoners;   Prophecy;   Traitor;   Thompson Chain Reference - Overpowering Presence;   Presence, Divine;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Malchus;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   Judas;   Messiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Holy, Holiness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   John, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nazarene;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arrest ;   Attributes of Christ;   First and Last ;   Gethsemane ;   Influence;   Logos;   Mount of Olives ;   Omnipotence;   Perfection (of Jesus);   Scourge, Scourging;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Officer;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Mary;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ, the Arrest and Trial of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Jesus told them, “I am he,”
King James Version (1611)
Assoone then as he had said vnto them, I am he, they went backeward, and fell to the ground.
King James Version
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
English Standard Version
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New American Standard Bible
Now then, when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New Century Version
When Jesus said, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground.
Amplified Bible
When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Legacy Standard Bible
So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Berean Standard Bible
When Jesus said, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Contemporary English Version
At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.
Complete Jewish Bible
When he said, "I AM," they went backward from him and fell to the ground.
Darby Translation
When therefore he said to them, I am [he], they went away backward and fell to the ground.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Jesus said, "I am Jesus," the men moved back and fell to the ground.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Assoone then as hee had saide vnto them, I am hee, they went away backewardes, and fell to the grounde.
Good News Translation
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground.
Lexham English Bible
So when he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Literal Translation
Then when He said to them, I AM, they departed into the rear and fell to the ground.
American Standard Version
When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Bible in Basic English
And when he said to them, I am he, they went back, falling to the earth.
Hebrew Names Version
When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.
International Standard Version
When Jesushe
">[fn] told them, "I am he," they backed away and fell to the ground.
Etheridge Translation
And when Jeshu had said to them, I am, they went backward and fell upon the ground.
Murdock Translation
And when Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell upon the ground.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Assoone then as he sayde vnto them I am he, they went backewarde, & fell to the grounde.
English Revised Version
When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
World English Bible
When therefore he said to them, "I AM," they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
As soon as he said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Weymouth's New Testament
As soon then as He said to them, "I am he," they went backwards and fell to the ground.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he seide to hem, Y am, thei wenten abak, and fellen doun on the erthe.
Update Bible Version
When therefore he said to them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Webster's Bible Translation
As soon then as he had said to them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.
New English Translation
So when Jesus said to them, "I am he," they retreated and fell to the ground.
New King James Version
Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
New Living Translation
As Jesus said " I am he," they all drew back and fell to the ground!
New Life Bible
When He said to them, "I am Jesus," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
New Revised Standard
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When, therefore, he said unto them, I, am he, they went backwards, and fell to the ground.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward and fell to the ground.
Revised Standard Version
When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But assone as he had sayd vnto them I am he they went backe wardes and fell to the grounde.
Young's Literal Translation
when, therefore, he said to them -- `I am [he],' they went away backward, and fell to the ground.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Iesus sayde vnto the: I am he, they wete bacwardes, and fell to the grounde.
Mace New Testament (1729)
upon Jesus his saying to them, I am he, they fell backward to the ground.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus looked at the traitor Judas and said, "I AM he." They all drew back and fell down at the power of his words.

Contextual Overview

1 JESUS said these things and went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, to a place where there was a garden, where he and his disciples entered. 2 Judas the traitor also knew that place; because Jesus and his disciples frequently gathered there. 3 Judas, therefore, took a company of soldiers, and also guards from the high priests and the Pharisees, and he came there with torches and lamps and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing everything that was to happen, went out and said to them. Whom do you want? 5 They said to him, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus said to them, I am he. Judas the traitor was also standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Jesus again asked them, Whom do you want? They said, Jesus the Nazarene. 8 Jesus said to them, I have told you that I am he; if then you want me, let these men go away; 9 That the word which he said might be fulfilled, Of those whom you gave me, I have lost not even one. 10 But Simon Peter had a sword, and he drew it and struck the high priest''s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant''s name was Malech.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they went: Doubtless by the interposition of Divine power; and it was thus shown that Jesus voluntarily resigned himself into their hands. 2 Kings 1:9-15, Psalms 27:2, Psalms 40:14, Psalms 70:2, Psalms 70:3, Psalms 129:5, Luke 9:54-56, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:30

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:31 - bowed down 1 Kings 13:4 - his hand Psalms 35:4 - turned Psalms 56:9 - then Psalms 65:7 - tumult Luke 4:30 - General John 2:15 - he drove John 7:44 - no man John 10:18 - man Acts 9:4 - he fell

Cross-References

Isaiah 32:8
But a great person devises great things, and on his greatness shall he stand.
Matthew 13:33
He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like the leaven, which a woman took and buried in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.
Acts 16:15
And she was baptized together with her household, and she begged us, saying, If you are sincerely convinced that I believe in our LORD, come and stay in my house; and she urged us strongly.
Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Galatians 5:13
For, my brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only do not use your liberty for an occasion to the things of the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Hebrews 13:2
And forget not hospitality toward strangers: For thereby some were worthy to entertain angels unawares.
1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to strangers without grudging.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As soon then as he had said unto them I am he,.... Immediately upon his speaking these words, which were delivered with so much majesty and authority, and were attended with such a divine power:

they went backward, and fell to the ground; they were confounded, surprised, and intimidated, and seemed as if they would have chose rather to have fled from him, than to have apprehended him; and as they retired and went backward, they fainted away, as it were, either at the majesty of his looks, or at the power of his words, or both, so that they became like ad men, falling to the ground. Sometimes the majesty of a man's person, or his fame for some remarkable things done by him, or the innocence and uprightness of his cause, have had such an influence upon his enemies, that they have not been able to execute upon him what they intended. It is reported of Caius Maxius that being reduced to the utmost misery, and shut up in a private house at Minturnae, (a town in Italy,) an executioner was sent to kill him; and though he was an old man, and unarmed, and in the most miserable condition, yet the executioner having drawn his sword, could not attempt to use it; but, as the historian y says, being struck with blindness at the glory of the man, ran away astonished and trembling. Now, besides the above things, in their highest perfection, there was in our Lord something more than human; he was God as well as man, and he displayed his divine majesty, glory, and power. This was done, not to make his escape from them; but to give proof of his deity, and a specimen of his power at the great day; and to let them know, that if he had not thought fit to have surrendered himself voluntarily to them, though he was an unarmed person, they, with all their men and arms, could never have laid hold on him; and to show them, that he could as easily have struck them dead, as to cause them to fall to the ground: and sometimes striking a person dead immediately, is expressed by this phrase of striking to the ground; and is ascribed to God, who does it by the ministry of angels: says R. Simeon ben Shetach z, to some persons at variance,

"let the master of thoughts come, (i.e. the blessed God,) and take vengeance on you; immediately Gabriel came, בקרקע

והבטן, "and smote them to the ground"; and they died immediately.''

The like is elsewhere said a,

"if thou transgresseth thy father's command, immediately comes Gabriel, and "smites to the ground".''

y Valerius Maxim. l. 2. c. 5. z F. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 2. a Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 91. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They went backward ... - The cause of their retiring in this manner is not mentioned. Various things might have produced it. The frank, open, and fearless manner in which Jesus addressed them may have convinced them of his innocence, and deterred them from prosecuting their wicked attempt. His disclosure of himself was sudden and unexpected; and while they perhaps anticipated that he would make an effort to escape, they were amazed at his open and bold profession. Their consciences reproved them for their crimes, and probably the firm, decided, and yet mild manner in which Jesus addressed them, the expression of his unequalled power in knowing how to find the way to the consciences of men, made them feel that they were in the presence of more than mortal man. There is no proof that there was here any miraculous power, any mere physical force, and to suppose that there was greatly detracts from the moral sublimity of the scene.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 18:6. They went backward, and fell to the ground. — None of the other evangelists mentions this very important circumstance. Our Lord chose to give them this proof of his infinite power, that they might know that their power could not prevail against him if he chose to exert his might, seeing that the very breath of his mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth. Thus by the blast of God they might have perished, and by the breath of his nostrils they might have been consumed: Job 4:9.


 
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