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the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

John 18:6

When He said to them, "I am Jesus," they stepped 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.
George Lamsa Translation
When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.
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 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 When Jesus had said these things, He went with His followers across the small river Kidron. He and His followers went to a garden there. 2 Judas, who was handing Him over to the leaders, knew the place also. Jesus and His followers had met there many times. 3 Judas led some soldiers and some men who had been sent by the head religious leaders of the Jews and the proud religious law-keepers to the garden. They carried lamps and sticks that were burning and swords. 4 Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him. He went out and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" 5 The soldiers answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am Jesus." Judas, who was handing Him over, was with them also. 6 When He said to them, "I am Jesus," they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said again, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 He said, "I have told you that I am Jesus. If you are looking for Me, let these men go their way." 9 He said this so the words He spoke might happen, "I have not lost one of those You gave Me." 10 Simon Peter had a sword. He took it and hit a servant who was owned by the head religious leader and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

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 the man of honor makes good plans, and he stands for what is good.
Matthew 13:33
Jesus gave them another picture-story. He said, "The holy nation of heaven is like yeast that a woman put into three pails of flour until it had become much more than at first."
Acts 16:15
When she and her family had been baptized, she said to us, "If you think I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house." She kept on asking. Then we went with her.
Romans 12:13
Share what you have with Christian brothers who are in need. Give meals and a place to stay to those who need it.
Galatians 5:13
Christian brother, you were chosen to be free. Be careful that you do not please your old selves by sinning because you are free. Live this free life by loving and helping others.
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to be kind to strangers and let them stay in your home. Some people have had angels in their homes without knowing it.
1 Peter 4:9
Be happy to have people stay for the night and eat with you.

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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