Jesus" critics correctly understood His latest words ( John 10:38) as a claim to equality with the Father. Therefore they again tried to seize Him. Jesus eluded them again because it was not yet time for His passion (cf. John 7:30; John 8:20). This act was the climax of official antagonism during this period of Jesus" ministry so far. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 10:31-42 - The Works Of The Father
In the strongest terms known to the Jews, our Lord insisted on His oneness with God; and they understood His claims, threatening Him with the penalty of blasphemy. This quotation from Psalms 82:6 was originally addressed to magistrates, and our Lord argued that if unjust judges were described by this phrase, because they exercised the divine prerogative of judgment, surely His opponents had no right to stone Him, when, as the Sent of God and sanctioned by God's witness in His works, He spoke of Himself as the Father's equal and fellow. See Zechariah 13:7; and Philippians 2:6. But their vindictive hate would brook no parley; and as His hour was not yet come, Jesus deemed it better to go beyond Jordan into hiding, until the minute-hand should reach the exact figure on the dial.
There was a special reason why He was attracted to the region beyond Jordan. It was the place of John's early appearance. That ground had been black with crowds, those waters had witnessed countless baptisms. All that wonderful past trooped back to memory, and the people remembered John's word as they saw in Christ their precise fulfillment. We may work no miracle, but let us speak true words about Jesus Christ. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 10
1Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd 19Diverse opinions of him 23He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God; 31escapes the Jews; 39and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him
Greek Commentary for John 10:39
They sought again to seize him [εζητουν αυτον παλιν πιαζαι] Imperfect active, “They kept on seeking to seize” (ingressive aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō for which see John 7:30) as they had tried repeatedly (John 7:1,John 7:30,John 7:44; John 8:20), but in vain. They gave up the effort to stone him. Out of their hand Overawed, but still angry, the stones fell to the ground, and Jesus walked out. [source]
John 11:7Then after this [επειτα μετα τουτο] Επειτα Epeita (only here in John) means thereafter (Luke 16:7) and it is made plainer by the addition of μετα τουτο meta touto (cf. John 2:12; John 11:11), meaning after the two days had elapsed. Let us go into Judea again Volitive (hortative) subjunctive of αγω agō (intransitive use as in John 11:11,John 11:16). They had but recently escaped the rage of the Jews in Jerusalem (John 10:39) to this haven in Bethany beyond Jordan (John 10:40). [source]
John 11:8Were but now seeking to stone thee [νυν εζητουν σε λιτασαι] Conative imperfect of ζητεω zēteō with reference to the event narrated in John 10:39 in these very words. Goest thou thither again? Present active intransitive use of the compound υπαγω hupagō to withdraw (John 6:21; John 8:21) from this safe retreat (Vincent). It seemed suicidal madness to go back now. [source]
John 11:53So from that day [απ εκεινης ουν της ημερας] The raising of Lazarus brought matters to a head so to speak. It was now apparently not more than a month before the end. They took counsel First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb to take counsel, in the middle voice for themselves, among themselves. The Sanhedrin took the advice of Caiaphas seriously and plotted the death of Jesus. That they might put him to death Purpose clause with ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω apokteinō It is an old purpose (John 5:18; John 7:19; John 8:44,John 8:59; John 10:39; John 11:8) now revived with fresh energy due to the raising of Lazarus. [source]
John 18:20Openly [παρρησιαι] As already shown (John 7:4; John 8:26; John 10:24,John 10:39; John 16:25,John 16:29. See John 7:4 for same contrast between εν παρρησιαι en parrēsiāi and εν κρυπτωι en kruptōi I ever taught Constative aorist active indicative. For the temple teaching see John 2:19; John 7:14,John 7:28; John 8:20,John 19:23; Mark 14:49 and John 6:59 for the synagogue teaching (often in the Synoptics). Examples of private teaching are Nicodemus (John 3) and the woman of Samaria (John 4). Jesus ignores the sneer at his disciples, but challenges the inquiry about his teaching as needless. [source]
John 7:30They sought therefore [εζητουν ουν] Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō inchoative or conative, they began to seek. Either makes sense. The subject is naturally some of the Jerusalemites (Westcott) rather than some of the leaders (Bernard). To take him First aorist active infinitive, Doric form from πιαζω piazō from the usual πιεζω piezō occasionally so in the papyri, but πιαζω piazō always in N.T. except Luke 6:38. And Here = “but.” Laid his hand Second aorist active indicative of επιβαλλω epiballō to cast upon. Old and common idiom for arresting one to make him a prisoner (Matthew 26:50). See repetition in John 7:44. His hour In John 13:1 we read that “the hour” had come, but that was “not yet” “John is at pains to point out at every point that the persecution and death of Jesus followed a predestined course” (Bernard), as in John 2:4; John 7:6,John 7:8; John 8:10; John 10:39; John 13:1, etc. Was not yet come Past perfect active of ερχομαι erchomai as John looks back on the story. [source]
John 8:59They took up stones therefore [ηραν ουν λιτους] First aorist active indicative of αιρω airō inferential use of ουν oun The time for argument had past. To cast at him Final clause with ινα hina and the second aorist active subjunctive of βαλλω ballō Vivid picture of a mob ready to kill Jesus, already beginning to do so. Hid himself Second aorist passive indicative of κρυπτω kruptō He was hidden. No Docetic vanishing, but quietly and boldly Jesus went out of the temple. His hour had not yet come. Once again three months later the Pharisees will try to kill him, but he will pass out of their hands (John 10:39). [source]
What do the individual words in John 10:39 mean?
They were seekingthereforeHimagainto seizebutHe went forthout ofthehandof them
Greek Commentary for John 10:39
Imperfect active, “They kept on seeking to seize” (ingressive aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō for which see John 7:30) as they had tried repeatedly (John 7:1, John 7:30, John 7:44; John 8:20), but in vain. They gave up the effort to stone him. Out of their hand Overawed, but still angry, the stones fell to the ground, and Jesus walked out. [source]
Pointing back to John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44, where the word πιάσαι , to seize, is found. [source]
Rev., literally, went forth out of. The phrase occurs only here. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 10:39
So John 21:10. The verb means to lay hold of, and is nowhere else used in the New Testament of taking fish. Elsewhere in this Gospel always of the seizure of Christ by the authorities (John 7:30, John 7:39, John 7:44; John 8:20; John 10:39; John 11:57). Of apprehending Peter and Paul (Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32). Of the taking of the beast (Revelation 19:20). Of taking by the hand (Acts 3:7). [source]
Επειτα Epeita (only here in John) means thereafter (Luke 16:7) and it is made plainer by the addition of μετα τουτο meta touto (cf. John 2:12; John 11:11), meaning after the two days had elapsed. Let us go into Judea again Volitive (hortative) subjunctive of αγω agō (intransitive use as in John 11:11, John 11:16). They had but recently escaped the rage of the Jews in Jerusalem (John 10:39) to this haven in Bethany beyond Jordan (John 10:40). [source]
Conative imperfect of ζητεω zēteō with reference to the event narrated in John 10:39 in these very words. Goest thou thither again? Present active intransitive use of the compound υπαγω hupagō to withdraw (John 6:21; John 8:21) from this safe retreat (Vincent). It seemed suicidal madness to go back now. [source]
The raising of Lazarus brought matters to a head so to speak. It was now apparently not more than a month before the end. They took counsel First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb to take counsel, in the middle voice for themselves, among themselves. The Sanhedrin took the advice of Caiaphas seriously and plotted the death of Jesus. That they might put him to death Purpose clause with ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω apokteinō It is an old purpose (John 5:18; John 7:19; John 8:44, John 8:59; John 10:39; John 11:8) now revived with fresh energy due to the raising of Lazarus. [source]
As already shown (John 7:4; John 8:26; John 10:24, John 10:39; John 16:25, John 16:29. See John 7:4 for same contrast between εν παρρησιαι en parrēsiāi and εν κρυπτωι en kruptōi I ever taught Constative aorist active indicative. For the temple teaching see John 2:19; John 7:14, John 7:28; John 8:20, John 19:23; Mark 14:49 and John 6:59 for the synagogue teaching (often in the Synoptics). Examples of private teaching are Nicodemus (John 3) and the woman of Samaria (John 4). Jesus ignores the sneer at his disciples, but challenges the inquiry about his teaching as needless. [source]
Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō inchoative or conative, they began to seek. Either makes sense. The subject is naturally some of the Jerusalemites (Westcott) rather than some of the leaders (Bernard). To take him First aorist active infinitive, Doric form from πιαζω piazō from the usual πιεζω piezō occasionally so in the papyri, but πιαζω piazō always in N.T. except Luke 6:38. And Here = “but.” Laid his hand Second aorist active indicative of επιβαλλω epiballō to cast upon. Old and common idiom for arresting one to make him a prisoner (Matthew 26:50). See repetition in John 7:44. His hour In John 13:1 we read that “the hour” had come, but that was “not yet” “John is at pains to point out at every point that the persecution and death of Jesus followed a predestined course” (Bernard), as in John 2:4; John 7:6, John 7:8; John 8:10; John 10:39; John 13:1, etc. Was not yet come Past perfect active of ερχομαι erchomai as John looks back on the story. [source]
First aorist active indicative of αιρω airō inferential use of ουν oun The time for argument had past. To cast at him Final clause with ινα hina and the second aorist active subjunctive of βαλλω ballō Vivid picture of a mob ready to kill Jesus, already beginning to do so. Hid himself Second aorist passive indicative of κρυπτω kruptō He was hidden. No Docetic vanishing, but quietly and boldly Jesus went out of the temple. His hour had not yet come. Once again three months later the Pharisees will try to kill him, but he will pass out of their hands (John 10:39). [source]