The Meaning of John 11:50 Explained

John 11:50

KJV: Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

YLT: nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.'

Darby: nor consider that it is profitable for you that one man die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish.

ASV: nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nor  consider  that  it is expedient  for us,  that  one  man  should die  for  the people,  and  that the whole  nation  perish  not. 

What does John 11:50 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Caiaphas solution to the problem that Jesus posed was to get rid of Him-permanently. He seems to have felt impatient with His fellow rulers for hesitating to take this brutal step. He viewed Jesus" death as a sacrifice that was necessary for the welfare of the nation, by which he meant its leaders. Jesus" sacrificial death was precisely God"s intention though for a different reason. Caiaphas viewed Jesus as a scapegoat whose sacrifice would guarantee the life of Israel"s leaders. God viewed Jesus as a lamb who would die to guarantee the life of believers. Ironically Jesus" death would condemn these unbelieving leaders, not save them. Moreover it did not save them from losing their power to the Romans who dismantled the Sanhedrin when they destroyed the city in the war of A.D66-70.

Context Summary

John 11:45-57 - The Innocent For The Guilty
The friends of the family who had come to lament with them, were disposed toward Jesus and believed; but the mere spectators hastened with the news, to inflame the hatred of the Pharisees. The Romans dreaded the power acquired by permanent office, and often exchanged one high priest for another. Hence the expression, being high priest that year. By his vote Caiaphas may be said to have appointed and sacrificed his victim, who in that memorable year was to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. See Daniel 9:24; Daniel 9:27.
Caiaphas professed to fear that Jesus would presently gain such an ascendency over the people as to lead a revolt against Rome, which would cause a deluge of blood in which the whole nation would perish. Therefore he recommended that they should compass the death of Jesus. But, as the evangelist puts it, he spoke more widely and truly than he knew, because the death of Jesus is gathering into one the children of God who are scattered abroad-that is, the heathen who were living up to their light, as in John 10:16 -that of the twain He might make one new man. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 11

1  Jesus raises Lazarus, four days buried
45  Many Jews believe
47  The high priests and Pharisees gather a council against Jesus
49  Caiaphas prophesies
54  Jesus hides himself
55  At the Passover they enquire after him, and lay wait for him

Greek Commentary for John 11:50

That it is expedient for you [οτι συμπερει υμιν]
Indirect discourse with present active indicative of συμπερω — sumpherō used with the ινα — hina clause as subject. It means to bear together, to be profitable, with the dative case as here It is to your interest and that is what they cared most for. That one man die Sub-final use of ινα — hina with second aorist active subjunctive of αποτνησκω — apothnēskō as subject clause with συμπερει — sumpherei See John 16:7; John 18:7 for the same construction. For the people υπερ — Huper simply means over, but can be in behalf of as often, and in proper context the resultant idea is “instead of” as the succeeding clause shows and as is clearly so in Galatians 3:13 of the death of Christ and naturally so in 2 Corinthians 5:14.; Romans 5:6. In the papyri υπερ — huper is the usual preposition used of one who writes a letter for one unable to write. And that the whole nation perish not Continuation of the ινα — hina construction with μη — mē and the second aorist subjunctive of απολλυμι — apollumi What Caiaphas has in mind is the giving of Jesus to death to keep the nation from perishing at the hands of the Romans. Politicians are often willing to make a sacrifice of the other fellow. [source]
People - nation [τοῦ λαοῦ - τὸ ἔθνος]
The former the theocratic nation, the people of God: the latter, the body politic. See on 1 Peter 2:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 11:50

John 15:13 Than this [ταυτης]
Ablative case after the comparative adjective μειζονα — meizona and feminine agreeing with της αγαπης — tēs agapēs (love) understood. That a man lay down his life Object clause (non-final use of ινα — hina in apposition with the ablative pronoun ταυτης — tautēs and the second aorist active subjunctive of τιτημι — tithēmi). For the phrase see John 10:11 of the good shepherd. Cf. 1 John 3:16; Romans 5:7. For his friends “In behalf of his friends” and so “in place of his friends.” “Self-sacrifice is the high-water mark of love” (Dods). For this use of υπερ — huper see John 11:50; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14.; Romans 5:7. [source]
John 16:7 It is expedient for you [συμπερει υμιν]
Present active indicative of συμπερω — sumpherō old verb to bear together. See John 11:50 where the phrase is used by Caiaphas “for us,” here “for you” That I go away Subject clause the subject of συμπερει — sumpherei ινα — hina and second aorist active subjunctive of απερχομαι — aperchomai The reason Third-class condition with εαν — ean and the negative μη — mē with απελτω — apelthō as before. Will not come Strong double negative with second aorist active subjunctive of ερχομαι — erchomai The Holy Spirit was, of course, already at work in the hearts of men, but not in the sense of witnessing as Paraclete which could only take place after Jesus had gone back to the Father. But if I go Third-class condition again I will send First person future as in John 16:15. [source]
John 18:14 He which gave command [ο συμβουλευσας]
First aorist active articular participle of συμβουλευω — sumbouleuō old verb (Matthew 26:4). The reference is to John 11:50. It was expedient Present active indicative retained in indirect assertion after secondary tense Here we have the second aorist active infinitive αποτανειν — apothanein as the subject of συμπερει — sumpherei both good idioms in the Koiné. [source]
John 6:51 The living bread [ο αρτος ο ζων]
“The bread the living.” Repetition of the claim in John 6:35, John 6:41, John 6:48, but with a slight change from ζωης — zōēs to ζων — zōn (present active participle of ζαω — zaō). It is alive and can give life. See John 4:10 for living water. In Revelation 1:17 Jesus calls himself the Living One For ever Eternally like αιωνιον — aiōnion with ζωην — zōēn in John 6:47. I shall give Emphasis on εγω — egō (I). Superior so to Moses. Is my flesh See note on John 1:14 for σαρχ — sarx the Incarnation. This new idea creates far more difficulty to the hearers who cannot grasp Christ‘s idea of self-sacrifice. For the life of the world Over, in behalf of, υπερ — huper means, and in some connexions instead of as in John 11:50. See John 1:30 for the Baptist‘s picture of Christ as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. See also John 3:17; John 4:42; 1 John 3:16; Matthew 20:28; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14.; Romans 5:8. Jesus has here presented to this Galilean multitude the central fact of his atoning death for the spiritual life of the world. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:14 Constraineth us [συνεχει ημας]
Old and common verb, to hold together, to press the ears together (Acts 7:57), to press on every side (Luke 8:45), to hold fast (Luke 22:63), to hold oneself to (Acts 18:5), to be pressed (passive, Luke 12:50; Philemon 1:23). So here Paul‘s conception of Christ‘s love for him holds him together to his task whatever men think or say. Judging this (κριναντας τουτο — krinantas touto). Having reached this conclusion, ever since his conversion (Galatians 1:17.). One died for all This is the central tenet in Paul‘s theology and Christology. υπερ — Huper (over) here is used in the sense of substitution as in John 11:50; Galatians 3:13, death in behalf so that the rest will not have to die. This use of υπερ — huper is common in the papyri (Robertson, Grammar, p. 631). In fact, υπερ — huper in this sense is more usual in Greek than αντι προ — antiαρα οι παντες απετανον — pro or any other preposition. Therefore all died (αρα — ara hoi pantes apethanon). Logical conclusion (ara corresponding), the one died for the all and so the all died when he did, all the spiritual death possible for those for whom Christ died. This is Paul‘s gospel, clear-cut, our hope today. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:14 One died for all [εις υπερ παντων απετανεν]
This is the central tenet in Paul‘s theology and Christology. υπερ — Huper (over) here is used in the sense of substitution as in John 11:50; Galatians 3:13, death in behalf so that the rest will not have to die. This use of υπερ — huper is common in the papyri (Robertson, Grammar, p. 631). In fact, υπερ — huper in this sense is more usual in Greek than αντι προ — antiαρα οι παντες απετανον — pro or any other preposition. Therefore all died (αρα — ara hoi pantes apethanon). Logical conclusion (ara corresponding), the one died for the all and so the all died when he did, all the spiritual death possible for those for whom Christ died. This is Paul‘s gospel, clear-cut, our hope today. [source]
Hebrews 12:10 But he for our profit [ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ συμφέρον]
The contrast is with what is implied in as seemed good to them. The human parent may not have dealt with us to our profit. Συμφέρειν means to bring together: to collect or contribute in order to help: hence, to help or be profitable. Often impersonally, συμφέρει itis expedient, as Matthew 5:29; Matthew 18:6; John 11:50. The neuter participle, as here, advantage, profit, 1 Corinthians 12:7; 2 Corinthians 12:1. There is a backward reference to live, Hebrews 12:9, the result of subjection to the Father of spirits; and this is expanded and defined in the final clause, namely: [source]
1 John 3:16 Love [την αγαπην]
“The thing called love” (D. Smith).He for us (εκεινος υπερ ημων — ekeinos huper hēmōn). Εκεινος — Ekeinos as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, υπερ — huper here alone in this Epistle, though common in John‘s Gospel (John 10:11, John 10:15; John 11:50, etc.) and in 3 John 1:7.Laid down his life First aorist active indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi the very idiom used by Jesus of himself in John 10:11, John 10:17.We ought (ημεις οπειλομεν — hēmeis opheilomen). Emphatic ημεις — hēmeis again. For οπειλω — opheilō see 1 John 2:6. Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one‘s love (John 13:37.; John 15:13), as often happens. [source]
1 John 3:16 He for us [εκεινος υπερ ημων]
Εκεινος — Ekeinos as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, υπερ — huper here alone in this Epistle, though common in John‘s Gospel (John 10:11, John 10:15; John 11:50, etc.) and in 3 John 1:7. [source]

What do the individual words in John 11:50 mean?

nor consider you that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people and not all the nation should perish
οὐδὲ λογίζεσθε ὅτι συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ μὴ ὅλον τὸ ἔθνος ἀπόληται

οὐδὲ  nor 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὐδέ  
Sense: but not, neither, nor, not even.
λογίζεσθε  consider  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λογίζομαι  
Sense: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
συμφέρει  it  is  profitable 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: συμφέρω 
Sense: to bear or bring together.
ὑμῖν  for  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
εἷς  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ἄνθρωπος  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἀποθάνῃ  should  die 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
λαοῦ  people 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
ἔθνος  nation 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
ἀπόληται  should  perish 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπόλλυμι  
Sense: to destroy.

What are the major concepts related to John 11:50?

Loading Information...