The Meaning of John 13:37 Explained

John 13:37

KJV: Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

YLT: Peter saith to him, 'Sir, wherefore am I not able to follow thee now? my life for thee I will lay down;'

Darby: Peter says to him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.

ASV: Peter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Peter  said  unto him,  Lord,  why  cannot  I follow  thee  now?  I will lay down  my  life  for  thy sake. 

What does John 13:37 Mean?

Context Summary

John 13:31-38 - The Sign And Seal Of Discipleship
It was a relief when the traitor was gone. The Lord could now speak freely of His love and of His approaching glory, expatiating on the shining tablelands, but not as yet revealing even to Peter the dark ravine which separated Him from them, and the shadows which He was already entering. Peter was most anxious to be with Jesus wherever He was. Life without Jesus seemed impossible.
Peter relied upon his strong resolution to keep him faithful to his Master, but found it unavailing, as we have ourselves experienced many a time. Do not vaunt in self-confidence what you will or will not do, but seek strength from the living Lord. How little we know ourselves! Yet the time would come when this ardent spirit would be able to fulfill its vow through the Spirit of Pentecost, John 21:18; 2 Peter 1:14. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 13

1  Jesus washes the disciples' feet, and exhorts them to humility and charity
18  He foretells and discovers to John by a token, that Judas should betray him;
31  commands them to love one another;
36  and forewarns Peter of his denials

Greek Commentary for John 13:37

“Why can I not follow thee even now?” [δια τι ου δυναμαι σοι ακολουτειν αρτι]
The use of αρτι — arti (right now, this minute) instead of νυν — nun (at this time, John 13:36) illustrates the impatience of Peter. I will lay down my life for thee Future active indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi Peter, like the rest, had not yet grasped the idea of the death of Christ, but, like Thomas (John 11:16), he is not afraid of danger. He had heard Christ‘s words about the good shepherd (John 10:11) and knew that such loyalty was the mark of a good disciple. [source]
Now [ἄρτι]
Without waiting for a future time. See on John 13:33, and compare νῦν nowin John 13:36. [source]
I will lay down my life []
See on John 10:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 13:37

John 21:15 More than these []
More than these disciples love me. Compare John 13:37; Matthew 26:33. The question conveys a gentle rebuke for his former extravagant professions. [source]
John 13:7 I … thou [εγω συ]
Jesus repeats the pronouns used by Peter in similar contrast. Not now Just now γνωσηι δε μετα ταυτα — arti means (John 9:19, John 9:25). Used again by Jesus (John 13:33) and Peter (John 13:37). But thou shalt understand hereafter Future middle of οιδα — ginōskō (instead of the verb oida) to know by experience. “Thou shalt learn after these things,” even if slowly. [source]
John 16:31 Do ye now believe? [αρτι πιστευετε]
For αρτι — arti (just now) see John 9:19; John 13:33, John 13:37. Their belief in Christ was genuine as far as it went, but perils await them of which they are ignorant. They are too self-confident as their despair at Christ‘s death shows. [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 Laid down his life [την πσυχην αυτου ετηκεν]
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 We ought [ημεις οπειλομεν]
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]
3 John 1:2 Soul [ψυχή]
See on Mark 12:30; see on Luke 1:46. The soul ( ψυχή ) is the principle of individuality, the seat of personal impressions. It has a side in contact with both the material and the spiritual element of humanity, and is thus the mediating organ between body and spirit. Its meaning, therefore, constantly rises above life or the living individual, and takes color from its relation to either the emotional or the spiritual side of life, from the fact of its being the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions, and the bearer and manifester of the divine life-principle ( πνεῦμα ). Consequently ψυχή is often used in our sense of heart (Luke 1:46; Luke 2:35; John 10:24; Acts 14:2); and the meanings of ψυχή souland πνεῦμα spiritoccasionally approach each other very closely. Compare John 12:27, and John 11:33; Matthew 11:29, and 1 Corinthians 16:18. Also both words in Luke 1:47. In this passage ψυχή soulexpresses the soul regarded as moral being designed for everlasting life. See Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 10:39; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:19. John commonly uses the word to denote the principle of the natural life. See John 10:11, John 10:15; John 13:37; John 15:13; 1 John 3:16; Revelation 8:9; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 16:3. [source]

What do the individual words in John 13:37 mean?

Says to Him - Peter Lord because of why not am I able You to follow presently The life of me for You I will lay down
Λέγει αὐτῷ ‹ὁ› Πέτρος Κύριε διὰ τί οὐ δύναμαί σοι ἀκολουθῆσαι ἄρτι τὴν ψυχήν μου ὑπὲρ σοῦ θήσω

Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
‹ὁ›  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τί  why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
δύναμαί  am  I  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ἀκολουθῆσαι  to  follow 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀκολουθέω  
Sense: to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him.
ἄρτι  presently 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἄρτι  
Sense: just now, this moment.
ψυχήν  life 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ψυχή  
Sense: breath.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
θήσω  I  will  lay  down 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: τίθημι  
Sense: to set, put, place.