KJV: Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
YLT: Pilate saith to him, 'What is truth?' and this having said, again he went forth unto the Jews, and saith to them, 'I do find no fault in him;
Darby: Pilate says to him, What is truth? And having said this he went out again to the Jews, and says to them, I find no fault whatever in him.
ASV: Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.
| 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: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| Πιλᾶτος | Pilate |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Πειλᾶτος Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified. |
|
| ἀλήθεια | truth |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἀλήθεια Sense: objectively. |
|
| τοῦτο | this |
|
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
|
| εἰπὼν | having said |
|
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
|
| πάλιν | again |
|
Parse: Adverb Root: πάλιν Sense: anew, again. |
|
| ἐξῆλθεν | he went out |
|
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἐξέρχομαι Sense: to go or come forth of. |
|
| Ἰουδαίους | Jews |
|
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: Ἰουδαῖος Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race. |
|
| αὐτοῖς | to them |
|
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
|
| οὐδεμίαν | no |
|
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: οὐδείς Sense: no one, nothing. |
|
| εὑρίσκω | find |
|
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: εὑρίσκω Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with. |
|
| αἰτίαν | guilt |
|
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: αἰτία Sense: cause, reason. |
|
Greek Commentary for John 18:38
This famous sneer of Pilate reveals his own ignorance of truth, as he stood before Incarnate Truth (John 14:6). Quid est veritas? The answer in Latin is Vir est qui adest as has been succinctly said by the use of the same letters. Pilate turned with indifference from his own great question and rendered his verdict: “I find no crime in him” For this use of αιτια aitia see Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26. Pilate therefore should have set Jesus free at once. [source]
Not with the article as in the previous verse, the truth. Jesus meant the absolute truth: Pilate, truth in any particular case. “Pilate's exclamation is neither the expression of an ardent thirst for truth, nor that of the despair of a soul which has long sought it in vain; it is the profession of a frivolous skepticism, such as is frequently met with in the man of the world, and especially in the statesman” (Godet). [source]
Properly, cause of accusation. Rev., crime. See on Matthew 27:37, and compare note on Matthew 19:10. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 18:38
“Thrice” is in all four Gospels here for they all give this warning to Peter (Mark 14:30; Matthew 26:34; Luke 22:34; John 18:38). Peter will even deny knowing Jesus (ειδεναι eidenai). [source]
In the N.T. Luke alone uses this old adjective αιτιος aitios (Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14, Luke 23:22; Acts 19:40) except Hebrews 5:9. It means one who is the author, the cause of or responsible for anything. Luke does not give the explanation of this sudden decision of Pilate that Jesus is innocent. Evidently he held a careful examination before he delivered his judgment on the case. That conversation is given in John 18:33-38. Pilate took Jesus inside the palace from the upper gallery (John 18:33) and then came out and rendered his decision to the Sanhedrin (John 18:38) who would not go into the palace of Pilate (John 18:28). [source]
Literally, “be out of;” a characteristic expression of John. See John 3:31; John 4:22; John 7:17, John 7:22; John 8:23; John 15:19; John 18:36, John 18:38, etc. It means more than to come out of: rather to come out of as that which is of; to be identified with something so as to come forth bearing its impress, moral or otherwise. See especially John 3:31: “He that is of the earth is of the earth;” i.e., partakes of its quality. Compare Christ's words to Nicodemus (John 3:6), and 1 Corinthians 15:47. In the Greek order, out of Nazareth stands first in the sentence as expressing the prominent thought in Nathanael's mind, surprise that Jesus should have come from Nazareth, a poor village, even the name of which does not occur in the Old Testament. Contrary to the popular explanation, there is no evidence that Nazareth was worse than other places, beyond the fact of the violence offered to Jesus by its people (Luke 4:28, Luke 4:29), and their obstinate unbelief in Him (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:6). It was a proverb, however, that no prophet was to come from Galilee (John 7:52). -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
First aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō and μαστιγοω mastigoō (from μαστιχ mastix whip). For this redundant use of λαμβανω lambanō see also John 19:6. It is the causative use of μαστιγοω mastigoō for Pilate did not actually scourge Jesus. He simply ordered it done, perhaps to see if the mob would be satisfied with this penalty on the alleged pretender to royalty (Luke 23:22) whom Pilate had pronounced innocent (John 18:38), an illegal act therefore. It was a preliminary to crucifixion, but Jesus was not yet condemned. The Sanhedrin had previously mocked Jesus (Mark 14:65; Matthew 26:67.; Luke 22:63.) as the soldiers will do later (Mark 15:16-19; Matthew 27:27-30). This later mock coronation (Mark and Matthew) was after the condemnation. Plaited a crown of thorns Old verb πλεκω plekō to weave, in the N.T. only here, Mark 15:17; Matthew 27:19. Not impossible for the mock coronation to be repeated. Arrayed him “Placed around him” (second aorist active indicative of περιβαλλω periballō). In a purple garment Old adjective πορπυρεος porphureos from πορπυρα porphura purple cloth (Mark 15:17, Mark 15:20), dyed in purple, in the N.T. only here and Revelation 18:16. Jesus had been stripped of his outer garment ιματιον himation (Matthew 27:28) and the scarlet cloak of one of the soldiers may have been put on him (Matthew 27:28). [source]
Vividly pictures Pilate leading Jesus out of the palace before the mob in front. That ye may know Final clause with ινα hina and the second aorist active subjunctive of γινωσκω ginōskō “that ye may come to know,” by this mockery the sincerity of Pilate‘s decision that Jesus is innocent (John 18:38). It is a travesty on justice and dignity, but Pilate is trying by a bit of humour to turn the mob from the grip of the Sanhedrin. [source]
First aorist active imperative of εγω γαρ ουχ ευρισκω stauroō for which verb see Matthew 20:19, etc. Here the note of urgency (aorist imperative) with no word for “him,” as they were led by the chief priests and the temple police till the whole mob takes it up (Matthew 27:22). For I find no crime in him (γαρ egō gar ouch heuriskō). This is the third time Pilate has rendered his opinion of Christ‘s innocence (John 18:38; John 19:4). And here he surrenders in a fret to the mob and gives as his reason (gar for) for his surrender the innocence of Jesus (the strangest judicial decision ever rendered). Perhaps Pilate was only franker than some judges! [source]
Stronger than the simple was, and indicating a guilelessness which had stood the test of scrutiny. Compare Matthew 26:60; John 18:38; John 19:4, John 19:6. Christ's sinlessness had also stood the test of Peter's intimacy. [source]
First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō Christ‘s guilelessness stood the test of scrutiny (Vincent), as Peter knew (Matthew 26:60; John 18:38; John 19:4, John 19:6). [source]