Bible Strands
John 11:49
But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Caiaphas, identified as the high priest that year, addresses the religious council after they debate Jesus’s growing influence. He speaks in response to their stated fear that Jesus’s miracles will provoke Roman intervention and cost them their place and nation.
The words — The Greek phrase εἷς τις (heis tis) literally means “one certain [person],” isolating a single speaker from the group. The term ἀρχιερεύς (archiereus) translates directly to “high priest,” establishing his official religious office at that moment.
The thread — The council’s assembly is noted in Matthew 26:3, and Caiaphas’s statement directly precedes the recorded prophecy in John 11:51. The closed-minded posture described in John 11:48–50 parallels the self-deceptive wisdom condemned in Proverbs 26:12.
Why it lands — The text states that the council dismisses Jesus’s work as mere political threat while claiming superior knowledge. It requires the reader to identify where they prioritize institutional preservation over recognizing divine action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Cross-references
- Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Matthew 26:3 At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
- John 11:51 Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation,
- John 18:13 They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
- Luke 3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
- Acts 4:6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.
- Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
- John 7:48 “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.