Bible Strands
John 11:8
“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The disciples address Jesus as “Rabbi” and question His decision to return to Judea immediately after the Jewish leaders attempted to stone Him.
The words — The Greek verb ἐζήτουν (ezētoun) literally means “were seeking” and in this context denotes the active pursuit of Jesus to kill Him.
The thread — This pattern of Jewish opposition and physical threat to Jesus appears in John 8:59 and John 10:31, while the plea against returning to a hostile region mirrors the warnings in Acts 21:12.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to confront the reality of pursuing obedience when immediate danger is present, before Jesus responds with the principle of walking in divine timing.
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
His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Cross-references
- John 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
- John 10:31 At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
- Acts 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
- Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
- John 10:39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
- Psalms 11:1 For the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!
- Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- Matthew 23:7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.