Bible Strands
John 14:5
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Thomas addresses Jesus directly, asking how the group can know the path to the destination Jesus just mentioned. This occurs immediately after Jesus tells the disciples they already know the way to where He is going (John 14:4).
The words — The Greek ὑπάγεις (hupageis) literally means "You are going," and οἴδαμεν (oidamen) translates to "we know." The text uses these terms to state the disciples' current lack of knowledge about Jesus's route and destination.
The thread — The question echoes earlier reluctance to follow Jesus to death (John 11:16) and later demands for physical proof of His return (John 20:25), while Jesus's reply in (John 14:6) directly answers the query about the way.
Why it lands — The verse states that knowing the destination is impossible without knowing the guide who reveals it. It requires a reader to accept that spiritual direction depends entirely on the person of Jesus rather than independent knowledge.
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
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Cross-references
- Mark 9:19 “O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
- John 11:16 Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
- John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
- Mark 8:17 Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
- Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
- John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
- Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.