Bible Strands
John 18:22
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus has just told the high priest to question His own hearers about His teaching. Immediately afterward, an attending officer standing nearby strikes Jesus and demands to know why He answered the high priest that way.
The words — The text identifies the striker as one of the ὑπηρετῶν (hupēretōn), meaning officers or attendants, who was παρεστηκὼς (parestēkōs), already standing by. Jesus’ prior statement is referenced as ταῦτα (tauta), meaning these things.
The thread — The physical strike and interrogation context align with the recorded mistreatment of the Messiah in Matthew 26:67 and Mark 14:65, where attendants strike and spit on Him during questioning. The interrogation itself echoes the prophetic posture of Isaiah 50:5, where the servant’s ears are opened to obey rather than rebel.
Why it lands — The text records a violent interruption of Jesus’ legal defense, showing how His truthful testimony provoked physical retaliation. A reader must confront the reality that divine truth often meets institutional authority with force rather than reason.
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 when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
Cross-references
- Isaiah 50:5 The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
- Matthew 26:67 Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Mark 14:65 Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
- Luke 22:63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
- John 19:3 And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.
- Job 16:10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
- Micah 5:1 Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
- Acts 23:2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
- Job 30:10 They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
- Jeremiah 20:2 he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.