Bible Strands
John 21:23
Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to Peter and the remaining disciples on the shore of Tiberias after the resurrection breakfast, correcting a community report about John’s fate. The group had concluded from his prior words that John would not die, prompting Jesus to clarify the literal scope of his statement.
The words — Ἐξῆλθεν (Exēlthen) literally means “went out” or “spread,” describing how the rumor moved among the ἀδελφοὺς (adelphous), translated as “brothers.” οὖν (oun) functions as “therefore,” structurally linking the community’s reaction to Jesus’ immediate correction.
The thread — The boundary between divine sovereignty and human knowledge appears in Deuteronomy 29:29, where secret things belong to the Lord while revealed matters belong to humanity. Daniel 4:35 reinforces this by stating God does as He pleases with the peoples of the earth.
Why it lands — The text explicitly reports that Jesus never claimed John would live forever, but only posed a conditional question about his own will. Readers must stop speculating about God’s timeline for others and return to the direct command to follow Him.
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
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
- Job 33:13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
- Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
- Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,
- Job 28:28 And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”