John 8:22

So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Jews respond to Jesus’ declaration that He is departing and they cannot follow Him into His destination. This exchange occurs immediately after Jesus warns them they will die in their sin while seeking Him.

The words — The Greek ἑαυτὸν ἀποκτενεῖ (heauton apoktenei) literally renders “kill Himself,” capturing the self-destruction the Jewish listeners infer from His words. The particle οὖν (oun) translates as “therefore,” marking their logical deduction from His preceding statement.

The thread — This misunderstanding of divine departure echoes later accusations of madness in John 8:52 and contrasts with the psalmist’s experience of being scorned in Psalms 22:6 and Psalms 31:18.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that human logic cannot grasp a destination that transcends earthly existence. It demands an end to literalist calculations when facing claims of divine origin and authority.

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

ἔλεγονelegonWere saying οὖνountherefore οἱhoithe Ἰουδαῖοι·IoudaioiJews;μήτιmētisurely not ever ἀποκτενεῖapokteneiwill He kill ἑαυτόν,he'autonHimself,ὅτιhotifor λέγει·legeiHe says;ὅπουhopouWhere ἐγὼegōI myself ὑπάγωhupagōgo ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselves οὐounot δύνασθεdunastheare able ἐλθεῖν;eltheinto come’?

King James Version

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

Cross-references

Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
John 8:52 “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
Psalms 31:18 May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.
John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
Hebrews 12:3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Psalms 123:4 We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.
John 7:20 “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”
John 7:35 At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
Hebrews 13:13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.