ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 18.4-6

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"2. Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples. 3. Judas then, having received the band of soldiers, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons."

"4. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, Whom seek ye? 5. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6. When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground."

"7. Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:" (John 18:2-8, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"2. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3. Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons."

"4. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” 5. They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6. When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground."

"7. Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,”" (John 18:2-8, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"2. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons."

"4. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground."

"7. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:" (John 18:2-8, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"2. and Judas also, who delivered him up, had known the place, because many times did Jesus assemble there with his disciples. 3. Judas, therefore, having taken the band and officers out of the chief priests and Pharisees, doth come thither with torches and lamps, and weapons;"

"4. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that are coming upon him, having gone forth, said to them, 'Whom do ye seek?' 5. they answered him, 'Jesus the Nazarene;' Jesus saith to them, 'I am [he];', and Judas who delivered him up was standing with them;, 6. when, therefore, he said to them, 'I am [he],' they went away backward, and fell to the ground."

"7. Again, therefore, he questioned them, 'Whom do ye seek?' and they said, 'Jesus the Nazarene;' 8. Jesus answered, 'I said to you that I am [he]; if, then, me ye seek, suffer these to go away;'" (John 18:2-8, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.