John 21:23

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Then went this saying abroad among the brothers, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?

American King James Version (AKJV)

Then went this saying abroad among the brothers, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?

American Standard Version (ASV)

This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

Basic English Translation (BBE)

So this saying went about among the brothers that this disciple would not undergo death: Jesus, however, did not say that he would not undergo death, but, If it is my desire for him to be here till I come back, what is that to you?

Webster's Revision

Then this saying went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, if I will that he shall tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

World English Bible

This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn't die. Yet Jesus didn't say to him that he wouldn't die, but, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?"

English Revised Version (ERV)

This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

Barnes's John 21:23 Bible Commentary

Then went this saying ... - This mistake arose very naturally:

1. From the words of Jesus, which might be easily misunderstood to mean that he should not die; and,

2. It was probably confirmed when it was seen that John survived all the other apostles, had escaped all the dangers of persecution, and was leading a peaceful life at Ephesus. This mistake John deemed it proper to correct before he died, and has thus left on record what Jesus said and what he meant.

Wesley's John 21:23 Bible Commentary

21:23 The brethren - That is, the Christians. Our Lord himself taught them that appellation, 20:17 .Yet Jesus did not say to him, that he should not die - Not expressly.And St. John himself, at the time of writing his Gospel, seems not to have known clearly, whether he should die or not.