John Chapter 18 verse 6 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) They went backward, and fell to the ground.--There is nothing in the narrative to suggest that our Lord put forth miraculous power to cause this terror. The impression is rather that it was produced by the majesty of His person, and by the answer which to Jewish ears conveyed the unutterable name, "Jehovah" (I AM). (Comp. Note on John 8:24-25.) Guilt trembled before the calmness of innocence. Man fell to the ground before the presence of God. To Judas the term must have been familiar, and have brought back a past which may well have made him tremble at the present. To the officers the voice came from Him of whom they had been convinced before that "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46). They have come to take Him by force, but conscience paralyses all their intentions, and they lay helpless before Him. He will surrender Himself because His hour is come (John 17:1); but His life no one taketh from Him. For this sense of awe in the presence of Christ, comp. the account of the cleansing of the Temple in John 2:14 et seq.Parallel Commentaries ...GreekWhenὡς (hōs)AdverbStrong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.[Jesus] said,εἶπεν (eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“IἘγώ (Egō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularStrong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.am [He],”εἰμι (eimi)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularStrong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.they drewἀπῆλθον (apēlthon)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.backὀπίσω (opisō)AdverbStrong's 3694: Behind, after; back, backwards. From the same as opisthen with enclitic of direction; to the back, i.e. Aback.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. fellἔπεσαν (epesan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 4098: A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.to [the] ground.χαμαί (chamai)AdverbStrong's 5476: Adverb perhaps from the base of chasma through the idea of a fissure in the soil; earthward, i.e. Prostrate.Jump to PreviousBackward Backwards Drew Earth Falling Fell Ground Jesus Soon