New International VersionThomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
New Living Translation“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
English Standard VersionThomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Berean Standard Bible“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
Berean Literal BibleThomas says to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?"
King James BibleThomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
New King James VersionThomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
New American Standard BibleThomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”
NASB 1995Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
NASB 1977Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
Legacy Standard BibleThomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?”
Amplified BibleThomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”
Christian Standard Bible“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleLord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
American Standard VersionThomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?
Contemporary English VersionThomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?"
English Revised VersionThomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you're going. So how can we know the way?"
Good News TranslationThomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?"
International Standard VersionThomas asked him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
NET BibleThomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
New Heart English BibleThomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Webster's Bible TranslationThomas saith to him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Weymouth New Testament"Master," said Thomas, "we do not know where you are going. In what sense do we know the way?" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
World English BibleThomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThomas says to Him, “Lord, we have not known to where You go away, and how are we able to know the way?”
Berean Literal BibleThomas says to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?"
Young's Literal Translation Thomas saith to him, 'Sir, we have not known whither thou goest away, and how are we able to know the way?'
Smith's Literal TranslationThomas says to him, Lord, we know not where thou retirest; and how can we know the way? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Catholic Public Domain VersionThomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
New American BibleThomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
New Revised Standard VersionThomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThomas said to him, Our Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishThoma said to him, “Our Lord, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentThomas said to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?
Godbey New TestamentAnd Thomas says to Him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: and how do we know the way?
Haweis New TestamentThomas saith to him, We know not whither thou art going; and how can we know the way?
Mace New TestamentThomas said to him, Lord, we know not whither you are going, how then can we know the way?
Weymouth New Testament"Master," said Thomas, "we do not know where you are going. In what sense do we know the way?"
Worrell New TestamentThomas says to Him, "Lord, we know not whither Thou art going; how do we know the way?"
Worsley New TestamentThomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither thou art going, and how can we know the way?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Way, the Truth, and the Life4You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5“Lord,”saidThomas,“we do not knowwhereYou are going,so howcan weknowtheway?”6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.…
Cross References John 13:36-37“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.” / “Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
John 11:16Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
John 20:24-25Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. / So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
John 6:68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 1:38Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
John 10:6Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
John 16:17-18Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” / They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”
Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 18:3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 9:45But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Luke 18:34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.
Acts 1:6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Acts 9:5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
1 Corinthians 2:14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Treasury of Scripture Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not where you go; and how can we know the way? Thomas. John 20:25-28 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe… we know not. John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Mark 8:17,18 And when Jesus knewit, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? … Mark 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. Jump to Previous AbleGoestMasterSenseSirThomasWayWhitherJump to Next AbleGoestMasterSenseSirThomasWayWhitherJohn 14 1.Jesus comforts his disciples with the hope of heaven;5.professes himself the way, the truth, and the life, and one with the Father;13.assures their prayers to be effectual;15.requires obedience;16.promises the Comforter;27.and leaves his peace with them."Lord," said Thomas,Thomas, also known as Didymus, is one of the twelve apostles. He is often remembered for his skepticism, particularly in John 20:24-29, where he doubts Jesus' resurrection until he sees Him. Here, Thomas addresses Jesus as "Lord," acknowledging His authority and divinity. This title reflects the disciples' growing understanding of Jesus' identity, aligning with Peter's confession in Matthew 16:16. "we do not know where You are going,"
This statement reflects the disciples' confusion about Jesus' teachings regarding His departure. In the context ofJohn 14, Jesus is speaking about His return to the Father, a concept that was difficult for the disciples to grasp. The Jewish expectation of the Messiah was often a political or earthly kingdom, so the idea of Jesus leaving was perplexing. This moment highlights the disciples' limited understanding, which would later be clarified through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). "so how can we know the way?"
Thomas's question reveals a desire for clarity and direction. In the Jewish context, "the way" could refer to a path of life or conduct, as seen inPsalm 1:6. Jesus' response inJohn 14:6, "I am the way," indicates that He Himself is the path to the Father, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being a guide and shepherd (Isaiah 40:11). This statement also prefigures the early Christian identification as "The Way" (Acts 9:2), emphasizing Jesus as the exclusive means of salvation and access to God. Persons / Places / Events 1. ThomasOne of the twelve apostles, often referred to as "Doubting Thomas" due to his initial skepticism about Jesus' resurrection. Here, he expresses confusion and seeks clarity from Jesus. 2. JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, who is preparing His disciples for His departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. In this passage, He is addressing His disciples during the Last Supper. 3. The Last SupperThe final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion, where He provides crucial teachings and reassurances. Teaching Points Seeking UnderstandingThomas's question reflects a genuine desire to understand Jesus' teachings. As believers, we should not hesitate to seek clarity and ask questions in our faith journey. The Way to the FatherJesus' response to Thomas underscores the exclusivity of Christ as the path to God. This is a core tenet of Christian doctrine that should guide our evangelism and personal faith. Faith Amidst UncertaintyLike Thomas, we may face moments of doubt or confusion. Trusting in Jesus as the way provides assurance and direction in uncertain times. The Role of CommunityThomas's interaction with Jesus occurs within the community of disciples. Engaging with fellow believers can help us grow in understanding and faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of John 14:5?
2.How does Thomas's question in John 14:5 reveal his understanding of Jesus' mission?
3.What does John 14:5 teach about seeking guidance from Jesus in uncertainty?
4.How can John 14:5 encourage us to trust Jesus as "the way"?
5.Connect John 14:5 to Proverbs 3:5-6 about trusting God's direction.
6.How can we apply Thomas's honesty in John 14:5 to our prayer life?
7.How does John 14:5 challenge our understanding of Jesus as the way to God?
8.Why does Thomas question Jesus in John 14:5, and what does this reveal about faith?
9.What historical context influences the dialogue in John 14:5?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 14?
11.Who was Thomas, called the Twin, in the Bible?
12.Who was Thomas in the Bible?
13.What did Jesus mean by "The Way, the Truth, the Life"?
14.What does Jesus being the Way, Truth, Life mean?What Does John 14:5 Mean “Lord,”• Thomas begins with the title of surrender and worship. The disciples plainly acknowledge Jesus’ supreme authority (John 13:13). • Calling Him “Lord” shows they are ready to receive direction, even when puzzled, echoing Peter’s “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). • Scripture consistently affirms that recognizing Jesus as Lord is the doorway to faith-filled obedience (Luke 6:46;Romans 10:9).
said Thomas,• Thomas is often remembered for later doubt, yet here he represents honest, earnest inquiry. Earlier he urged the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16), demonstrating bold loyalty. • His questions invite fuller revelation from Christ—just as the risen Lord later met Thomas’ need for evidence and drew the confession, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). • God welcomes sincere questions; Abraham ventured into the unknown (Hebrews 11:8), and the psalmist regularly poured out uncertainties (Psalm 142:2).
“we do not know where You are going,”• Jesus had spoken of His departure to the Father (John 13:33; 14:1-3), yet the disciples still wrestled to grasp it. • Their limited understanding mirrors our own when heavenly plans exceed earthly sight.Proverbs 3:5-6 counsels, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • The moment underscores that even devoted followers need continual illumination; without it, they remain disoriented.
“so how can we know the way?”• Thomas’ question sets the stage for Jesus’ majestic answer: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). • Key truths unveiled: – The Way is not a map but a Person; relationship precedes direction (Acts 4:12). – Christ’s exclusivity is loving clarity, not narrowness: one Mediator bridges the gap (1 Timothy 2:5). – By His sacrifice He opened “a new and living way” into the Father’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). • Our role becomes simple trust and obedient following, matching the prayer ofPsalm 25:4-5, “Show me Your ways… guide me in Your truth.”
summaryThomas voices confusion every believer feels at times, yet his humble address, candid question, and receptive heart drew from Jesus the definitive answer: Christ Himself is the certain, exclusive path to the Father. We need not map the future; we need to stay with the Lord who is the Way. (5) Thomas saith unto him.--Comp., for the character of Thomas, John 11:16; John 20:24; John 21:2. Lord, we know not whither thou goest.-- Our Lord's words had laid stress upon the "way." Thomas lays stress upon the "whither." His mind seeks for measured certainty. In all that he has heard of the Father's house of many mansions, of being with the Lord, there is much that he cannot understand. The Messiah, they thought, was to reign upon earth. Where was this vast royal home, with dwelling-places for all, to which Christ was going first, and to which they were to follow? They know not whither, and without that knowledge they cannot even think of the way. Verses 5-7. - (4) Thequestion of Thomas,eliciting from Christ that he was going to the Father,and that his death was their "way"as well as his own way thither.Verse 5. -Thomas - true to the character elsewhere attributed to him in this Gospel, of anxious, intellectual striving after truth and reality, with a certain despondency and morbid fear of issues which he could not grasp, and yet with a great love to his Master -saith to him, We know not whither thou goest;i.e. we are still in vague perplexity. "Whither? oh, whither?" Art thou going to the dispersed among the Gentiles? Art thou going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Thou art to be "lifted up;" but how and where art thou to be lifted up? Thou art going - that is all we know, and this ignorance of ours makes us doubt "the way."How do we knew the way? Is not a knowledge of the goal absolutely necessary to bring into proper light for us the way, the strange mysterious way, thou art taking? There often seems in the language of skepticism much common sense, and in the dry light of science a straightforward honesty; and in reading the memorable reply of our Lord many have felt a lack of directness and recognition of the difficulty of Thomas. But is it really so?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek “Lord,”Κύριε(Kyrie)Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962:Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.saidΛέγει(Legei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.Thomas,Θωμᾶς(Thōmas)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2381:Thomas, also called Didymus, one of the Twelve. Of Chaldee origin; the twin; Thomas, a Christian.“we do not knowοἴδαμεν(oidamen)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.whereποῦ(pou)Adverb
Strong's 4226:Genitive case of an interrogative pronoun pos otherwise obsolete; as adverb of place; at what locality.You are going,ὑπάγεις(hypageis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5217:To go away, depart, begone, die. From hupo and ago; to lead under, i.e. Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively.[so] howπῶς(pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!can weδυνάμεθα(dynametha)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1410:(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.knowεἰδέναι(eidenai)Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.way?”ὁδὸν(hodon)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3598:A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.
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NT Gospels: John 14:5 Thomas said to him Lord we don't (Jhn Jo Jn) |
