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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 14:5 "Lord," said Thomas, "we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/14-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/43_Jhn_14_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 14:5 - The Way, the Truth, and the Life" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Lord, said Thomas, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/14-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/14-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/14.htm">Chapter 14</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/14-4.htm" title="John 14:4">◄</a> John 14:5 <a href="/john/14-6.htm" title="John 14:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/14.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, &#8220Lord, we don&#8217t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Thomas says to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, &#8220Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Lord,&#8221 Thomas said, &#8220we don&#8217t know where You&#8217re going. How can we know the way?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Thomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you're going. So how can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Thomas asked him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Lord,? said Thomas, ?we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thomas saith to him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Master," said Thomas, "we do not know where you are going. In what sense do we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Thomas says to Him, “Lord, we have not known to where You go away, and how are we able to know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Thomas says to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Thomas saith to him, 'Sir, we have not known whither thou goest away, and how are we able to know the way?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Thomas says to him, Lord, we know not where thou retirest; and how can we know the way?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, Our Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/14.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Thoma said to him, “Our Lord, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way?”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/14.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Thomas said to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/14.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And Thomas says to Him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: and how do we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/14.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Thomas saith to him, We know not whither thou art going; and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/14.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not whither you are going, how then can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Master," said Thomas, "we do not know where you are going. In what sense do we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/14.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Thomas says to Him, "Lord, we know not whither Thou art going; how do we know the way?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/14.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither thou art going, and how can we know the way?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/14-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=5140" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/14.htm">The Way, the Truth, and the Life</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4</span>You know the way to the place where I am going.” <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2962.htm" title="2962: Kyrie (N-VMS) -- Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.">“Lord,”</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: Legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">said</a> <a href="/greek/2381.htm" title="2381: Thōmas (N-NMS) -- Thomas, also called Didymus, one of the Twelve. Of Chaldee origin; the twin; Thomas, a Christian.">Thomas,</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/1492.htm" title="1492: oidamen (V-RIA-1P) -- To know, remember, appreciate. ">“we do not know</a> <a href="/greek/4226.htm" title="4226: pou (Adv) -- Genitive case of an interrogative pronoun pos otherwise obsolete; as adverb of place; at what locality.">where</a> <a href="/greek/5217.htm" title="5217: hypageis (V-PIA-2S) -- To go away, depart, begone, die. From hupo and ago; to lead under, i.e. Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively.">You are going,</a> <a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">so how</a> <a href="/greek/1410.htm" title="1410: dynametha (V-PIM/P-1P) -- (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.">can we</a> <a href="/greek/1492.htm" title="1492: eidenai (V-RNA) -- To know, remember, appreciate. ">know</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3598.htm" title="3598: hodon (N-AFS) -- A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.">way?”</a> </span> <span class="reftext">6</span>Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-36.htm">John 13:36-37</a></span><br />“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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-16.htm">John 11:16</a></span><br />Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/20-24.htm">John 20:24-25</a></span><br />Now 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-68.htm">John 6:68</a></span><br />Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-38.htm">John 1:38</a></span><br />Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-6.htm">John 10:6</a></span><br />Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/16-17.htm">John 16:17-18</a></span><br />Then 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-14.htm">Matthew 7:14</a></span><br />But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-3.htm">Matthew 18:3</a></span><br />“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-45.htm">Luke 9:45</a></span><br />But 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-34.htm">Luke 18:34</a></span><br />But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/1-6.htm">Acts 1:6</a></span><br />So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-5.htm">Acts 9:5</a></span><br />“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a></span><br />The 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-3.htm">2 Corinthians 4:3-4</a></span><br />And 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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not where you go; and how can we know the way?</p><p class="hdg">Thomas.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/20-25.htm">John 20:25-28</a></b></br> 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… </p><p class="hdg">we know not.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12</a></b></br> This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/8-17.htm">Mark 8:17,18</a></b></br> And when Jesus knew <i>it</i>, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/9-19.htm">Mark 9:19</a></b></br> 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/13-37.htm">Able</a> <a href="/john/13-36.htm">Goest</a> <a href="/john/13-37.htm">Master</a> <a href="/john/12-34.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/john/13-37.htm">Sir</a> <a href="/john/11-16.htm">Thomas</a> <a href="/john/14-4.htm">Way</a> <a href="/john/14-4.htm">Whither</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/14-17.htm">Able</a> <a href="/john/16-5.htm">Goest</a> <a href="/john/14-8.htm">Master</a> <a href="/acts/2-43.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/john/14-8.htm">Sir</a> <a href="/john/20-24.htm">Thomas</a> <a href="/john/14-6.htm">Way</a> <a href="/john/16-5.htm">Whither</a><div class="vheading2">John 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-1.htm">Jesus comforts his disciples with the hope of heaven;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-5.htm">professes himself the way, the truth, and the life, and one with the Father;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-13.htm">assures their prayers to be effectual;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-15.htm">requires obedience;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-16.htm">promises the Comforter;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/14-27.htm">and leaves his peace with them.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>"Lord," said Thomas,</b><br>Thomas, also known as Didymus, is one of the twelve apostles. He is often remembered for his skepticism, particularly in <a href="/john/20-24.htm">John 20:24-29</a>, 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 <a href="/matthew/16-16.htm">Matthew 16:16</a>.<p><b>"we do not know where You are going,"</b><br>This statement reflects the disciples' confusion about Jesus' teachings regarding His departure. In the context of <a href="/john/14.htm">John 14</a>, 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 (<a href="/john/16-13.htm">John 16:13</a>).<p><b>"so how can we know the way?"</b><br>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 in <a href="/psalms/1-6.htm">Psalm 1:6</a>. Jesus' response in <a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>, "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 (<a href="/isaiah/40-11.htm">Isaiah 40:11</a>). This statement also prefigures the early Christian identification as "The Way" (<a href="/acts/9-2.htm">Acts 9:2</a>), emphasizing Jesus as the exclusive means of salvation and access to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/thomas.htm">Thomas</a></b><br>One 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.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The 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.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_last_supper.htm">The Last Supper</a></b><br>The final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion, where He provides crucial teachings and reassurances.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_understanding.htm">Seeking Understanding</a></b><br>Thomas'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.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_way_to_the_father.htm">The Way to the Father</a></b><br>Jesus' 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.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_amidst_uncertainty.htm">Faith Amidst Uncertainty</a></b><br>Like Thomas, we may face moments of doubt or confusion. Trusting in Jesus as the way provides assurance and direction in uncertain times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community.htm">The Role of Community</a></b><br>Thomas's interaction with Jesus occurs within the community of disciples. Engaging with fellow believers can help us grow in understanding and faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_can't_law_alone_save_us.htm">Who was Thomas, called the Twin, in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'gall'_mean_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Thomas in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'the_way'.htm">What did Jesus mean by "The Way, the Truth, the Life"?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_jesus_as_way,_truth,_life_mean.htm">What does Jesus being the Way, Truth, Life mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">Thomas saith unto him.</span>--Comp., for the character of Thomas, <a href="/john/11-16.htm" title="Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.">John 11:16</a>; <a href="/john/20-24.htm" title="But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.">John 20:24</a>; <a href="/john/21-2.htm" title="There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.">John 21:2</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Lord, we know not whither thou goest.</span>-- 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.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 5-7.</span> - <p><span class="note_emph">(4)</span> The <span class="accented">question of Thomas</span>, <span class="accented">eliciting from Christ that he was going to the Father</span>, <span class="accented">and that his death was their</span> "<span class="accented">way"</span> <span class="accented">as well as his own way thither</span>. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Thomas</span> - 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 - <span class="cmt_word">saith to him, We know not whither thou goest</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> 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." <span class="cmt_word">How do we knew the way?</span> 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? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/14-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">“Lord,”</span><br /><span class="grk">Κύριε</span> <span class="translit">(Kyrie)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said</span><br /><span class="grk">Λέγει</span> <span class="translit">(Legei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">Thomas,</span><br /><span class="grk">Θωμᾶς</span> <span class="translit">(Thōmas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2381.htm">Strong's 2381: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thomas, also called Didymus, one of the Twelve. Of Chaldee origin; the twin; Thomas, a Christian.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“we do not know</span><br /><span class="grk">οἴδαμεν</span> <span class="translit">(oidamen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1492.htm">Strong's 1492: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know, remember, appreciate. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">where</span><br /><span class="grk">ποῦ</span> <span class="translit">(pou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4226.htm">Strong's 4226: </a> </span><span class="str2">Genitive case of an interrogative pronoun pos otherwise obsolete; as adverb of place; at what locality.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">You are going,</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑπάγεις</span> <span class="translit">(hypageis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5217.htm">Strong's 5217: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go away, depart, begone, die. From hupo and ago; to lead under, i.e. Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[so] how</span><br /><span class="grk">πῶς</span> <span class="translit">(pōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can we</span><br /><span class="grk">δυνάμεθα</span> <span class="translit">(dynametha)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1410.htm">Strong's 1410: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">know</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰδέναι</span> <span class="translit">(eidenai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1492.htm">Strong's 1492: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know, remember, appreciate. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὴν</span> <span class="translit">(tēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">way?”</span><br /><span class="grk">ὁδὸν</span> <span class="translit">(hodon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3598.htm">Strong's 3598: </a> </span><span class="str2">A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/14-5.htm">John 14:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/14-5.htm">NT Gospels: John 14:5 Thomas said to him Lord we don't (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/14-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 14:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 14:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/14-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 14:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 14:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>