John 18:38 Meaning and Explanation
“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Pilate shrugs — what is truth? — then goes out and declares that he finds no fault in Jesus at all.
What Does John 18:38 Mean?
Pilate answers the witness of truth with a weary question and does not wait for a reply. What is truth? — and the governor turns away, walks out to the accusers, and delivers his finding: I find in him no fault at all.
The verdict stands for all time: Rome examined Jesus and found nothing, a Lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19). The tragedy stands beside it: truth was not an idea in that room but a person — I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) — and Pilate looked at him and walked out. It is possible to pronounce Jesus faultless and still refuse to follow him; acquittal is not allegiance, and his dropped question still waits for an answer.
John 18:38 in the Original Language
aitia (αἰτία), 'fault' -- a legal term: grounds for a charge, a cause for accusation.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 18:38
What does John 18:38 mean?
Pilate shrugs — what is truth? — then goes out and declares that he finds no fault in Jesus at all.