John 18:40 Meaning and Explanation
“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The crowd cries out for Barabbas instead of Jesus; and Barabbas, John notes, was a robber.
What Does John 18:40 Mean?
Offered the King in whom no fault was found, the crowd shouts for Barabbas. The word translated robber means a bandit, a man of violence; Mark adds that he lay bound for insurrection and murder (Mark 15:7). John closes the chapter on the choice itself, stark and unadorned.
The guilty man walks free because the innocent man stands condemned — Barabbas is the first soul who could say, Jesus died in my place. The exchange enacts the heart of the gospel: the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Every believer stands in Barabbas's doorway — sentence lifted, chains opened — while the sinless One goes out to the cross that was ours.
John 18:40 in the Original Language
lestes (λῃστής), 'robber' -- a bandit or violent insurrectionist, one who takes by force.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 18:40
What does John 18:40 mean?
The crowd cries out for Barabbas instead of Jesus; and Barabbas, John notes, was a robber.