John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Original Language Analysis
λέγει
saith
G3004
λέγει
saith
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
αὐτῷ
unto him
G846
αὐτῷ
unto him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
2 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 15
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Ὅτι
because
G3754
Ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
5 of 15
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἑώρακάς
thou hast seen
G3708
ἑώρακάς
thou hast seen
Strong's:
G3708
Word #:
6 of 15
by extension, to attend to; by hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear
πιστεύσαντες
thou hast believed
G4100
πιστεύσαντες
thou hast believed
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
9 of 15
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
μακάριοι
blessed
G3107
μακάριοι
blessed
Strong's:
G3107
Word #:
10 of 15
supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
are they that have not
G3361
μὴ
are they that have not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
12 of 15
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἰδόντες
seen
G1492
ἰδόντες
seen
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
13 of 15
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
Cross References
1 Peter 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:2 Corinthians 5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Hebrews 11:27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.Luke 1:45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.John 20:8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.John 4:48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.Hebrews 11:39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Historical Context
Thomas's absence eight days earlier (20:24) meant he missed the first resurrection appearance. His skepticism ('except I shall see...I will not believe') represented empirical demands for proof. Jesus accommodated Thomas yet commended greater faith.
Questions for Reflection
- Is your faith dependent on feelings and experiences, or grounded in God's Word?
- How does this verse encourage believers who doubt or struggle with faith based solely on Scripture?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Christ's response to Thomas creates a beatitude: 'blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed'. This includes all subsequent believers who trust based on testimony, not sight. Faith based on evidence (Thomas's demand) is legitimate but lesser than faith resting on the word of Christ. This concludes John's purpose statement (20:31)—his Gospel provides sufficient testimony for belief without physical sight of the risen Christ.