John 20:9
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Original Language Analysis
γὰρ
For
G1063
γὰρ
For
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
2 of 11
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ᾔδεισαν
they knew
G1492
ᾔδεισαν
they knew
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
3 of 11
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γραφὴν
the scripture
G1124
γραφὴν
the scripture
Strong's:
G1124
Word #:
5 of 11
a document, i.e., holy writ (or its contents or a statement in it)
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
6 of 11
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
δεῖ
he must
G1163
δεῖ
he must
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
7 of 11
also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding)
αὐτὸν
G846
αὐτὸν
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 11
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
ἐκ
from
G1537
ἐκ
from
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
9 of 11
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
Cross References
Psalms 16:10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.Isaiah 26:19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.1 Corinthians 15:4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:Matthew 22:29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.Luke 24:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?Hosea 13:14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.John 2:22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.Luke 9:45But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Historical Context
First-century Judaism had varied views on resurrection: Pharisees affirmed it, Sadducees denied it, but none expected Messiah to rise individually before the general resurrection. Jesus had predicted his resurrection repeatedly (2:19-22, 10:17-18), but the disciples couldn't process this until after the event. Luke 24:25-27, 44-47 shows Jesus later explaining these Scriptures, transforming how the church read the OT.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God often bring us to belief through experience before we understand the biblical prophecies?
- How does the disciples' ignorance of resurrection prophecy actually strengthen the historical case for resurrection?
- What current experiences of God might you be living through without yet understanding the scriptural framework?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For as yet they knew not the scripture (οὐδέπω γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τὴν γραφήν, oudepō gar ēdeisan tēn graphēn)—the pluperfect tense looks back from post-resurrection perspective: they had not yet known. 'The scripture' (singular) likely refers to a specific text, perhaps Psalm 16:10 ('thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption') or Isaiah 53:10-12, rather than Scripture generally.
That he must rise again from the dead (ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῆναι, hoti dei auton ek nekrōn anastēnai)—the divine necessity (δεῖ, dei, 'must') shows resurrection wasn't accident but fulfillment. John wrote this verse decades later, after the church had connected resurrection to specific OT prophecies. The disciples' initial ignorance proves resurrection faith wasn't manufactured from proof-texts—they believed first, understood Scripture second, inverting typical apologetic order.